Film Music Reporter has learned that composer Theodore Shapiro is currently writing the score for the upcoming comedy Arthur. The movie directed by Jason Winer (Modern Family) is a remake of the 1981 film with the same title starring Dudley Moore and Liza Minnelli, which won Oscars for Moore and best screenplay. The original movie was scored by Burt Bacharach, who was Academy Award-nominated for his song “Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do)”. The remake stars Russell Brand, Helen Mirren, Greta Gerwig, Jennifer Garner and Nick Nolte. Arthur centers around drunken playboy who stands to lose a wealthy inheritance when he falls for a woman his family doesn’t like. Warner Bros will release the movie on April 8, 2011.
Shapiro also has the comedy The Big Year coming out later this year. The movie reunites director David Frankel with Shapiro, who previously collaborated on The Devil Wears Prada and Marley and Me. The Big Year stars Jack Black, Steve Martin, Owen Wilson, Jim Parsons, Rashida Jones, Dianne Wiest, Rosamund Pike and Anjelica Huston. In the film, three avid bird watchers compete to spot the rarest birds in North America at a prestigious annual event. No release date has been set for the 20th Century Fox movie, but it is expected to open later this year.
Russel Brand should NEVER have been cast in this movie! They’re going to butcher another wonderful classic movie. I’m surprised they didn’t cast Katie Perry as Linda…that would really make it a pile of crap!