Beyoncé Pregnancy Delays A STAR IS BORN; Leonardo DiCaprio Passes on Project

Last night at the VMAs, Beyoncé Knowles announced that she was pregnant because a trashy farce of an awards ceremony is the proper forum for announcing such personal news (I guess it’s better than a tabloid).  Knowles was set to star in Clint Eastwood’s remake of A Star Is Born and her pregnancy is a double-edged sword for the production.  Deadline reports that Warner Bros. will likely push back the February 2012 start date, and I’m not sure how that will sit with Eastwood considering the grizzled legend has been bent on delivering a new movie every year.  However, the delay also gives the studio more time to find a new leading man since Leonardo DiCaprio, Eastwood’s top choice for the male lead, has passed on the project.  Other names being floated for the role include Christian Bale, Will Smith, and I’m sure other high-profile actors are being considered.

For those unfamiliar with A Star Is Born, the story concerns a movie star whose career is on the decline.  He helps a young showgirl ascend to stardom but tensions grow between them as her star rises while he descends further into obscurity.  The 1954 version starring Judy Garland and James Mason picked up six Oscar nominations.