Last year Natalie Portman was set to
star as a Jane Austen version of a zombie hunter while David O. Russell [I
Heart Huckabees] was set to direct Pride and Prejudice and Zombies but they both eventually dropped out. Now there are reports that this new
incarnation will star Scarlett
Johansson and Bradley Cooper.
Deadline
reports that Mike Newell [Prince of Persia] has taken an early lead to replace Russell as director,
with Neil Marshall [The Descent] also interested in jumping behind the camera. Meanwhile, sources tell the site
that Johansson was tapped by Russell as Portman’s replacement before his
departure, so she’s likely a frontrunner, while Bloody Disgusting’s
sources say that Cooper has received an offer for a role, along with Mia Wasikowska. Considering the age differences, and of course, the inclusion of Cooper, it
looks like Lionsgate’s eager to get a lot more than one female star added to
the roster.
