In theory, the idea of Warner Bros. pairing up Bradley Cooper and Beyonce to star in a remake of “A Star is Born” is smart thinking. Cooper has become a megastar thanks to “American Sniper” and the studio clearly wants to keep him in the fold. Beyonce, on the other hand, is arguably the biggest pop star in the United States (maybe the planet) and she'd only cement her legacy by following in the steps of legends Judy Garland and Barbra Streisand who also appeared in adaptations of the original 1937 movie. There's a kicker, however. Warner Bros. is negotiating with Cooper to direct.
According to Deadline, Cooper would take the reins from Clint Eastwood who was the last filmmaker associated with the project. This would also be Cooper's directorial debut and it seems like very dicey material for a first-timer. The material certainly isn't on par with a Samuel Beckett play, but it's a trope even casual moviegoers have seen again and again. If you can't bring something entirely fresh to the project why make it? Maybe Cooper has a pitch that blew the socks off WB execs, but excuse us for being slightly wary on the project's prospects.
Over the years, actors such as Tom Cruise, Christian Bale and Leonardo DiCaprio have all flirted with possible remakes of “A Star is Born.” The last version was released in 1976 and featured Streisand and Kris Kristofferson. It received mostly negative reviews, but “Evergreen” won the Best Original Song Oscar in 1977.
The report also indicated that Beyonce, who has been attached to the project in the past, isn't officially on board yet. She last appeared in 2009's over-the-top thriller “Obsessed,” but earned a Golden Globe nomination for her performance in “Dreamgirls.”
Cooper will appear next in Cameron Crowe's “Aloha” and David O. Russell's “Joy.” He's also reprising his role as Ben in “Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp” which will debut on July 17 on Netflix.