James Caan has left the
political comedy "Nailed" after a dispute led him to storm off
the set, and it all seems to have centered on a cookie.
The trouble started last Wednesday on the first of Caan's
two days of shooting the role of a U.S. speaker of the house
who chokes to death on a cookie. Director David O. Russell
asked him to cough as he choked, but Caan argued that the
character couldn't cough and choke to death at the same time.
Russell suggested that they shoot it both ways, but the
veteran "Godfather" actor expressed distrust that his version
would be considered and left the South Carolina set. A
spokesman for Caan wouldn't confirm or deny the specifics of
what happened but said with a laugh that there were creative
differences and the departure was amicable.
Producer Douglas Wick said the discussion was "part of an
ongoing creative conversation between the actor and director"
and that Russell has behaved professionally throughout the
shoot.
Caan's part is being recast. The shoot began April 15.
"Nailed" stars Jake Gyllenhaal, Jessica Biel, James
Marsden, Catherine Keener, Tracy Morgan and Olivia Crocicchia
in the tale of a woman who gets a nail lodged in her head and
travels to Washington to fight for better health care.
Russell has a reputation for on-set battles. He had
well-documented differences with George Clooney (in which the
two came to blows on the set of "Three Kings") and Lily Tomlin
(in heated verbal exchanges on the set of "I Heart Huckabees"
as seen last year on YouTube).
Reuters/Hollywood Reporter
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