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De Niro joins cast for film about Us anti-corruption operation and signs up for role in boxing drama Hands of Stone

Robert De Niro is reuniting with director David O Russell, playing a character "connected to the underworld" in Russell's as yet untitled thriller about the FBI's Abscam operation, according to Empire magazine.

Russell's film Silver Linings Playbook earned De Niro an Oscar nomination for his performance as Bradley Cooper's gambling nut father; arguably his best in quite some time. It seems everyone on Slp is keen to work with the director again: Jennifer Lawrence, who won an Oscar for her role in the film, is on board, as is Cooper. They'll be joined by Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner and comedian Louis Ck.

In the thriller, Bale stars as con man Melvin Weinberg, who – along with his partner Maxine Gardner (Adams) – was enlisted by FBI agent Jimmy Boyle...

Robert De Niro's first project with David O. Russell delivered an Oscar nomination and one of his most accomplished performances for some time. The pair obviously struck it off on Silver Linings Playbook, so the news that they are reuniting on Russell's next, a so-far untitled Abscam thriller, is immensely cheering but not a major surprise.Talking to Empire, De Niro explained that he'll be playing a man immersed unwittingly in the corruption exposed by a late '70s FBI sting. “My character is a guy who comes in and represents the whole gambling thing, trying to help them work it out. Unwittingly, he’s also being used. He’s legitimate, in that he can do casinos, but he’s also connected to the underworld.” So a fixer of sorts? “Right.” The film follows con man Melvin Weinberg (Christian Bale) who works scams with partner Maxine Gardner (Amy Adams...

David O. Russell seems to want to turn his next, untitled con man movie into something of a Silver Linings Playbook reunion. He already has Playbook’s Bradley Cooper starring in the film. So who could join him? Try Jennifer Lawrence.The film itself – once titled American Bullsh*t – is turning into something of an O. Russell ensemble piece, with Cooper already starring alongside Christian Bale and Amy Adams. As for the plot, that follows con man Melvin Weinberg (Bale) who works scams with partner Maxine Gardner (Adams).When driven FBI agent Jimmy Boyle (Cooper) busts them, he offers the pair a deal: help run a sting that takes in mob criminals and, more intriguingly, crooked politicians during the 1970s. It’s all based on a true story, though elements are being shifted around with dramatic license in Eric Singer’s script. Lawrence is on to play Bale’s wife in the film.

David O. Russell is gathering quite a troupe of actors as of late as he will reunite with his Oscar-winning star of The Fighter and the two stars of his Oscar-nominated Silver Linings Playbook along with several others for his next film, which is currently untitled, but has been referred to in the past as American Bullsh*t. Today Deadline announced Silver Linings star and Oscar nominee Jennifer Lawrence has joined the cast that already starred her fellow Oscar nominee and Silver Linings co-star Bradley Cooper, as well as Christian Bale, Jeremy Renner, Amy Adams and Louis C.K. Yeah, not too shabby. The film, written by Eric Singer, centers on the 1970s FBI sting operation called Abscam, which led to the conviction of a United States Senator, five members of the House of Representatives, one member of the New Jersey State Senate, members of the Philadelphia City Council, and an...

Just one day after Jeremy Renner was announced to be replacing Christian Bale in the as of yet untitled David O. Russell film, The Hollywood Reporter reports that Amy Adams will also be joining the cast and will take the lead female role.

Russell and Adams worked together previously on The Fighter, where Adams gave a brilliant performance and earned much praise. She was so good, in fact, that many thought she was deserved the Oscar that year, which instead went to her co-star Melissa Leo.

As for Russell’s new film, it centers around the true story of a con artist named Mel Weinberg and the FBI agent in charge of the operation that helped take down a number of conmen, corrupt politicians, and mobsters.

Weinberg will be played by Bradley Cooper, while Renner takes the role of the FBI agent Jimmy Boyle. Adams will be playing Weinberg’s mistress and co-conspirator,...

