Russell Crowe and Will Smith Save Akiva Goldsman’s Directing Debut, Winter’s Tale

[Ale]

Oscar-winning screenwriter Akiva Goldsman (A Beautiful Mind, I Am Legend) had been trying to get his directing debut off the ground for years: An adaptation of Mark Helprin's 1983 magical-realism novel Winter's Tale. Vulture has learned that things finally seem to be moving ahead on the stalled project at Warner Bros. (news of which broke exactly one year ago today) after, our spies say, Goldsman "called in every favor he had" and landed Russell Crowe and Will Smith, both stars of his previous work, in supporting roles.

Set in both nineteenth-century and present-day Manhattan, Winter's Tale is about a petty thief who falls in love with the dying girl who inhabits the house he’s just burgled and the gangster boss bent on killing him. (Oh, and did we mention there’s also a white, flying horse?) We hear Crowe is in negotiations to play Pearly Soames, the gangster boss, while Smith would appear in the film as a judge. The lead roles of the thief and the little girl still have not been cast.

The film had been languishing at Warner over financial issues — as you might expect with a book that features an angelic white horse that can actually jump five New York City blocks at one go — but we now hear that between Goldsman shaving some $20 million off the original budget and landing both Crowe and Smith, the film is likely to take flight (just like a flying horse!) and begin shooting as early as September or October of this year.

http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2012/02/russell-crowe-will-smith-winters-tale.html

[Radewart]

That sounds pretty bad. Is Will trying to ruin his career?

[gosia]

It's hard for me to imagine what this movie could look like (a flying horse??! ) but I think it's a good idea for Will to play a supporting role for once. I haven't read this novel but if the character is well written and played it could bring Will the Oscar that I'm sure he really wants by now.

[Ale]

‘Winter’s Tale’, starring Will Smith, Colin Farrell, & Russell Crowe, begins filming in Yonkers, NY next month

While Russell Crowe is busy playing Noah in Upper Brookville, NY, crews are prepping stages for his next movie, Winter’s Tale, in Yonkers, NY.

The movie, which also stars Will Smith, Colin Farrell and Jessica Brown Findlay, will be based at Yonkers Stage, located at 291 Tuckahoe Road and 285 Tuckahoe Road. Filming in tentatively set to begin on October 15, 2012 and continue through January 30, 2013.

Winter’s Tale follow a dying young woman who falls in love with a thief (Farrell) after he breaks into her West Side Manhattan mansion. The supernatural drama take place in the 19th century and contemporary times.

http://www.onlocationvacations.com/2012/09/20/winters-tale-starring-will-smith-colin-farrell-russell-crowe-begins-filming-in-yonkers-ny-next-month/

Edited September 20, 2012 by Ale

[Radewart]

I doubt Will is gonna be in this movie much, likely only a couple of scenes. Will seems to young to play a judge.

[Silver Tiger]

He is slowly becoming Philip Banks.

[Ale]

Akiva Goldsman’s ‘Winter’s Tale’ Sets Matt Bomer, Lucy Griffiths, Eva Marie Saint

http://www.deadline.com/2012/09/akiva-goldsmans-winters-tale-sets-matt-bomer-lucy-griffiths-eva-marie-saint/

[Ale]

Jennifer Connelly Joining Akiva Goldsman’s ‘Winter’s Tale’

http://www.deadline.com/2012/10/jennifer-connelly-joining-akiva-goldsmans-winters-tale/

[Ale]

"Winter's Tale" set to film in NYC 10/29/12 - 01/25/13 (Kaufman Astoria Studios)

http://trevanna.com/mobilepages/reelwork/winterstale.htm

[Ale]

Filming in New York:

Winter’s Tale, starring Matt Bomer, Will Smith, Colin Farrell, and Russell Crowe, is filming around St Felix St and Hanson Pl in Brooklyn.

http://www.onlocationvacations.com/2012/10/25/thursday-october-25-filming-locations-in-nyc-wilmington-atlanta-l-a-more-including-winters-tale-revolution-breacher-castle/

[Ale]

Hurricane Sandy Threat Delays ‘Winter’s Tale’ Start

Winter’s Tale’s scheduled start of shooting on Monday has been delayed a day because of Hurricane Sandy. “We’re pushing the start of Winter’s Tale shooting to Tuesday as a precaution,” a Warner Bros spokesperson told Deadline. The massive storm is anticipated to hit New York, where Winter’s Tale is filming, with full force on October 29. The WB produced film is the first Hollywood project to have to change course because of Hurricane Sandy. The directorial debut of Akiva Goldsman, Winter’s Tale is based on Mark Helprin’s 1983 magic realism novel of the same name. The film is about a thief who falls in love with the dying young woman whose Manhattan home he’s robbing and the mystical bent his life subsequently takes. The 19th century-based drama stars Colin Farrell and Downton Abbey‘s Jessica Brown Findlay in the lead roles plus William Hurt, Jennifer Connelly, Matt Bomer, Lucy Griffiths, Eva Marie Saint, Russell Crowe and Will Smith. Hurricane Sandy isn’t just changing Winter’s Tale shooting schedule, it’s also commanding what can and can’t be said on cable news. As the superstorm threatens to pound the East Coast after leaving at least 40 dead in the Caribbean, CNN today issued a directive that news- and weather-casters not refer to Hurricane Sandy as “Frankenstorm” as some outlets have. “Let’s not trivialize it,” said the directive, according to CNN meteorologist and severe weather expert Chad Myers.

http://www.deadline.com/2012/10/hurricane-sandy-threat-delays-winters-tale-start/

[Ale]

First Photos of Colin Farrell Filming “Winters Tale” in NYC

http://www.colinfarrellfansite.com/?p=3210

[Ale]

Corrigan reteams with Crowe on 'Winter's Tale'

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118061316

[Ale]

Matt Bomer on the set of 'Winter's Tale':

http://mattbomerspain.tumblr.com/post/34374727522/matt-in-winters-tale-set

[Ale]

More pics of Colin Farrell:

http://movies.uk.msn.com/future-movies/colin-farrells-hairy-winters-tale-character-revealed#image=1