FilmDistrict renames Gerard Butler soccer comedy ‘Playing For Keeps’

The newly titled Playing For Keeps (formerly Playing The Field) remains set for a December 7 wide release from FilmDistrict, which acquired the title at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival. 

The Nu Image/Millennium Films comedy stars Gerard Butler as a retired soccer pro who, burnt out on his playboy lifestyle and bankrupt, moves back to Virginia to reconnect with his estranged ex-wife (Jessica Biel) and son (Noah Lomax). He starts to coach the boys’ soccer team but is tested by the sexy soccer moms and desperate housewives he must deal with. Judy Greer, Dennis Quaid, Uma Thurman and Catherine Zeta-Jones also star. Gabriele Muccino directed the Robbie Fox screenplay.

Source: Deadline

 

First look at Gerard Butler in Playing The Field

A soccer mom comedy doesn't exactly scream out "Must See" to us, but in this case, we're keeping our minds open. Granted, the Gerard Butler comedy filmography isn't exactly the most compelling argument in this movie's favor, but with a cast featuring a bevy of beautiful women -- Uma Thurman, Jessica Biel, Judy Greer, Catherine Zeta-Jones -- and a draft of the script penned by "The Kids Are All Right" writer Stuart Blumberg, our interest is piqued.

A few new stills from the movie have landed online, and yeah, they aren't exactly the most revelatory, but it's nice to see Zeta-Jones back in action. Directed by Gabriele Muccino (”Seven Pounds,” “The Pursuit of Happyness”), the film centers around Butler, who plays a troubled father and former pro soccer player who tries to make up for lost time by coaching his son’s team. He ends up in trouble when he gets involved with some of the local soccer moms. Biel will play Butler’s ex-wife who is engaged to be married, while Thurman will play a woman on the prowl for Butler. Zeta-Jones plays a hot newscaster, while Greer takes on the role of a lathered-up housewife.

The movie was first conceived as a story set in the world of baseball, but given those increasingly important foreign dollars these days, the sport was changed to soccer. FilmDistrict will get the film into theaters on March 9, 2012. [via Blackfilm]
Source: Indie Wire



GERARD BUTLER AND SIR RIDLEY SCOTT SET TO MAKE FACT-BASED MERCENARY THRILLER
With Machine Gun Preacher currently winning over the critics in the cinemas comes the news that Gerard Butler is being tipped to lead a fact-based mercenary thriller for iconic Hollywood director Ridley Scott.

Robert Edwards has been hired to pen the film which will be based on the misadventures of former army officer Simon Mann, and while there isn't a studio attached just yet, with Scott and Butler on board it's only a matter of time before a deal is done.

While Simon Mann might not ring many bells, he was instrumental in gathering a group of mercenaries in an attempt to launch a coup against the president of Equatorial Guinea in 2004. Upon traveling Zimbabwe to pick up weapons for the job, he was arrested and spent five tough years in prison. After his release, he was sent to Guinea and sentenced to a further 34 years, only to be freed via presidential pardon and cited Mark Thatcher as one of his backers.

Sir Ridley Scott is currently putting the finishing touches on Prometheus which stars Michael Fassbender, Charlize Theron, Idris Elba, Noomi Rapace, Guy Pearce and Patrick Wilson and hits UK screens on June 1, as for Butler, he will next be seen in Ralph Fiennes directorial offering Coriolanus on January 20.
Source: The Fan Carpet.
Also reported by The Guardian

FilmDistrict picks up Gerard Butler’s rom-com 'Playing The Field'

FilmDistrict picks up US rights to Gerard Butler’s rom-com Playing The Field.

Shooting is underway in Louisiana now for an expected spring 2012 release. Butler plays a broke former footballer and playboy who moves back to Virginia to reconnect with his estranged wife and neglected son. He ends up coaching his son’s football team as a host of adoring soccer mums and desperate housewives look on. Uma Thurman, Judy Greer, Dennis Quaid and Catherine Zeta-Jones round out the cast.

Source, and more info: Screen Daily

Gerard Butler tipped for new movie roles

Gerard Butler is being lined up to play a secret agent in a big-screen version of The Professionals. The Scots actor is favourite to land a role as Bodie or Doyle, originally portrayed by Martin Shaw and Lewis Collins in the 1970s TV show.

Liam Neeson and Gary Oldman are being touted to play their bad-tempered CI5 boss, George Cowley. RocknRolla star Butler, 41, faces competition from fellow Britons Tom Hardy and Jason Statham.

Film company Lionsgate UK has acquired rights to the series, which ran for five series on ITV. Chief executive Zygi Kamasa said: "We really felt there was an opportunity for a bigger British action film. The ambition is to make a powerful movie with the best of British talent.

"We all grew up with it in the Seventies, so the idea of bringing it back for the big screen is perfect."

Production on the remake, which has yet to find a director, is set to begin this autumn.

Butler has also been linked to the role of evil General Zod in Superman. The role would reunite the Scots actor with Zack Snyder, the director of his swords-and-sandals hit 300.

He is currently filming Playing the Field with Jessica Biel and Uma Thurman.


Source: Scotsman

Gerard Butler - Playing The Field & Corialanus updates

Nu Image Sets March Start For 'Playing The Field' With Gerard Butler

Nu Image/Millennium has committed to a March start date for Playing the Field, the Gabriele Muccino-directed film that will star Gerard Butler. In the Robbie Fox-scripted comedy, Butler plays a retired world famous soccer star who tries to rebuild a relationship with his son and ex-wife by coaching his kid's soccer team. While soccer is a hands-free sport, the mothers of the other kids can't keep their hands off the coach, which imperils his plan. Jonathan Mostow, Kevin Misher, Heidi Jo Markel, Butler and Alan Siegel are producing. Danny Dimbort, Trevor Short and Avi Lerner are executive producers. The film was developed under the title Slide, when the protagonist was a baseball coach. Butler and Muccino came aboard after the script was switched to soccer, but it languished until the Nu Image/Millennium guys stepped up.

More information at Deadline

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Coriolanus is sole British production in competition at next month's Berlin film festival

The big-screen Coriolanus, which marks Ralph Fiennes's debut as a director, was today confirmed as the sole British production in competition at next month's Berlin film festival. The modern-day interpretation was shot in Belgrade by the cinematographer Barry Ackroyd, who last worked with Fiennes on the Oscar-winning The Hurt Locker. Fiennes stars in the title role as the loyal soldier turned vengeful exile, while his supporting cast includes Gerard Butler, Brian Cox and Vanessa Redgrave.

Read more at The Guardian

Gerard Butler to start shooting 'Playing the Field' in March

Playing the Field (originally called Slide) is now scheduled to begin production sometime in March. Gerard Butler started out as just producing the film through Evil Twins, but was cast in the lead role a few months ago.

When it was called Slide, the story centered on a ex-professional baseball player who tries to reconnect with his son and ex-wife by coaching the boy's little league team. Now that it's Playing the Field, the action has moved from the baseball field to the soccer field, with Butler attached to play a retired soccer star. Both editions of the story had the ex-player having to fight off the mothers of other kids on his son's team. [Rebecca Murray]