After commanding the small screen with his thrilling and hypnotic portrayal of sadistic hitman Lorne Malvo on FX’s Fargo, for which he’s racked up accolades including an Emmy nod, Billy Bob Thornton is taking back the big screen. He’ll appear opposite Robert Downey Jr. in this fall’s The Judge then star in thriller Cut Bank. Most promisingly, though, the actor has just signed on to star with Sandra Bullock in Our Brand is Crisis.
Hailing from Prince Avalance and Joe director David Gordon Green, the film, which blends dramatic and comedic elements, is based on a 2005 documentary by Rachel Boynton about the American political campaign strategies used in Bolivia by President vill Clinton’s former consultants James Carville and Stan Greenberg. Bullock will be taking on the role of “Calamity” Jane Bodine, whom TheWrap describes as “a retired American political consultant who often quotes famous people to help hammer home her talking points.”
No word yet on Thornton’s part in the project, which co-stars Argo actor Scoot McNairy. Our Brand is Crisis boasts a script by Peter Straughan (The Men Who Stare at Goats), and shooting is due to get under way this fall, with plans to release next year. Whether or not Warner Bros. is viewing the dramedy as a potential awards contenders is still unclear.
Though it’s still early days for Our Brand is Crisis, the premise sounds intriguing, and Bullock and Thornton should make for quite the pair of dramatic firecrackers. We’ll keep you posted as this project develops.
