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EXCLUSIVE: CBS Films has acquired U.S. distribution rights to Gambit. The film has a script by Joel and Ethan Coen, and Colin Firth and Cameron Diaz are set to star for The Last Station helmer Michael Hoffman. Firth plays an art curator who enlists a Texas rodeo queen in a scam to con England’s richest man. Shooting begins in London this May. The film is based on the 1966 Michael Caine-Shirley MacLaine British caper film.
Mike Lobell is producing with Crime Scene Pictures partners Adam Ripp and Rob Paris, and Rizal Risjad is exec producer. I’ve been writing about this movie for going on a decade, with Lobell a tireless advocate for a picture that got close several times over the years. Now, the movie seems charmed, with Firth coming off The King’s Speech and his Academy Award for Best Actor. Diaz just starred in Bad Teacher. The picture was funded by Crime Scene. Financing was arranged by CAA, which brokered the domestic distribution deal.
CBS Films is becoming an increasingly busy player in the acquisition circuit after the success of the remake The Mechanic. Those acquisitions are meant to bolster CBS’ slate of homegrown pictures that includes the recent release Beastly.
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Rob Paris??? really?? is he coming along? Does he understand the elements of production yet?
LOVE this idea!
this is a cool remake idea
I had hoped Firth would do the Stoker movie first instead; that one seems to have more potential. I think it’s the Diaz casting that turns me off.
DITTO! She hasn’t had a winner + her wicked ways are taking a toll on her face. Still has a great body but for how long?!! She’s not that good of an actress – definitely not Firth’s caliber.
That Diaz pic is from the ’90s.
Two Points:
Colin Firth wants to do lighter fare, and this is perfect for him. Cameron Diaz would not be my first, second or third choice…but, she may be just fine.
Second point is how does The Mechanic qualify as a success for CBS Films with a TOTAL worldwide gross to date of about 40 million? I know CBS Films has set the bar for success at a really low level, but this low….
Per the article you’re commenting on, it was an acquisition. CBS paid $5 for US rights so their $30 on the picture is a success.
PS: Read before you Comment
CBS Films paid 5 million for the US, and it grossed about 30 million. Who paid for the distribution fees, prints. advertising, marketing, publicity and promotion in the US? Here’s a guess…CBS Films.
What do you suppose the total costs were for these? Even at the lowest level, they would be 15 to 30 million as most films are easily double that…you do the math, Read DHD!
Between the trailer for Bad Teacher and this Cameron Diaz is on a roll.
Follow Filmmakers of Remakes:
If you look at the US grosses from IDMB that your tireless producer has made-since 1979 not one has made money. Mike Lobell since 1979 has made Striptease, Undercover Blues, and White Fang.
These are titles that should give Colin Firth pause for hopping into this Gambit. The scam here is getting an Academy Award winner to hop into this train wreck. Where are his advisors? From everything you hear Colin is one of the nicest people in the film business-this movie will test that moniker. A movie produced by the feuding(?)Harvey Weinstein and Scott Rudin and Eva Braun has more chance of success then the total tastelessness of Mike Lobell. Cameron Diaz is ok, But she aint no Shirely Mcclaine in 1966. The true Crime Scene is the gambit that they actually got funding for this movie. Now wait there is an idea for a movie or was that The Producers? 2030BTD
Nice to Firth taking on a lighter role after his Oscar-winning role. And with studios nabbing the rights to Firth’s upcoming films (Universal with “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy” and CBS Films with this pic) — no studio’s nabbed the rights to “Main Street” yet? Not only is that is low-risk (the budget was reportedly $10M), the film’s already in the can.
All the studio has to do is advertise Firth’s involvement and tout it’s stronger supporting actors. Or at release the damn movie on DVD.
What the hell is Crime Scene Pictures?
Is this some kind of high-brow snuff film?
I will watch Colin in anything, including Bridget Jones 3 …
I don’t want to sound like a “hater” but Caneron Diaz is not a good enough actress to be in a Cohen movie opposite an academy award actor like Firth…I mean, Ashton Kutcher acted circles around her in “What Happens in Vegas”, and that movie was horrible….know one lines up to see a Diaz flick…. They should get Blake Lively…she actually did great in The Town…and she’s young.
Affecting a Boston Drawl, and donning heavy eyeliner does not make Blake Lively ‘great’ in The Town.
She was totally unmemorable – apart from said heavy eyeliner.
cameron diaz is good at comedic roles. remember how excellent she was in The Mask. colin firth is very good at understated comedy.
the big question here is really about CBS. they’re first few films out of the gate were clunkters. but perhaps this puts them on track.
If you look at the US grosses from IDMB that your tireless producer has made-since 1979 not one has made money. Mike Lobell since 1979 has made Striptease, Undercover Blues, and White Fang.
These are titles that should give Colin Firth pause for hopping into this Gambit. The scam here is getting an Academy Award winner to hop into this train wreck. Where are his advisors? From everything you hear Colin is one of the nicest people in the film business-this movie will test that moniker. A movie produced by the feuding(?)Harvey Weinstein and Scott Rudin and Eva Braun has more chance of success then the total tastelessness of Mike Lobell. Cameron Diaz is ok, But she aint no Shirely Mcclaine in 1966. The true Crime Scene is the gambit that they actually got funding for this movie. Now wait there is an idea for a movie or was that The Producers? 2030BTD
CBS couldn’t release a big wet fart. Someone should shoot Amy and Wolfgang in the head and put Les out of his misery.