Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski have made their careers writing movies, specialising in biopics including Ed Wood and Man On The Moon. But for a long time they’ve been trying to branch out into directing and have been chasing passion project Big Eyes. Finally it seems to be coming together as Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Reynolds have agreed to star.
The pair have signed on play Margaret and Walter Keane, a couple who became famous in the 1950s and 1960s when their paintings of frankly-spooky-yet-inexplicably-charming wide-eyed children became one of the first mass-marketed art sensations. The work, which Walter claimed to create, was pimped in gas stations and loads of small stores across America.
Trouble was, Walter was a big ol’ liar, who despite his TV talk show assertions, could barely finger-paint. The real talent was shy wife Margaret who took him to court when they split to win her fair share of the credit and profits. The judge decided to settle the matter by having two easels brought in, and Margaret’s ability was clear.
“We are ecstatic to have this dream cast for our dream project. Walter is a larger-than-life antihero – charming, funny, dangerous, and a little crazy, said Alexander and Karaszewski in a statement on Deadline’s. “Ryan will knock it out of the park. As for Reese, she will be perfect as Margaret – soulful, decent, transforming from vulnerability to learning to fight for herself.”
With Tim Burton lending his support as producer, Alexander and Karaszewski are looking to start shooting in the coming months. But we’re betting they won’t be convinced it’ll happen until the cameras crank, since they’ve been at the casting stage before: Kate Hudson and Thomas Haden Church were attached back in 2008, but that version never made it to screens…