White Jazz (film)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
This article or section contains information about one or more scheduled or expected films. The content may change as the film's release approaches and more information becomes available. |  |
| White Jazz | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Joe Carnahan |
| Produced by | George Clooney Grant Heslov |
| Written by | James Ellroy (novel) Matthew Michael Carnahan (screenplay) |
| Starring | George Clooney Jason Bateman Peter Berg |
| Distributed by | Warner Independent Pictures |
| Release date(s) | 2009 |
| Country |  United States |
| Language | English |
| IMDb profile | |
White Jazz is an adaptation of James Ellroy's novel of the same name. It is being directed by Joe Carnahan for a 2009 release. Matthew Michael Carnahan wrote the screenplay and George Clooney will star as vice cop Dave "The Enforcer" Klein.
Contents |
[edit] Previous attempts
James Ellroy completed a draft of a 131-page screenplay on October 31, 1997. In 1998, cinematographer Robert Richardson signed on for what would have been his directorial debut with Fine Line Features distributing. They put the project into turnaround in early 1999 due to budgetary concerns.[1]
In early December 2001, Variety reported that "German-based VIF Intl. Films has come aboard to finance White Jazz, a $28 million follow-up to L.A. Confidential. The company will co-produce the film with Nick Nolte's Kingsgate Films and L.A.-based production company Interlight. Nolte and John Cusack are set to star in the film, with Winona Ryder reportedly in discussions to join them." Nolte was to play Klein, Cusack to play Junior Stemmons and Ryder to play Hollywood starlet Glenda. Uma Thurman was also attached to the project at one point and was to play Glenda.[2] The screenplay was written by Ellroy and Christopher Cleveland.
On December 20, 2001, Empire Online interviewed Cusack and he said, "I think we’re filming in January or February (2002). They’re waiting to put the financing together...It’s set in 50s Los Angeles — typical James Ellroy insanity — really dark but very kind of dreamscapey.”[3] At one point there was an official website (the now defunct WhiteJazzMovie.com) in 2000-2001 with a contest for a chance to win an invitation to the film's premiere. Richardson spoke to the Boston Globe in 2000 about the demise of the project, saying, "That's why directors go absolutely crazy – the development of a project is highly unpredictable and doesn't make tremendous sense. It may happen, but not in my time frame."[4]
[edit] Current production
On November 30, 2006, Variety magazine reported that George Clooney is set to star in a newly green-lighted film adaptation of the novel for Warner Independent Pictures.[5] He is also on board as producer along with his Smoke House partner Grant Heslov. The film, written by screenwriter Matthew Michael Carnahan and directed by his brother Joe Carnahan, is scheduled for an early 2008 production start date.
The 2007 movie script changes the Armenian Kafesjian family to the Mexican Magdalena family.[6] Carnahan said this of his brother's script, "It’s, to me, what that book always was – the point of departure from the Eisenhower 50s to the psychedelic freakshow, Manson 60s. It’s a total combination of the two with a heavy, heavy voice-over narration, this kind of classic noir."[7] Also, Carnahan has confirmed that the characters of Ed Exley and Dudley Smith will not be in the film version despite their presence in the book.[8] A rival production is making a sequel to L.A. Confidential[9] and asked the director to remove Exley from his screenplay as they own the rights to the character.[10]
[edit] Casting
Both Jason Bateman and Peter Berg have signed on to appear in the film.[11]
[edit] References
- ^ "The Stax Report: Script Review of White Jazz", IGN Film Force, July 8, 2003. Retrieved on 2007-03-22.
- ^ "Carnahan Talks White Jazz", IGN Film Force, October 30, 2006. Retrieved on 2007-03-22.
- ^ "John Cusack - As Luck Would Have It", tiscali.film & tv. Retrieved on 2007-03-22.
- ^ "The Stax Report: Script Review of White Jazz", IGN Film Force, July 8, 2003. Retrieved on 2007-03-22.
- ^ Goldsmith, Jill. "Clooney finds partners in crime", Variety, November 29, 2006. Retrieved on 2007-03-22.
- ^ "Carnahan Talks White Jazz", IGN Film Force, October 30, 2006. Retrieved on 2007-03-22.
- ^ Faraci, Devin. "James Ellroy is Getting Narc-ed", Chud.com, October 29, 2006. Retrieved on 2007-03-22.
- ^ Carnahan, Joe. "Q & As", Joe Carnahan's Official Website, December 21, 2006. Retrieved on 2007-03-22.
- ^ "'LA Confidential' Sparks Two Sequels", Internet Movie Database, March 2, 2007. Retrieved on 2007-03-22.
- ^ Carnahan, Joe. "White Jazz vs. L.A. Confidential 2", Joe Carnahan's Official Website, March 1, 2007. Retrieved on 2007-03-22.
- ^ "Bateman Joins Clooney in "White Jazz"", Worst Previews, January 17, 2007. Retrieved on 2007-03-22.
[edit] External links
 |
This article about a crime film is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
