EXCLUSIVE: Sensing a possible opening with Hugh Jackman because The Wolverine lost its director and a plan to shoot in Japan turned precarious, Universal Pictures has offered Jackman the huntsman role in Snow White and the Huntsman. The Rupert Sanders-directed film has Kristen Stewart and Charlize Theron ready to star. Also, I’ve heard Universal is in talks with Hossein Amini to come aboard and do some script work on a project slated to begin production mid-September.
Whether Jackman accepts is unclear. Jackman would obviously have to be paid a premium to pump up the star power of a film that will reach theaters after its rival, Relativity Media’s The Brothers Grimm: Snow White. That film has Julia Roberts playing the evil queen, but unproven thesps Armie Hammer and Lily Collins in the leads. Clearly, Jackman’s priority is his signature razor-clawed X-Men mutant hero. He has been very hands on developing The Wolverine with screenwriter Christopher McQuarrie, and he himself drafted Darren Aronofsky, who exited earlier this month. Jackman and the studio are just getting started on finding a replacement. I’ve heard names like Duncan Jones, director of the well-reviewed Source Code, and David Slade, the Twilight Saga: Eclipse helmer who was in the mix before Aronofsky got hired.
What makes Huntsman a possibility is that Fox doesn’t have to rush The Wolverine. The studio is bullish on this summer’s X-Men Origins: First Class to keep the franchise vibrant, and Fox has plenty of tent pole action for 2012. The studio has already slotted the Ridley Scott-directed Prometheus, the Timur Bekmambetov-directed Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, and Ice Age 4. In addition, Japan is still sorting through the aftermath of its natural disaster, and a majority of The Wolverine was scripted to be shot there.
The huntsman role was vacated by Viggo Mortensen. While some reports attributed his exit to money, I hear different. Mortensen was prepping to start the Spanish-language film Todos tenemos un plan, and dropped out of Huntsman when a rewrite veered from what he had expected. He won’t finish the Spanish-language film until mid-August, and Huntsman starts shooting a month later. Who said it’s easy to juggle the pieces of tent poles?
Hugh or no… this is obviously the best Snow White. I can’t wait.
Because of what? The only good thing was Viggo and he left.
Amen to that! The Twitards still believe zombie Kristen Stewart can open a non-Twilight movie all by herself…
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
If Hugh is really considering joining this trainwreck then he really, really must be desperate.
What are you talking about? Who are you? Are you interested in this film or just looking for opportunities to vent your frustration? Awwwwh! You are a Kristen troll! It is going to be rough year for you. Better exercise those fingers…you are going to need them in shape to negatively comment about all things kristen because she is going to have great year!!! Limber up!!
Watching Kristen Stewart is like watching a mannequin act. If you’re her agent, tell her to take a class.
You forgot to add that Kristen will win an Oscar for her acting in Snow White.
WTF?! What about CHARLIZE THERON?
She is amazing! Her award winning portrayal of Aileen Wuornos was one of the best and scariest cinematic bitches EVER!
Her evil queen will trump Julia’s.
SERIOUSLY. Go see the movie Monster.
I agree. Really looking forward to seeing snow white remade! Charlize will rock the evil queen!!
I hope that Universal can recover from the Jeff Zucker era. When I think of Universal I think of Jaws and Back to The Future. Movies like those two wouldn’t have been produced under the Jeff Zucker era at Universal.
So they’re offering Hugh the role that Viggo just walked away from? Yikes. Run Hugh, run!
You should run from this topis, idiot!
So it wasn’t about money, it was about his other film…..The huntsman role was vacated by Viggo Mortensen. While some reports attributed his exit to money, I hear different. Mortensen was prepping to start the Spanish language film Todos tenemos un plan, and dropped out of Huntsman when a rewrite veered from what he had expected. He won’t finish the Spanish-language film until mid-August, and Huntsman starts shooting a month later. Who said it’s easy to juggle the pieces of tent poles?
This’d be an amazing casting if it happens. I hear Jackman has bulked up a lot. He’d be the ultimate Huntsman!
I think Jackman would be very cool in this role. There are elements of this part in his work as both Wolverine and in Australia – but he coudl give it a fresh spin, he’d be great.
Hugh is a the man. He can do this while Fox fixes the Wolverine situation. Cast him and they’ll have six tickets already sold from me.
Yes i have always thought of the huntsmen as a sexually ambiguous song and dance man
I love Hugh and think he would be awesome in the movie. Between him, Kristen, and Charlize, this SW version easily trumps the other one. Really hope Universal gets him.
The script wasn’t bad. Not sure about the Roman names for the Dwarfs. Think they could be pumped up a bit and more unique. But the writer is good and the script has potential. Definitely feels more PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN than TIM BURTON’S ALICE & WONDERLAND but has enough weird elements to give it that flare.
The Black list script was AMAZING. The rewrite is thoroughly meh.
Solid casting all around. Looking forward to this unique spin on the classic.
Came into some big, big money. Thus, I’m retiring from this forum.
Thank you all.
Hugh would be perfect for a Huntsman role. He looks like one. :)
What does it have to do with Hossein Amini? Is he going to rewrite Snow White or is he doing another project for Universal?
Jackman would be a good choice if this is true. The article doesn’t say that he’s accepted yet or not. I’d be surprised if Universal could get him to sign on at a lower salary than Viggo was asking for though. Jackman seems like he’d be a bigger box office draw right now thus would demand higher pay.
This is an excellent choice. Kristen, Charlize and Hugh will make a great movie team.