Just yesterday we learned that Jeremy Renner had entered negotiations to replace Christian Bale in director David O. Russell’s next project, and now it looks like Russell has nabbed his The Fighter actress Amy Adams to star as the female lead. The currently untitled pic, formerly referred to as American Bullshit, is based on a real-life undercover sting operation set up in the 1980s by a con artist working for the FBI who rooted out corruption in Congress. Bradley Cooper is in talks to play the con artist, Mel Weinberg, while Renner would play Jimmy Boyle, the FBI agent who busts Weinberg then partners with him on the sting. Per Variety, Adams will be playing Cooper’s partner and mistress. The actress previously worked with Russell on 2010’s The Fighter, for which she was nominated for an Academy Award. Production on the untitled drama is scheduled to begin in February,...

With one star of The Fighter out, another one has entered the ring. News hit yesterday that Jeremy Renner stepped in to replace Christian Bale on David O. Russell‘s next film, previously titled American Bullshit. Now THR updates that Amy Adams will be joining the ensemble, which also includes Bradley Cooper.

Scripted by Eric Warren Singer (The International), the story focuses on Abscam, an actual, joint operation between the FBI and conman Melvin Weinberg (Cooper), the latter of whom helped organize a sting operation wherein several politicians thought they were working in conjunction with a sheikh — for their own financial gain, of course. Several politicians got arrested, and now there’s a movie coming more than 30 years later. Renner would play Jimmy Boyle, the lead FBI agent in charge of the operation, while Adams has stepped in as Maxine “Max” Gardner, who is mistress to Cooper’s character.

Adams...

Jeremy Renner ("The Bourne Legacy," "Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol") is in negotiations to join Bradley Cooper in David O. Russell's untitled drama, formerly known as "American Bullshit", at Sony Pictures and Annapurna Pictures reports Variety.

Christian Bale was originally attached to star but dropped out. Cooper will take over his role and Renner will tackle the role that Cooper had originally planned to play.

Eric Warren Singer penned the script for this true story tale of a notorious financial con artist (Cooper) and his mistress who were forced to work with an intense and ambitious FBI agent to turn the tables on other con artists, mobsters and politicians.

Renner is in talks to play Jimmy Boyle, the FBI agent who busts con artist and then partners with him in the sting. Ellison, Charles Roven, Richard Suckle and Ted Schipper will produce.

Shooting kicks off in February.

Jeremy Renner is in negotations for David O Russell's new film. The Bourne Legacy star is in line to replace Christian Bale in the soon-to-be-renamed American Bulls**t project, reports Variety. Based on a true story, the film will see Renner play zealous FBI agent Jimmy Boyle. Boyle arrested con man Mel Weinberg, who he then forced to enact a scam that ran through the '70s and '80s and saw several politicians arrested for their (more)...

Jeremy Renner (The Avengers, The Bourne Legacy) is in negotiations with Sony Pictures  to replace Christian Bale in David O. Russell's American Bullshit. The film still isn't officially titled, but that's what most of us know it by right now. This will be Renner's first project of 2013.

The movie is based on the true story of a notorious financial con artist and his mistress/partner in crime who were forced to work with an intense and ambitious FBI agent to turn the tables on other con artists, mobsters and politicians.

Bradley Cooper is also in negotiations to play Mel Weinberg, "the con artist who worked with the FBI as the star witness in its far-reaching Abscam corruption case that stretched from Atlantic City all the way to the steps of Congress." Russell worked with Cooper on Silver Linings Playbook. Renner will play Jimmy Boyle, "the FBI agent who busts...

There are yet more changes afoot for David O. Russell’s latest project, which once went under the title American Bullshit, but is currently looking for a new moniker (a move that should surprise exactly no one). But the new name – or lack thereof – isn’t the big news. Instead, Variety brings word that Jeremy Renner is now in negotiations to replace Christian Bale in the cast. If he signs, the current Empire cover star would play Jimmy Boyle, an intense, dedicated FBI agent who arrests con man Mel Weinberg and strong-arms him into running a scam that saw politicians arrested for making dodgy deals.Bradley Cooper is already locking down the role of Weinberg and Russell is looking for someone to play his mistress / con partner. The film, written by Eric Warren Singer, is based on the true account of the scam, which ran in the 1970s and 1980s.

Jeremy Renner and Bradley Cooper are in negotiations to star in American Bullsh*t for Sony Pictures and director David O. Russell.

