Remember when Bradley Cooper laughed off rumors that he was going to play Lance Armstrong? Well, in another sign that nothing’s set in stone in Hollywood, the Silver Linings Playbook actor may wind up being involved in a film about the disgraced former cyclist anyway. According to reports, Cooper is joining a Warner Bros. project as producer and may take a role in the film.
Deadline reported today that Cooper is joining the project Warner Bros., Atlas Entertainment and Game Change director Jay Roach are working on. This project was first reported on in March, shortly after J.J. Abrams and Paramount reportedly began work on their own film.
Cooper had been linked to the Abrams project, but he called that “nuts.” It sounds like it’s not “nuts” anymore, since Cooper is in talks to produce the Roach project, which is currently titled Red Blooded American. E! News has also confirmed this.
This film will focus on the relationship between Armstrong and Tyler Hamilton, the first member of the US Postal Service Team to come forward and talk about doping within the team. Hamilton spoke in a 60 Minutes segment about how he saw Armstrong cheating on his way to seven Tour De France titles.
Cooper is reportedly interested in taking one of these two major parts, so he might still not end up playing Armstrong.
Hollywood interest in Armstrong’s story has been at an all-time high since Armstrong finally admitted to doping after years of denying it. Abrams’ project is based on the Juliet Macur book Cycle Of Lies: The Fall Of Lance Armstrong, while Roach’s film will be written by Side Effect’s Scott Z. Burns. There’s also another film in the mix from director Stephen Frears, which might star Ben Foster.
Cooper will have time to work on Roach’s film after he makes Cameron Crowe’s untitled movie in Hawaii. His American Sniper project is in limbo since Steven Spielberg dropped out.
Audiences will see Cooper in American Hustle on Christmas Day.
image: WireImage/image.net