“Jackman would obviously have to be paid a premium to pump up the star power…”
This is the kind of mob mentality Hollywood thrives on; something Deadline usually doesn’t perpetuate. NOBODY does research. Hugh Jackman may be famous, but his name on a marquee does nothing for box office.
According to boxofficemojo.com, his only film to pass $100,000,000 at the box office that wasn’t “X-Men”-related was “Van Helsing,” which made $120,000,000. (And if Jackman’s a star because of “X-Men” then Michael Keaton’s a star because of “Batman.” Some movies are immune to who’s starring in them).
“Australia”: $49,000,000
“Deception”: $ 4,000,000
“The Fountain”: $10,000,000
“The Prestige”: $53,000,000
“Scoop”: $10,000,000
“Kate & Leopold”: $47,000,000
“Swordfish”: $69,000,000
“Someone Like You”: $27,000,000
These are the numbers of someone who would “have to be paid a premium to pump up the star power…”?
Laughable.
shut up asshole!! You need to know the total gross of a movie that means worldwide!! His movies have made tons of money
x men the last stand
Total Gross: 459,359,555 $
x men origins: wolverine
Total Gross: 371,376,142 $
The prestige
Total Gross: 109,676,311 $
Astralia
Total Gross: 211,342,221 $
swordfish
Total Gross: 147,080,413 $
Van Helsin
Total Gross: 300,157,638 $
X 2 X- men united
Total Gross: 406,449,694 $
I smell a VAN HELSING. Oh, and surprise, surprise that they didnt let Evan Dougherty see this one all the way through.
I’m not interested in a film (unless it’s a comedy) that tells we that Kristen Stewart is the most beautiful girl in the world and the gorgeous Charlize Theron of all people is jealous of her for some crazy reason. I love Hugh Jackman, but I wish he would stop doing all that big budget popcorn stuff and would finally find a project worthy of his talent.
@Will: Well said mate!
Wasn’t Rob supposed to work with Hugh Jackman in Unbound Captives a year or two ago? But now Kristen gets to work with him first. Too funny.
“but unproven thesps..” etc! Ummm… and how is Kristen Stewart a proved thesp in the box office??? She had 3 non twilight films out last year and they all flopped spectacularly!!!!!! And Charlize won an Oscar but NEVER the box office! Hugh is the most successful one in the box office, but that again only came from the wolverine related films!
Lol! Ok, “g”. Do you even know what the term “thesp” refers to? I’m guessing you have no clue if you are talking about box office. You sound equally idiotic and bias saying her movies “flopped spectacularly”. Two of those movies would have never even made it to the theaters with out her. They were not intended to be box office draws. The Runaways had potential as you can see from its DVD sales but its distribution was botched by a now defunct company.
Not that any of that matters, very few people in Hollywood are actual “box office draws” and NOBODY is 100% successful at the the box office. Obviously you’re just looking for any ridiculous reason to hate on Kristen. Sad really.
That her movies made it into the theaters means nothing. People thought that she has enough fans to get an audience but they were wrong. Her movies were big flops. Look at Welcome to the Rileys. It cost so little and it still made no money. Even with the DVD sales The Runaway is still a flop.
I agree that ‘NOBODY is 100% successful at the the box office’ but it looks like Kristen is 0% successful at the the box office.
Honestly I don’t care who they get for the Huntsman at this point as long as he has a strong personality and acting chops to hold his own against Charlize Theron and Kristen Stewart. Same with the prince. It had better be somebody better that Armie Hammer..who? Exactly.
Hold his own against Kristen Stewart? LOL!!! Surely you jest!
A doormat has more personality than KS, and yet her agents keep posting idiotic statements like the one above. I laughed so hard my tummy hurts!
I love Kristen for snow white. Kristen troll above.
ewww bad casting esp Stewart and Jackman
The problem, though, is that Hugh would obliterate Kristen Stewart from the screen. I haven’t seen enough of her to say whether she’s a good actress or not, but I feel I can confidently say she’s a low-energy presence. Viggo (who I love) was actually a better match for her. Hugh Jackman is too big a presence.
I agree. They don’t match at all. It is a strange duo like James Franco and Anne Hathaway.
Universal’s cast of Charlize Theron, Kristen Stewart and now potentially Hugh Jackman definitely trumps Relativity’s with Julia Roberts, Armie Hammer and Lily Collins. If both movies look good, of the two people will go see the one with the bigger names. It all depends on how they’re marketed. Back in 1998 Deep Impact came out first but Armageddon had the better cast and was better marketed for mass public appeal. Guess which was the a bigger hit?
Deep Impact was kind of realistic while Armageddon was just very fun to watch. But these Snow White movies look very similar.
Universal is making a last ditch effort here to save the film.
Relativity has trumped Universal. Fans want a classic Snow white, and an upbeat one, not this mess, if they want any at all.
Look at the Box office for Beastly, and Red Riding Hood.
If snow white is remade it should be small budget, not what Stewart Theron, and now Jackman will be paid.
The only high salary in the Universal picture cast is roberts who is probably not being paid much, because she needs a hit.
And since you mention Beastly and Red Riding Hood, what’s Hollywood’s sudden obsession with remaking fairy tales? Out of ideas?
…and dropped out of Huntsman when a rewrite veered from what he had expected.
That sounds ominous, careful Hugh.
In any event, I agree he would overpower Stewart. She lacks the energy and charisma that Hugh has in spades even in his lesser films.