As he puts the pieces together to make passion project Winter’s Tale in October, writer-turned-director Akiva Goldsman has been on the hunt for cast members to join Jessica Brown Findlay, who signed on last month. He’s now offered the main role to Colin Farrell.
According to Variety, Goldsman is keen to snag Farrell’s services and backing studio Warner Bros. is also eager to stay in business with the Horrible Bosses co-star. He’s already been offered the lead in Arthur And Lancelot, but that didn’t work out.
So now the executives and Goldsman are crossing their fingers he starts negotiations to take on Tale, which has been adapted from Mark Helprin’s novel rather than Shakespeare's play. A sprawling narrative that flits between the modern-day and 19th century New York, the story follows a thief breaking into a swanky West Side mansion, and meeting the dying young woman who lives there. But that’s not the end of it, as there are mob bosses, demons and other supernatural elements to contend with.
If Farrell ends up passing on the chance, Goldsman at least has a reserve list, with the likes of Garrett Hedlund, Aaron Johnson and Liam Hemsworth all in contention for a role that sounds like age isn't too important to its casting.
With Total Recall set to arrive on August 22, Farrell has also worked on Martin McDonagh’s Seven Psychopaths and is currently shooting thriller **Dead Man Down opposite Noomi Rapace and Dominic Cooper.