Credit: Variety
Universal Pictures is once again in the position of having to replace key talent in a big-budget film.
Studio is scouring for a director after Mark Romanek ankled The Wolf Man, the $100 million thriller the studio hopes to put into production in March.
Universal, which managed to keep State of Play from falling apart after the abrupt exit of Brad Pitt (Russell Crowe stepped in) — is expected to hire another director before week’s end.
Romanek left the film in a dispute over the budget, among other creative issues. The studio claims the film will cost $85 million, counting about $15 million in tax breaks for shooting in the U.K.
Benicio Del Toro has long been attached to play the title character. Romanek’s exit comes after the studio firmed up Anthony Hopkins to play the title character’s father and Emily Blunt to play the female lead.
Romanek wrote and directed One Hour Photo but is best known for videos that include Johnny Cash’s swan song, “Hurt.”
