You would think that, with an Oscar under her belt and some serious clout in Hollywood, Reese Witherspoon would be above becoming attached to a script that sounds like it channels the very highest heights of the high concept rom com. But nope, she’s happy to be associated with something like Disney’s new project Wish List.
Currently being cranked out by Randi Mayem Singer (Tooth Fairy), Wish List finds an imaginative little girl making 10 wishes at a wishing well. Sadly for her, the coin gets lodged before it can hit the bottom and the young lass grows up to become a driven, career-focused businesswoman (Witherspoon) who has no time for wishes or dreams or family or whatever.
Then the fun REALLY begins! The coin is somehow let loose and finally hits the bottom of the well, unleashing all of the wishes in one go to cause havoc in the woman’s life.
Apparently, the original version of the screenplay had the lead as a man, though given that The Change-Up focuses on two blokes switching bodies after weeing in a seemingly magic fountain and with Seth McFarlane’s Ted already exploring what happens when someone’s childhood invades their adult life, we figure Disney was quite happy to make the gender switch to woo Witherspoon.
For the actress’ part, we can only assume that with How Do You Know flopping badly and Water for Elephants only mildly successful, that she’s looking for something a little more commercial - and she is, in fairness, a dab hand at selling high-concept comedy. But perhaps she’ll stick it in the pile of projects to which she’s already attached and not think about it again until she’s seen the box office returns on upcoming action comedy This Means War…