Charles Matthau’s upcoming adaptation of the Elmore Leonard novel Freaky Deaky was all set to be a star studded, A-list affair. First, it scooped up William H, Macy in a starring role. Solid, sturdy, that’s a good choice. Then it began filling out the ranks of its cast with big names put in supporting roles. Matt Dillon, Brendan Fraser, Craig Robinson, they were all on board, and it was looking like this could end up being a big hit like one of Leonard’s other page to screen adaptations, Get Shorty. But then, suddenly, the entire cast dropped out of the pic and were recast with names that are more, uh… B-list. Uh-oh, that can’t be a good sign.

Gone are Dillon, Fraser, and Robinson in the supporting roles; in are Billy Burke, Michael Jai White, Bill Duke, and Christian Slater. Gone is William H. Macy in the starring role; in is Crispin Glover as his replacement. And now there’s word that Tom Arnold is in negotiations to play the Glover character’s brother. Hmm, Christian Slater, Crispin Glover, and Tom Arnold in the same movie? Plus the grizzled face of Bill Duke? While this is starting to look more like a straight to DVD affair than a potential blockbuster, color me intrigued. I’m not really looking forward to this one in the same, this could be a good movie way that I was before; but there are still some exciting names attached to this thing. The manic energy of Glover and Arnold together on the same set could be enough to start some fires. Add in a dusting of Christian Slater’s fallen from grace appeal and suddenly this looks like it could be an entertaining train wreck for the ages. This might be the awesome 80s reunion movie that The Expendables wasn’t.

Source: Variety