If it’s not broke, then why fix it? That’s the attitude Silver Linings Playbook director David O. Russell has seemingly adopted as the Oscar-nominated filmmaker has expressed an interest to reunite Bradley Cooper and Robert De Niro with Jennifer Lawrence for his upcoming true-life drama, Joy.
From what we gather, Lawrence has already signed on to star as Joy Mangano, a single mother who becomes an overnight sensation after her quirky mop invention makes it big on QVC. But O. Russell is keen to round out the film’s cast — and indeed rekindle the chemistry from 2012’s comedy-drama — by recruiting De Niro and Cooper, too.
Here’s what the director had to say in an interview with The Playlist:
“We’re gonna take some risks we haven’t taken before, in storytelling and cinematically. I think I’d very much like (Robert) De Niro to be in it, I think he’s gonna be in it. And of course I always create a role for Bradley Cooper. I try to have things people have never done. Then they can get excited, and it’s exciting for audiences. That’s what makes it daring in some way.”
The rags-to-riches tale will mark Lawrence and Cooper’s third collaboration with O. Russell, following the aforementioned Silver Linings Playbook and last year’s surprisingly successful American Hustle. Written by Bridesmaids scribe Annie Mumolo, Joy will orbit around Mangano and her meteoric rise to a millionaire and beloved celebrity following inventions such as the Miracle Mop and Huggable Hangers.
There’s no doubting the innate appeal of the project for Cooper and De Niro, and given O. Russell’s recent string of success, a film about an unlikely underdog played by Jennifer Lawrence should have no trouble in finding an audience whatsoever.
Joy is currently pegged to hit theaters in time for the festive season, with O. Russell’s latest project arriving on Christmas Day, 2015.
Published: Nov 11, 2014 12:29 pm