‘Old Men’ ripe for Coens, Jones

By Anne Thompson

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) – Joel and Ethan Coen are
in advanced talks to write, direct and produce an adaptation of
Cormac McCarthy’s 2005 novel “No Country for Old Men.” Tommy
Lee Jones is in negotiations to star.

Jones will play contemporary Westerner Llewelyn Moss, an
antelope hunter who discovers a pile of dead men along with $2
million and a sizable stash of heroin. Violence ensues when
Moss decides to play finders keepers. Freshly minted Oscar
nominee Heath Ledger had been in talks to co-star, but the
actor, who withdrew his interest in the project, has said he
plans to take “some time off.”

Casting is under way for a shoot that is set to begin in
May. Locations include New Mexico and Texas.

Although the Coens work closely as a team, customarily Joel
Coen takes a directing credit, while Ethan is credited as
producer.

Budgeted at $25 million-$30 million, “No Country” will be
jointly financed and distributed by Paramount Pictures’
as-yet-unnamed specialty films division and Miramax Films.

The Coens’ most recent film was their 2004 Disney remake
“The Ladykillers,” starring Tom Hanks. Jones is onscreen in
“The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada,” which he also
directed.

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter