Damon, Brolin Join Coen Brothers’ True Grit

Published by Jeff Leins on October 26, 2009

Matt Damon and Josh Brolin are in discussions to join the next Coen brothers film, a “re-imagining” of the 1969 western classic True Grit.  Jeff Bridges is already a member of the cast as Marshall “Rooster” Cogburn, a role that won John Wayne his Oscar.

Damon will play the Texas Ranger that works with Cogburn (originally played by Glen Campbell) and Brolin will fill the villain part.

This will be the second time both Bridges and Brolin have worked with the Coen brothers.  Brolin previously teamed with them for No Country for Old Men, which should make for an interesting twist when Brolin shows up in this as the baddie outlaw.  Damon has never worked with the director duo.

The Coens are planning a more faithful adaptation of the Charles Portis novel about a 14-year-old who tags along with two men of the law to track down her father’s killer.  Paramount Pictures is planning a March 2010 production start for release later that year.  Scott Rudin (No Country) and Steven Spielberg are producing, according to the Variety article.

If this is even half as good as No Country for Old Men, it’ll be worth a look.  Damon, Brolin, and Bridges in a Coen brothers movie?  What’s not to like?