David O. Russell Leaves PRIDE AND PREJUDICE AND ZOMBIES for OLD ST. LOUIS with Chloe Moretz Returning and Scarlett Johansson Departing

Today, we bear witness to the awesome power of scheduling conflicts.  Vulture reports that director David O. Russell has dropped off the adaptation of Seth Grahme-Smith’s horror-comedy-parody Pride and Prejudice and Zombies because star/producer Natalie Portman couldn’t meet his intended start date.

Instead, O. Russell will shoot Old St. Louis this spring.  As we reported in July, the dramedy tells “the story of a traveling salesman (played by Vince Vaughn) who has been an absentee father, and how his life changes when his daughter becomes part of his life.”  Chloe Moretz was attached to play the daughter but had to drop out due to scheduling conflicts.  But now, Russell’s new schedule reportedly has brought Moretz back into the fold.  Unfortunately, Scarlett Johansson, who was to play Vaughn’s love-interest, has now had to leave the project due to the scheduling.  I’ll leave it to you to argue if it was better to get Moretz or Johansson.