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Below
Casting Reports
By Michael FlemingNEW YORK (Variety) - In a move that casts further doubt on a start for ``Basic Instinct 2'' before possible writers' and actors' strikes this summer, Bruce Greenwood has taken the lead role in ``Below,'' a WWII submarine thriller.
Greenwood, who's coming off an acclaimed turn as JFK in ``Thirteen Days,'' had been expected to play a psychiatrist alongside Sharon Stone's sociopathic murderess in ``Basic Instinct 2.'' Serious talks had been under way with Greenwood and ``Die Hard'' helmer John McTiernan, and deals seemed near last week. But the film's financiers were concerned about the picture's rising costs. (Stone's salary is in the $15 million range.)
A budget done when David Cronenberg was directing grew more expensive under McTiernan thanks to his fee and because the director wanted to shoot in New York. The producers hoped to replicate the film's Gotham setting cut rate in Canada. But McTiernan apparently liked the atmosphere of the San Francisco-set original and wanted to make sure the sequel matched its quality.
Making matters worse, plans to solve these problems in Hollywood meetings last week were delayed because McTiernan was snowbound in Canada until Thursday evening.
With no decision in place Saturday night on a film expected to start shooting early March, Greenwood accepted the lead in Dimension Films' ``Below,'' fearing he'd otherwise be faced with no pre-strike opportunity to capitalize on his ``Thirteen Days'' momentum.
Greenwood committed and then headed off to the Berlin Film Festival, where the Cuban Missile Crisis drama will premiere on Tuesday. He heads to London the following day for ``Below'' wardrobe fittings. He will play the skipper of a sub sent to rescue three survivors from a British hospital ship sunk by Nazis. During a cat and mouse chase with a German destroyer, it becomes clear that the sub is haunted. Matt Davis (''Tigerland'') and Olivia Williams (''Rushmore'') co-star.
David Twohy directs from a script by ``Requiem for a Dream'' director Darren Aronofsky and Lucas Sussman.
Greenwood will then move on in June for his third teaming with director Atom Egoyan in ``Ararat,'' playing missionary-physicist Clarence Asher in a drama to shoot in Canada in June. Greenwood will then seek to play a romantic lead, which he hoped to accomplish with ``Basic Instinct 2.''
It's unclear whether Greenwood's sub duty will definitively torpedo a pre-strike start for ``Basic Instinct 2,'' which is being made from what's considered to be a strong script by Henry Bean and Leora Barish.
February 13, 2001
'Basic Instinct 2' loses out on Cdn. actor
It looks like it could be back to basics for the makers of "Basic Instinct 2."In the wake of Canadian director David Cronenberg's departure from the Sharon Stone-starring sequel, now comes word that Bruce Greenwood -- the Canadian-born actor named as a likely leading man -- has signed on to another project, Variety reports.
The World War II submarine thriller "Below" is to be directed by David Twohy ("Pitch Black"), and will co-star Matt Davis ("Tigerland") and Olivia Williams ("Rushmore").
Greenwood, hot off rave reviews for his performance as John Kennedy in the Cuban missile crisis drama "Thirteen Days," had been mentioned as a possible leading man for "Basic Instinct 2," after original star Michael Douglas and Kurt Russell both passed.
Director John McTiernan was also mentioned as a likely candidate for behind the camera after Cronenberg bailed. But McTiernan's salary demands, and his preference to shoot in New York, rather than a cheaper stand-in city like Toronto, have escalated the budget so high, producers are starting to get skittish, Variety said.
Meetings to try and sort out the problems were delayed last week because McTiernan was in Canada, and was delayed by last week's bad weather.
The film is still targetted to begin shooting in early March, but on Saturday, with no final decision made on the fate of "Basic Instinct 2," Greenwood opted for the lead in "Below."
Variety said the actor was concerned that if he didn't have a commitment now, he might not have a project in place before the spring-summer actors strike, and the acclaim he received for "Thirteen Days," would evaporate without any follow-up project.
After "Below," Greenwood will work with fellow Canadian, director Atom Egoyan, on "Ararat." Egoyan previously directed Greenwood in "The Sweet Hereafter" and "Exotica."
Variety said it's not clear whether the makers of "Basic Instinct 2" can pull off the film now, prior to a strike deadline. Previous reports have suggested that if the project is shelved, the producers will be on the hook for Sharon Stone's $15 million salary.