Franco and Blanchett Drop Out of Stiller’s ‘While We’re Young’
James Franco
While We’re Young, the project reuniting Ben Stiller and Greenberg director Noah Baumbach, has hit a major casting speed bump: A-List co-stars James Franco and Cate Blanchett have officially exited the film.
Franco, Hollywood’s busiest man, has left the project whose schedule June New York shoot conflicts with his filming of Sam Raimi’s big budget Wizard of Oz prequel, Oz: the Great and Powerful. Blanchett’s reasons for leaving are unconfirmed, though Collider notes her obligations to the New Zealand shoot for The Hobbit (which begins filming this month) may be a key factor.
This setback comes after Baumbach’s original choice for Franco’s love interest, Greenberg’s Greta Gerwig, also had scheduling conflicts preventing her from signing on. The fate of While We’re Young is currently unknown following these major casting losses. However, it should be noted that Stiller and Gerwig were the 2nd casting choices for Greenberg after its initial cast (Mark Ruffalo and Amy Adams) fell apart.
The ever-busy James Franco will next be seen alongside Danny McBride and Natalie Portman in Your Highness, opening April 8th.