It's been a casting merry-go-round for Joe Carnahan's White Jazz recently. Last week up-and-comer Chris Pine bowed out of the James Ellroy adaptation to step into the flared trousers and gold top of Captain James Tiberius Kirk in Star Trek XI (presumably he has a thing for green-skinned women) and now it looks as though George Clooney, the lead in Jazz, is also leaving.
But this doesn't seem to be a case of creative differences or getting a better offer so much as bad timing. According to Carnahan's blog (Here) several factors have contributed: the fact that Clooney's film Leatherheads has been moved to an April release, committing him to publicity around that time; the fact that Michael Clayton publicity duties look likely to continue into awards season; and the fact that Clooney's committed to the currently-shooting Burn After Reading for the Coens.
It remains to be seen, in other words, whether Gorgeous George can fit another film in pre-strike. But Carnahan says he has someone "INCREDIBLY f*cking amazing" in talks to replace Clooney when **White Jazz **starts shooting on January 14, so don't despair, Ellroy fans. Since Clooney's Smoke House company is producing Jazz, he may even get a sign-off on his replacement, which could be interesting.
In fact, let's get speculating: who could be "INCREDIBLY f*cking amazing" in a Clooney role?