Life of Pi

Casting Call: Tobey Maguire Joins Ang Lee’s LIFE OF PI; Willem Dafoe in Talks for Stephen Sommers’ ODD THOMAS

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: April 8th, 2011 at 4:07 pm

We’ve got a couple of casting stories for you today, both involving adaptations of books. First up, Variety reports that Tobey Maguire is re-teaming with director Ang Lee for his adaptation of Yann Martel’s Life of Pi. The story centers on a boy named Pi who gets stranded for 227 days with a tiger. Maguire will play the man who interviews the adult Pi about his experience. The cast for the 3D film now includes newcomer Suraj Sharma, Irrfan Khan (In Treatment), Adil Hussain (Calendar Girls), and Gerard Depardieu. The film is slated for a December 14^th, 2012 release.

Additionally, Willem Dafoe is in talks to join director Stephen Sommers’ (The Mummy) adaptation of the Dean Koontz supernatural thriller Odd Thomas. The film centers on a short-order cook who can commune with the dead. Heat Vision reports that Dafoe is in talks to play a local police chief. Anton Yelchin and Addison Timlin are poised to star in the film. Shooting is set to start in New Mexico later this spring. Hit the jump for a synopsis of both Life of Pi and Odd Thomas.

Gerard Depardieu, Irrfan Khan, and Adil Hussain Join LIFE OF PI; Tabu in Talks

by Kimberly Lucas    Posted: December 8th, 2010 at 7:24 pm

Ang Lee’s next project, Life of Pi has been casting over the past few weeks. Its most recent additions include Irrfan Khan (In Treatment), Adil Hussain (Calendar Girls), and Gerard Depardieu (La Vie en Rose). The film, based on the novel by Yann Martel, is about a young boy who is stranded at sea in a lifeboat with a hyena, an orangutan, a zebra, and a tiger. According to Variety, Khan will play the adult version of the lead character Pi, while Hussain will play Pi’s father, a zookeeper. Depardieu will play the part of the chef on the ship which they are traveling on. Though Depardieu is most known for playing Cyrano in Cyrano de Bergerac, I loved him in my childhood for his villainous role of Jean-Pierre in 102 Dalmations. Currently, the Bollywood actress Tabu (The Namesake), is being spoken to about playing Pi’s mother. Lee recently made an interesting choice in hiring newcomer Suraj Sharma as Pi, who will have only a tiger to share the screen with for two-thirds of the film.

For more on this film, as well as a synopsis, continue after the jump:

Ang Lee Looking to Cast Bollywood Actors for LIFE OF PI

by Ramses Flores    Posted: December 1st, 2010 at 1:38 pm

A couple of weeks ago, we reported that director Ang Lee (Brokeback Mountain) had found the lead star for his upcoming 3D adaptation of Yann Martel’s Life of Pi with seventeen-year-old newcomer Surej Sharma.  The highly acclaimed novel tells the story of a boy named Pi, who gets stranded at sea for 227 days with a tiger. Now, with production set to start in January, Ang Lee is looking to cast the boy’s parents in the film.

According to TimesofIndia (via ThePlaylist), Lee hopes to cast popular Bollywood actress Tabu in the role of Pi’s mother, while Bollywood actors Sushant Singh and Sonu Sood are up for role of Pi’s father. By doing this, Lee will be following in the footsteps of Danny Boyle, who also chose to cast Bollywood actors in leading roles for Slumdog Millionaire.  Life of Pi is set to open on December 14, 2012.  You can hit the jump to read a plot synopsis for the novel.

Newcomer Suraj Sharma Cast as Lead in Ang Lee’s LIFE OF PI

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: October 25th, 2010 at 9:18 pm

It looks like the film adaptation of Yann Martel’s acclaimed novel Life of Pi is finally going into production.  Director Ang Lee (Brokeback Mountain) joined the continually troubled project early last year, and after an exhausting worldwide casting search he’s found his star.  Seventeen-year-old newcomer Suraj Sharma beat out three thousand other young men who auditioned for the titular role of a boy stranded at sea for 227 days with a tiger.

Last we heard, Lee was at odds over the budget of the 3D film with Fox 2000.  One would assume that those details have been hammered out, as Variety reports that principal photography is set to begin in January in Taiwan and India in order to have the film ready for a Dec. 14, 2012 release date.  This will be Lee’s first time using 3D, from a script by David Magee (Finding Neverland).  For a description of the story, and a bit more on the flick, hit the jump.

Ang Lee’s 3D Adaptation of LIFE OF PI Struggles to Stay Afloat

by Brendan Bettinger    Posted: May 28th, 2010 at 9:01 am

An adaptation of Yann Martel’s acclaimed novel Life of Pi has been in development for years now, but it seemed like its cinematic reality was imminent.  Ang Lee (Brokeback Mountain) was on board to direct to the would-be 3D picture with an allotted $70 million budget, and persistent producer Elizabeth Gabler was targeting an August shoot for a 2012 release.

And yet, 24 Frames reports that it appears the project has been put on hold.  Until Lee and producer Gil Netter can find a way to come up with a lower number, the adaptation will not move forward at the current budget.

Sustained by Gabler’s passion for the project, Pi has attracted an array of notable suitors over the years: M. Night Shyamalan, Alfonso Cuarón, and Jean-Pierre Jeunet have all been attached at some point to depict the tale of a teenage boy stranded at sea with a Bengal tiger.  Hit the jump for a full plot synopsis.

Ang Lee’s Adaptation of LIFE OF PI Moves Forward in 3D

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: April 28th, 2010 at 10:38 pm

In February 2009, we reported that Ang Lee (Brokeback Mountain) wanted to direct an adaptation of the Booker Prize-winning novel Life of Pi.  The project had already passed through multiple directors including Dean Georgaris, M. Night Shyamalan, Alfonso Cuaron, and Jean-Pierre Jeneut.  Then in October, we reported that Lee said Life of Pi would be his next film.  Today, Indiewire reports that the project is now scouting locations Taiwan and Pondicherry, will be a big-budget film with a price tag of over $70 million, and will be a “3D magical fantasy adfventure crammed with visual effects.”  This would be Lee’s first 3D film.

Life of Pi, in short, is about a child who shares a lifeboat with a hyena, an injured zebra, an orangutan and a hungry Bengal tiger.  Hit the jump to read the official synopsis of the book and you’ll wonder how screenwriter David Magee (Finding Neverland) has managed to crack the script.  Producer Elizabeth Gabler wants to begin filming this August for a 2012 release, but Fox hasn’t made a decision on whether to give the film the green light.

A Fistful of News

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: October 30th, 2009 at 5:10 pm

We missed some stories this past week.  We’re sorry.  But we did not forget them.  We never forget.  We’re like elephants and people who hold grudges.  With that in mind, here are some stories that are a little late but they’re still great.  You can enjoy them all after the jump.

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