Willis, Zeta-Jones rumored for online gambling movie

[The Buzz]

Bruce Willis and Catherine Zeta-Jones are rumored to be in talks to star in a movie based on the memoirs of Beth Raymer and the rise of Internet gambling in the late-‘90s. Justin Timberlake has also been rumored to be involved in this project.

From Covers.com:

Willis is confirmed in the starring role of Dink, a gambler who’s down on his luck, while Zeta-Jones and Justin Timberlake are both rumored to have parts in the Focus Films production as well. Timberlake is said to be pegged for the role of a Long Island bookie that heads up an off-shore sportsbook.

Director Steven Frears has gone on the record to say that if the picture can land Zeta-Jones and Timberlake, or other major actors, filming would begin in April.

[davenewgates]

Just an addition, Catherine Zita-Jones will play the role of Willis' wife in this movie and Justin Timberlake as Rosie. I'll certainly wait for this movie, its been a while since a gambling movie has come out.

[wagerjunction]

Certainly worth a look. I'll be looking forward to it too.

[PremTips]

Anyone but Willis please!!

[JoeAdams]

Oh my, can't wait to see this movie, April is quite a long wait. That's really my kind of favorite movies and can't wait to see the teaming up of Bruce Willis and Catherine Zeta Jones..

[cassy]

This is somewhat a good tandem! And i'll be looking forward to this as it is my first time to watch a gambling related movie.

[best.hands]

Oh my, can't wait to see this movie, April is quite a long wait. That's really my kind of favorite movies and can't wait to see the teaming up of Bruce Willis and Catherine Zeta Jones..

Well, there's nothing we can do but wait. Films are not done quickly, not to mention there are cuts, blocking, resetting, retouches, etc. While the casting appears to be a good combo for a movie, I just hope it wouldn't be tedious to watch.

[wagerjunction]

What I am a bit wary about regarding movies adapted from novels or memoirs is that due to some constraints of movie-making they story gets changed around to a lesser or greater extent. Sometimes this ruins the pleasure of watching the movie.

For instance, I love the adaptation of "Memoirs of a Geisha" but the movie is quite far from what's been recounted in the book.

On the other hand "The Silence of the Lambs" is a near perfect adaptation, right down to the dialogues from the book.

[Louis - Income Access]

I'd be curious to see what effect this movie has on the general sentiment towards online gambling.

Has anyone read the book?

My fear would be that with Hollywood's love for black-white good vs. evil type plots, there's only one way this story could be told, and that would not be a good thing for the industry. Picture JT's Sean Parker but as the face of online gambling.. Not a good thing for the battle for legalization in the US.

[wagerjunction]

I'd be curious to see what effect this movie has on the general sentiment towards online gambling.

Has anyone read the book?

My fear would be that with Hollywood's love for black-white good vs. evil type plots, there's only one way this story could be told, and that would not be a good thing for the industry. Picture JT's Sean Parker but as the face of online gambling.. Not a good thing for the battle for legalization in the US.

I agree. The politically correct stance in this case could be big-bad-online-gambling, ruining people and destroying lives, blah, blah, blah