Eric Singer (The International) wrote the screenplay, based on the true story of a con artist and his mistress, who were forced to work with the FBI to take down other grifters, mobsters, and politicians involved in a vast conspiracy. Jeremy Renner is in talks to replace Christian Bale as Jimmy Boyle, the FBI agent who busts the con artist, Mel Weinberg (Bradley Cooper), and forces him to help solve the Abscam corruption case, which spans from Philadelphia to Washington D.C.

Megan Ellison's Annapurna Pictures is financing the drama. She will also produce alongside Charles Roven, Richard Suckle, and Ted Schipper. Production is scheduled to begin in February. Bradley Cooper also stars in David O. Russell's latest, The Silver Linings Playbook, arriving in theaters November...

Christian Bale was originally set to star alongside Bradley Cooper in David O. Russell's American Bullshit. Well, now it seems that Bale and the title are gone. While they are still on the lookout for a new film title, someone has come in to replace Bale. Jeremy Renner is currently in negotiations for the role of, "Jimmy Boyle, the FBI agent who busts Weinberg and then partners with him in the sting." Cooper is in negotiations as well to play, "con artist, Mel Weinberg, who...

Variety has reported that Jeremy Renner is replacing Christian Bale in the lead role for David O. Russell‘s upcoming untitled drama. Previously known as American Bullshit, the film is based on a true story about conman Melvin Weinberg who worked with the FBI on an operation to take down other conmen, corrupt politicians and mobsters. Bradley Cooper would portray Weinberg and Jeremy Renner would play Jimmy Boyle, the FBI agent in charge of the operation.

Bale has previously worked with David O. Russell on The Fighter playing Dicky Eklund – a role which had won him an Oscar. It is unclear as to why he dropped this film from his slate as he doesn’t seem to be too busy in the immediate future. Perhaps he simply wanted to take it easy after coming off the physically demanding role of Batman in The Dark Knight Rises (which opens this weekend). It’s a shame though,...

A casting change is being made on director David O. Russell’s (The Fighter) next film. Russell has been lining up the real-life story previously known as American Bullshit for his next project with Christian Bale in the lead, but Variety now reports that Jeremy Renner is in talks to take over that role. Written by Eric Warren Singer, the stranger than fiction story is based on a real-life undercover sting operation set up in the 1980s by a con artist working for the FBI who rooted out corruption in Congress. Bradley Cooper is in talks to play the con artist, Mel Weinberg, while Renner would play Jimmy Boyle, the FBI agent who busts Weinberg then partners with him on the sting. Russell’s drama adaptation The Silver Linings Playbook, also starring Cooper, opens later this year, and he’s poised to start production on American Bullshit next February. No...

Despite leading him to an Oscar win, David O. Russell has lost his Fighter star Christian Bale for his next drama. Previously titled American Bullshit, the film was set to feature The Dark Knight Rises star, alongside Russell’s upcoming Silver Linings star Bradley Cooper. But now there’s a change of plans.

Instead, Variety reports that Jeremy Renner – whose The Bourne Legacy was forced to move because of Bale’s blockbuster – is now set for the lead role in the film being financed by Megan Ellison‘s Annapurna Pictures. There’s no reason why Bale dropped, as he only has Terrence Malick‘s Knight of Cups and Lawless to shoot this year. Production for this one begins in February, when Bale’s schedule is currently open — so unless he simply needs a break, hopefully we’ll hear what he’s headed to instead.

Scripted by Eric Warren Singer (The International...

The content and technology businesses are at war, as is well-known and as I discuss in a recent article. It’s a struggle that focuses on unauthorized file sharing and new business models—in other words, a copyright war. Undeniably, the entertainment industry often battles demand rather than trying to satisfy it, and copyright laws have taken a corporate turn. Who better to write about this conflict, one would think—and point the way to solutions, one would hope—than an author with 27 years experience in copyright law as a professor, practitioner and government attorney?

That author is William Patry, who is now Google’s senior copyright counsel (though he emphasizes that he’s writing to express his own views, not Google’s). He says he’s in favor of “effective” copyright statutes, and I opened his book hoping to learn what those might look like, since the divergence of...