If Disney’s embryonic Dumbo movie fell silent following the loss of Will Smith – the Suicide Squad actor was never actually attached to the project, mind you; he just met with the Mouse House early on in pre-production about a potential gig – Tim Burton’s live-action remake has burst into life, with Eva Green and now Danny DeVito in negotiations to headline.
Deadline is reporting today that DeVito, known for his crackerjack performance as Frank in hit sitcom It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, is on the verge of playing Medici, the “man who runs a smaller circus that gets acquired by the evil big top circus villain, Vandemere.” Sources close to the outlet claim that DeVito’s contract is essentially done and dusted, with Green’s expected to close soon – barring any hitches. Assuming that’s the case, the French actress – who’s worked with Burton before thanks to Dark Shadows and last year’s fantasy romp Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children – would portray Colette, a “French trapeze artist who works for Vandemere and is a key role in the film.”
That’s two of Dumbo‘s three primary adult roles practically filled, and now that Disney’s live-action reimaging has finally gained a sense of momentum, we fully expect the Mouse House to locate its third headline act in the coming weeks – if it hasn’t already.
Working in tandem with writer-producer Ehren Kruger, Tim Burton came attached to the live-action Dumbo movie early on in development, and though there’s no release date to report just yet, the Mouse House looks set to court the iconic circus elephant before the cameras very soon indeed.
