Javier Bardem, Jeremy Renner & Brad Pitt Circling Same Role In Ridley Scott's 'The Counselor'

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by Kevin Jagernauth
February 24, 2012 3:18 PM
16 Comments

Could Michael Fassbender and Brad Pitt be teaming on Ridley Scott's "The Counselor" before they work on "Twelve Years A Slave"? If everything shakes out, that could very well be the case.

Deadline reports the Pitt, Jeremy Renner and Javier Bardem are circling ~~the villain~~ the same role in the upcoming Cormac McCarthy-penned film. Earlier this week Fassbender got locked in for the film at which time there was word that several "high-profile actors" were being sought. And this certainly seems to be the case. The script is said to be an amped up "No Country For Old Men"-esque tale that follows a lawyer who naively gets involved in the drug trade and finds himself caught up in a desperate situation. While Deadline says the role is the villain, that's not quite accurate. If the part is what we think it is, the actors are circling the role of Reiner, a criminal who along with his girlfriend Malkina featuring in another strand of the story -- but that's about all we can say without spoiling it. The latter is one of two female leads that also need to be cast.

This is all early days and who knows who will finally sign on the line. Pitt's participation is dependent on scheduling, which is curious considering his only other confirmed acting gig right now is in the aforementioned "Twelve Years A Slave," which shoots this summer. This is certainly attracting some big names and is already shaping up to be one helluva film.

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More: Javier Bardem, Jeremy Renner, Brad Pitt, The Counselor

16 Comments

| Reply
How Now | February 25, 2012 10:18 PMReply

----Ridley Scott goes from stale, to decades stale.

Can someone tell him ---we're TIRED of the predictive
programming for the EUGENICS age-enda?

Thanks!
fl | February 25, 2012 6:48 AMReply

Brad was also 'rumoured' to be circling THE STORM , Catherine Keeners directorial debut..A period western..perfect , c'mon Brad , get back in the saddle..
jingmei | February 25, 2012 12:53 AMReply

If Jeremy got this role, let me know thanks.
JD | February 24, 2012 9:11 PMReply

At 2:15 in this video, Brad Pitt identifies Cormac McCarthy as his favorite author... and that was almost 15 years ago. I think that makes him the right guy for the role.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZemqIwZ6oug
gonad | February 24, 2012 5:15 PMReply

This is going to be in 3D!?
me | February 24, 2012 4:38 PMReply

I meant to write Maleficent and not Malificient.
me | February 24, 2012 4:34 PMReply

I'm sure it also depends on Jolie's schedule since they avoid working at the same time. Jolie has Malificient starting in the Spring in London. Malificient is a long shoot so maybe Pitt can squeeze it in there.

Although i doubt it since Pitt said he only has a cameo in "Twelve Years A Slave," and that this year he'll be just producing and spending time with his family.
Me | February 24, 2012 6:47 PM

Huh? What the fuck is Brangelunatic?
please! | February 24, 2012 6:18 PM

This isn't a place for Brangelunatics.
geha714 | February 24, 2012 4:13 PMReply

The idea of Pitt playing a villain opposite Fassbender in a Ridley Scott film written by Cormac McCarthy is just too awesome to be denied. Please Brad, make it happen!
Kelly | February 24, 2012 9:45 PM

Brangeluntic? WTF? Have you not being paying attention this whole awards season? I've heard Pitt say at least a half dozen times that he and Jolie don't work at the same time so that one of them is always with their kids. Jolie's been promoting her directorial debut during this time and she's said several times that she would be filming a movie in London this Spring. If Ridley Scott wants to start in May then it stands to reason that Pitt will pass on the movie.

I like Bardem but isn't this role sounds very similar to his No Country character. It'll either be a nice bookend for Chigurh or it'll be too similar and distracting. I'd hate to be the one making that decision.
Me | February 24, 2012 6:48 PM

Sorry for that. Wrong reply.
Me | February 24, 2012 6:46 PM

Huh? What the fuck is Brangelunatic?
RAH-AL | February 24, 2012 5:36 PM

A villain role will be a good change of pace for Pitt. That would get him his Oscar.
Christian | February 24, 2012 3:59 PMReply

Bardem is an amazing talent, but that'd be the most uninspired choice ever. Ever! Couldn't they have found another actor for the villain in Skyfall? Give us something we haven't seen before and let Renner or Pitt play a memorable bad guy! Maybe Pitt would be the more exciting choice because the role would contrast his many sympathetic characters.
EU | February 24, 2012 3:43 PMReply

I really want to know more about the two female characters. Lets start throwing out prospective actresses, Playlist!