Speculation: Is ‘Inherent Vice' Looking To Cast Big Names?

Treat this as not quite a rumor but just some speculation on our part. We know that PTA's adaptation of Thomas Pynchon's "Inherent Vice" is getting ready for a late April/early May start date, assuming the financing falls into place and/or PTA doesn't decide to postpone. Last month, it was reported that Robert Downey Jr. was still attached to the lead role of Doc Sportello (as had first been reported back in December of 2010) and that Charlize Theron (who PTA had mentioned wanting to work with) was also circling a role. Now it appears that both of those options are off the table with Downey Jr. likely in the middle of his "Iron Man 3" promotional duties in early May when the film opens and Charlize booking a role that shoots in that same window.

Two weeks ago it was reported that Joaquin Phoenix will be taking over the lead role and recent public appearances would suggest this has been in the works for quite some time. The question is: who will join him? Unless he's just doing some artful dodging, Philip Seymour Hoffman says sitting this one out, making this just the second PTA film he doesn't appear in. And while we should be getting some definitive answers on that in the next month or two, we thought we'd use this time to do a little speculating and draw your attention to something that costume designer Mark Bridges said about getting ready for the film.

There’s a film called “Candy” -- as well as other films that I’ve been looking at -- that are satires but they’re broad and they have very iconic people in them. So I’m playing with that idea in my mind, whether that’s something that Paul’s going to want to latch onto, [I’m not sure].

He names a 1968 Buck Henry scripted satire "Candy" as being an inspiration, which may be mostly forgotten today but has a huge cast of stars including Marlon Brando, Richard Burton, Walter Matthau, John Huston, James Coburn, Ringo Starr and Charles Aznavour. Bridges goes on to say that he's not sure if that's something Paul will latch onto but it seems like that's certainly an idea they could be playing with. So with Joaquin at the center, might PTA be looking to bulk up his supporting cast with some big names? Back in October, PTA was asked what actors he'd like to work with someday and rattled off a few names off the top of his head: Robert De Niro, Jim Carrey, Charlize Theron, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Michael Shannon. Some pretty big names -- even if Carrey and Theron are off the table due to previous filming commitments -- so it's interesting to guess at where he might be heading.

So who would you like to see in "Inherent Vice"? Sound off in the comments below.

And stay tuned to C&RV. On Monday we're launching Part 4 of our "Making The Master" series featuring a lengthy interview with production designers Jack Fisk & David Crank.



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