The Warner Bros adaptation of TV series THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. has been having some issues. Director Steven Soderbergh and writer Scott Z. Burns have been attached to the project since 2010 but they’ve been missing one vital element: a leading actor. George Clooney was attached but bowed out due to his back problems. For awhile, Matt Damon’s name was tossed around but he couldn’t do it because of scheduling. We’ve heard names like Ryan Gosling, Michael Fassbender, Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Earlier this week, Channing Tatum’s name was officially thrown into the mix.
Well, that’s all up in the air now. The Playlist reports that Soderbergh himself has exited the project after budget issues and casting difficulties. Apparently WB has given the director a tough time with the two topics and he’s decided to move on.
Regarding casting, WB has envisioned the lead as a young actor, someone able to carry a new franchise. However, they balked at Soderbergh’s two top choices – Fassbender and Joel Kinnaman. It seems like Warner Bros doesn’t really know who they want.
They were also trying to get Soderbergh to make the film for $60 million, a number the film maker thought was too low considering it’s a spy movie set in the 1960′s. With WB murky on both money and casting details, Soderbergh decided he wouldn’t have time to put the production together by its projected March shoot date. He can do other things anyway; knowing Soderbergh’s speed, he can have three films done by March!
So what happens to THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. now? Does Warner Bros find a new director to mimic Soderbergh’s style or do they take it back to the drawing board and come up with something different? Will they shoot in March like planned? Finally, will they ever find the elusive young A-lister they’re searching for?
