Bradley Cooper in “The Crow” and other bizarre casting news

Hollywood has definitely been up to some odd casting as of late, including yesterday’s news that Bradley Cooper might be cast in a remake of “The Crow.”

With the way things ended for Brandon Lee the first time around, this kind of seems like one of those “cursed” movie projects (a la “Poltergeist”).  It was bad enough that the movie had to be finished with a double the first time around -- it’s hard to imagine how Lee’s fans will feel about this bit of casting news (then again, they might have all grown out of that goth, angsty stage).

In another bit of angsty casting news, “True Grit” star Hailee Steinfeld has been cast as a star-crossed lover in yet another “Romeo and Juliet” movie (hopefully this one doesn’t try to get all modernized like the one starring Leo that tried to be all edgy by including a plus sign in the title).  It’s hard to imagine her getting romantic after her last gritty performance, so it will be very impressive if the 14-year-old can pull it off.  Lily Collins was evidently up for the role, but likely abandoned it in favor of her Snow White project.

Of course Kristen Stewart and Lily Collins both seem like odd Snow White choices, since they would be considered more like “cute girls” than the “fairest in the land,” and it’s going to be hard not to imagine Armie Hammer as a Winklevii opposite Collins as her prince charming. 

Speaking of the Winkleveii, after hiring a lot of big names for “The Dark Knight Rises,” Josh Pence seems like an odd choice for Christopher Nolan -- he was the other Winklevoss twin in “The Social Network,” where Hammer’s face was superimposed over his.  But at least now the juicy role will make him feel better about something so self-esteem crushing (“Sorry, this guy’s a better actor and better looking, so we’re going to go with his image for twins.”)  He’ll be playing a young Ra's Al Ghul -- Liam Neeson played the older version of the villain in “Batman Begins.”

And speaking of Liam Neeson, it’s extremely odd that his part in "The Hangover Part II" was cut and re-filmed with director Nick Cassavetes.  Since the tattoo artist role was first going to go to Mel Gibson, it seemed like it was supposed to be this funny, cool cameo, but now few filmgoers will even recognize the pivotal character.  It kind of seems like director Todd Phillips might be cracking under the pressure to make this one as good as the first and freaking out a little bit, so hopefully the movie (which looked exactly like the first one based on the trailer that got pulled) doesn’t turn out to be a disaster.  

In other bizarre casting news involving Nick Cassavetes, Lindsay Lohan is trying to push her way into his Gotti biopic, attending a press conference for the movie despite just being “in talks” for the part.  With her legal drama, it’s surprising she’s being considered at all.

So are casting directors on drugs?  Next thing you know Charlie Sheen will be cast as Gandhi and Britney Spears as Mother Theresa in a “winning” casting combo.