We’re really beginning to think that someone involved in Natalie Portman Western Jane Got A Gun broke a mirror while it was in development, because the stunning rash of bad luck afflicting the film just doesn’t seem to want to stop. Though shooting was supposed to start on Monday in Santa Fe, director Lynne Ramsay was a no-show, and dropped out of the film despite developing it for months. The producers, including Portman and Scott Steindorff, raided their rolodex and now Warrior**’s Gavin O’Connor is locking in a deal to take over the megaphone.
But the bad news doesn’t stop there. Jane had already seen a couple of cast shifts before production started, as delays meant Michael Fassbender had to jump ship for X-Men: Days Of Future Past**.** That was solved by having Joel Edgerton switch places from the lead villain role to Fassbender’s part of the gunslinger (and former lover) that Portman’s homesteader hires to defend her house and husband when the latter's gang double crosses him. Jude Law stepped in to play the big bad, but now, following Ramsay’s departure, Law himself has pulled the eject handle because he wanted to work with her.
So now O’Connor, who is apparently set to get the film back up and running on Thursday, will have to find someone else to play the villain. Perhaps he can convince his Warrior actor Edgerton to play both roles through the magic of a wig, a false beard and a split screen… Meanwhile, for more movies with director issues, check out our new feature...