Bradley Cooper To Star In ‘Chef’ (But Not Jon Favreau’s ‘Chef’)
There’s a showdown brewing in the kitchen. Years ago, David Fincher was attached to direct a film calledChef. His version never happened, butJohn Wells, whose film adaptation ofOsage: Orange Countyjust debuted a trailer, is going to make the movie from the script bySteven Knight. The Weinstein Company is behind the film, and they’ve just landedBradley Cooperas the star. Good job, guys!
But while thatChefwas floundering, before Wells and Cooper came on,Jon Favreauwrote his own indie calledChef, and has recruited actors likeRobert Downey Jr.andSofia Vergara(and possiblyScarlett Johansson) to join him. He plans to shoot the film this summer.
So who gets the title? The film that had it first, or the movie that shoots first? How about the one with the more powerful lawyers?
Deadlinereports that Sony has served Favreau’s production with a cease-and-desist over the title. Before the Weinsteins had it, the almost-FincherChefwas a Sony thing, and Sony cleared the titlesChefandThe Chefwith the MPAA. So they’re playing like they’ve got the rights. And even though Downey is among the most powerful guys in Hollywood right now, Favreau’s movie will probably end up changing its title.
Couldn’t TWC have just asked? (Maybe they did; we don’t know all the background details.)
The John Wells version ofChefwill feature Cooper as “a Paris chef named Adam Jones, who destroys his wunderkind status in a blaze of decadence and out of control behavior. He cleans up and returns to Paris sober, determined to redeem himself by spearheading a top restaurant that can gain three Michelin stars.” The rest of the cast isn’t set, but Cooper will help firm things up. Michelle Williams and Marion Cotillard are rumored as possible co-stars, and Omar Sy may land a large role, too.
And then Favreau’s film, which will see the director playing a top chef who loses his job, then tries to win back his family and reputation by starting a food truck. Actors like Downey and Johansson will be playing small supporting roles.
