OLIVIA MARNE
Warner Bros’ “Jersey Boys” movie, the story of Franki Vali and the Four Seasons has been delayed.
As Moviehole’s Clint exclusively reported a couple of months back, the movie was due to begin filming in January.
The movie, based on the Broadway play, to be directed by “Iron Man” helmer Jon Favreau and based on a script by “Skyfall” writer John Logan, has been put into turnaround. Warner seems to have gotten cold feet on the project, which hasn’t pleased producing outfit GK Films too much.
Sources tell Variety that while Warners was keen to be back in business with GK Films principals Graham King and Tim Headington, it was never high on the project which, given its subject matter, may have limited appeal to international auds.
King beat out a slew of other high-profile producers and has been doing everything he can to keep the project afloat, including shopping it to Twentieth Century Fox and Paramount, with the latter studio scheduled to meet with King on Friday to discuss the possibility of acquiring “Jersey Boys” out of turnaround. Favreau is an attractive element, having directed Par’s “Iron Man.”
King brought “Jersey Boys” to WB after developing the project for years at Sony, where GK Films had a four-picture put deal. “Jersey Boys” had been slated to be GK Films’ first project under its new deal at Warner Bros., but it carries a sizable budget for a period project that wasn’t expected to feature A-list stars.
While official offers were never made, sources have told Variety in recent weeks that the filmmakers were eyeing John Magaro (“Not Fade Away”), Dominic Cooper (“Mamma Mia!”), Vincent Piazza (“Boardwalk Empire”), Paul Dano and James Badge Dale for lead roles.
“Jersey Boys” was originally due for a Christmas 2013 release.
