Screenwriter found for Russell Brand's ARTHUR
Look, the concept of Dudley Moore's classic 1981 comedy ARTHUR is perfect for British funnyman Russell Brand. I don't think anyone would dispute that. ARTHUR is a film about a drunk playboy who inherits a fortune when he marries into a rich family. CHECK, that works. Though when he does fall in love, its not with his rich wife but with a working-class woman and he turns to his valet for help in deciding between money and love. That works for Brand too. He's a funny guy and can play a slight variation on himself very well. Haven't you seen FORGETTING SARAH MARSHALL? It's just that it's not an original story, so for those like me who have seen what Dudley Moore can do with the picture, Brand is always going to be compared and is unfortunately going to come up short. He isn't as seasoned as Moore, he isn't as talented and just isn't as funny. And that's not a knock against Brand because I do think he can have a successful career in this industry, it's just that hardly anyone is as funny as Moore. There are some positives signs for the picture eminating from today's Variety however. It seems Peter Baynham, the man who has helped put words into Sacha Baron Cohen's characters BORAT and the upcoming BRUNO, will write the screenplay. That's gotta be at least one good sign, as is the producer from the original movie Larry Brezner is on board to do the same job here. Surely he won't let the original be butchered my today's kids? The Warner Bros. production, setup completely and solely as a starring vehicle for Brand, will film later this year once a director is found.