Rebecca Mader, who plays the scheming redhead Charlotte on ABC’s “Lost,” is in final discussions to take the lead female role in George Clooney’s adaptation of the book “Men Who Stare at Goats” with Grant Heslov co-producing and directing.
The story takes place in Iraq and pivots on Bob Wilton (Ewan McGregor), a desperate reporter who stumbles upon the story of a lifetime when he meets Lyn Cassady (Clooney), who asserts to be a former secret U.S. military psychic soldier who was reactivated after 9/11.
Mader will play McGregor’s wife.
The Hollywood Reporter reports that Ewan McGregor, Kevin Spacey and Jeff Bridges are in negotiations to star alongside George Clooney in The Men Who Stare at Goats.
The film is based on the book “Goats” by Guardian columnist Jon Ronson. It is set in Iraq and focuses on Bob Wilton, a desperate reporter who stumbles upon the story of a lifetime when he meets a man who claims to be a former secret US military psychic soldier who was reactivated post 9/11.
McGregor is in talks to play the reporter, with Clooney playing the psychic soldier. Bridges will play Bill Django, the founder of the psychic program, and Spacey will play Larry Hooper, a former psychic soldier.
The film is being directed by Grant Heslov; shooting is set to begin next month.
George Clooney and Grant Heslov are recruiting a cast of men for the film The Men Who Stare at Goats. So far Clooney has nabbed Ewan McGregor, Kevin Spacey and Jeff Bridges with Clooney starring opposite.
The story is based on the book by Guardian columnist Jon Ronson.
Goatscenters on Iraq with Bob Wilton (McGregor) a reporter in need of a story, who comes across the story of a lifetime. He meets Lyn Cassady (Clooney), who states he is a former secret U.S. Military psychic soldier reactivated post – 9/11.
Bridges plays the founder of the psychic soldier camp with Spacey playing a former psychic soldier who runs a prison camp in Iraq.
Production could begin as early as October.
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George Clooney is set to star in “Men Who Stare at Goats.”
According to Variety, the film is an adaptation of British journalist Jon Ronson’s book about the U.S. Army’s First Earth Battalion, a unit that was to use paranormal powers. Title refers to the notion that one can kill a goat by staring at it.
Apparently, the project has been around for some time, but international buyers only just received the script this week as the Cannes fest and market got started. Script topped the 2007 Brit List of best unproduced screenplays.