Spielberg Leaves ‘Harvey’ Remake

Published by Jeff Leins on December 4, 2009

Steven Spielberg has backed out of directing Harvey, a remake of the 1950 classic starring Jimmy Stewart.

The 62-year-old director spent several months developing the film, which was to be his next production and the first under the newly stand-alone DreamWorks.  Fox was allowing DW to fund 50% through their deal with Dubai-based Reliance, but the movie fell apart when Spielberg couldn’t find a star for the lead.  Fox will continue to work on it.

The obvious choice, considering their history, was Tom Hanks.  Except he declined to make… well, I’m not sure.  Robert Downey Jr. was also “courted” for the part, according to Variety, but didn’t sign on.  What is wrong with Hollywood that Steven Spielberg can’t get anyone to star in his movie?  Where was his golden boy, Shia LaBeouf?

The story, an adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize-winning play by Mary Chase, centers on a man who befriends an imaginary 6-foot rabbit.  For those of you unfamiliar with the Stewart classic, think Donnie Darko with whimsy, and then go rent the original.

Now speculation returns to the boring “what will Spielberg do next?”  The remake of Oldboy with Will Smith thankfully fell through also.  Spielberg is producing Matt Helm, which is looking for a lead of its own.  The Adventures of Tintin: Secret of the Unicorn is done filming and needs two years of post-production work before its in theaters.  The director could return to the perpetually shelved Lincoln biopic, but that subject is a bit more crowded now that Robert Redford is making a film about the assassination aftermath and trial.  Plus a Martin Luther King biopic he picked up and remains dormant while the family fights for the rights (to party).

Then there’s the fifth Indiana Jones installment.  A script should be complete fairly soon, Harrison Ford isn’t doing anything of substance, and LaBeouf can clear time to play sidekick again, especially if the rumors of him inheriting the fedora are true.