Paramount Pictures and the Oscar-winning writer-director team are moving fast on their re-adaptation of the Charles Portis novel, first reaching out to Jeff Bridges, and now Damon and Brolin, to potentially star. Damon would take on the Glen Campbell role of a Texas Ranger tracking an outlaw along with a gruff U.S. marshal originally played by John Wayne, who won an Oscar for his role in the 1969 Western.

All three actors are in discussions with the studio, which hopes to move into production in the spring. The story concerns a 14-year-old girl traveling into dangerous territory with the two lawmen in search of the man who murdered her father, who Brolin would play.

Bridges and Brolin have worked with the Coens before, but Damon is new to their coterie of actors. Bridges famously portrayed Jeffrey "The Dude" Lebowski in the Brothers' comic noir, "The Big Lebowski," in 1998. Presumably, the new role will involve fewer acid flashbacks and bowling montages.

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Bourne Ultimatum Crushes Competition

Matt Damon shows he has what it takes to be a top action hero: The Bourne Ultimatum crushed its competition this past weekend, making an estimated $70,181,000 with a per-theater gross of $19,175. With breathtaking action, perfectly choreographed surveillance and fight scenes, it really is the best thriller of the year so far. In second place was The Simpsons Movie, which made an estimated $25,600,000. In third place was Underdog which debuted with an estimated take of $12,009,000.

Also opening this weekend were Hot Rod which made $5,015,000, Bratz, which made $4,310,000, and the Hector Lavoe biopic, El Cantante , which made $3,254,000 in a limited release with a very nice per-theater groos of $6,003. El Cantante , which stars Marc Anthony and Jennifer Lopez, has had mixed reviews. Still, some major critics loved the film and it will go into wider release soon.

Posted on August 6, 2007
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