Actor Michael Cera (Juno, Superbad, Arrested Development) is in final negotiations to star in the big-screen adaptation of Bryan Lee O’Malley’s Scott Pilgrim’s Precious Little Life.
The Universal film, titled Scott Pilgrim’s Little Life – I don’t know why Precious was dropped — is directed by Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz) from a script he wrote with Michael Bacall (Bookies).
The studio hopes to start production in the fall.
man, all this needs is some kind of (excellently-made) DS tie-in and it’s a trifecta of awesome.
Comment by cpualani — March 19, 2008 @ 7:52 am
Wait, is Scott Pilgrim supposed to speak in monotone and act like he just took a massive dose of downers for the entire movie? Because in three seasons of Arrested Development and two movies, it’s been demonstrated that that’s all Cera is capable of doing.
Comment by Dave — March 19, 2008 @ 8:33 am
Color me excited! Cera would be an excellent Scott. The only problem–who could play Ramona?
Comment by Ye Olde Iowa — March 19, 2008 @ 10:33 am
Inspired casting.
Comment by J.G. Edathil — March 19, 2008 @ 10:55 am
Out of all the young actors around now, Cera’s probably the coolest since he’s so damn relatable.
Comment by Roy — March 19, 2008 @ 11:07 am
I guess he’s popular at the moment after a string of two successful movies, but this is awful, awful casting.
I’ll be happy to be proven wrong, but I can’t imagine this guy fighting a girl scout, let alone Ramona’s 7 evil ex-boyfriends.
Comment by chrishaley — March 19, 2008 @ 11:07 am
Hey, it could have been Sheia Lebouf. I’m pretty psyched with this casting. His humor will match up well, and he can probably be as aloof as Scott.
But will the movie come out before volume 5?
Comment by StephenStills — March 19, 2008 @ 11:17 am
… was Justin Chatwin not available?
http://lo3010.k12.sd.us/pictures/justin.jpg
Comment by Ibrahim Ng — March 19, 2008 @ 11:17 am
No, he’s playing Goku in Dragonball.
Comment by Kevin Melrose — March 19, 2008 @ 11:22 am
Forget fighting, I can’t even imagine this guy raising his voice.
Comment by chrishaley — March 19, 2008 @ 11:22 am
Justin Chatwin! That’s the guy’s name. He’d be perfect. I think that’s even who Bryan Lee O’Malley said he’d pictured as Scott at some point.
Comment by chrishaley — March 19, 2008 @ 11:26 am
Heh, he could be perfect!
Comment by johnchrist — March 19, 2008 @ 11:31 am
This is absolutely perfect. I could not be happier. He has the perfect sense of humor for this. CAN’T WAIT.
Comment by Joe Bowen — March 19, 2008 @ 12:08 pm
that is going to be the BOMB
Comment by Chris Shields — March 19, 2008 @ 12:27 pm
AWESOME!
Comment by john layman — March 19, 2008 @ 12:31 pm
The Bob-bomb!
Comment by Rob S. — March 19, 2008 @ 12:37 pm
Well, if it’s not going to be me…
Comment by Kyle Cowstar — March 19, 2008 @ 12:46 pm
I hope I don’t get cut from the movie. I wanna see someone hot play me.
Comment by Scott Robins — March 19, 2008 @ 12:47 pm
Wait, is Scott Pilgrim supposed to speak in monotone and act like he just took a massive dose of downers for the entire movie? Because in three seasons of Arrested Development and two movies, it’s been demonstrated that that’s all Cera is capable of doing.
Wow, that’s a pretty inaccurate description of Michael Cera’s performances. Granted, he does tend to play the same type of character a lot, but he’s very good at what he does. I think he was the funniest actor on Arrested Development because he was the one actor that rarely got the funny one-liners, and never really did any of the physical comedy that David Cross or Will Arnett did. Cera’s job was to mostly just react to what the other characters were doing, and he was perfect at it. His expressions, his timing, his delivery–all sublimely deadpan.
Comment by corey — March 19, 2008 @ 12:48 pm
“Cera’s job was to mostly just react to what the other characters were doing, and he was perfect at it. His expressions, his timing, his delivery–all sublimely deadpan.”
See, to me, that makes him sound like a great Wallace Wells, rather than a Scott Pilgrim.
Comment by Josh — March 19, 2008 @ 1:28 pm
I’ve not read the Scott Pilgrim comic, but Michael Cera is a great actor….I would have high hopes for it if he takes the role.
Comment by NightwingOracle — March 19, 2008 @ 1:43 pm
Why you got’s to nay-say, nay-sayers???!!! This is Edgar Wright we’re talking about here!!! He made a smallish, red-head dweeb and an orthodontically-challenged overweight slob into LOVEABLE ACTION HEROES!!! TWICE!!! AND IT WORKED BOTH TIMES!!! Have faith, ye of little faith. Boo to you.
Comment by JoJoJackDaniels — March 19, 2008 @ 3:24 pm
NO…have anyone of you read Scott Pilgrim, Cera as neither the look nor the energy-personality for this role. I f***ing love Michael Cera…best performance on Arrested Development (also my favorite tv show). I think he’s an amazing actor and look forward to most any role big (Superbad) or small (Tim and Eric) that he’s in.
I know Pilgrim has a great-hip-indy vibe in medium and content discussed within, but I feel like indy cred with his fans, is all that scored him this role.
Make him Wallace Wells.
That might not make sense to any of you, but its how I feel.
Comment by ejulp — March 19, 2008 @ 4:10 pm
Look, just because Cera played the gay in Juno (Juno was a beard) doesn’t mean that you should typecast him as the gay in Scott Pilgrim too.
Comment by Randy — March 19, 2008 @ 5:30 pm
Wait, what?
Comment by Kevin Melrose — March 19, 2008 @ 5:52 pm
I’m going to see this, I loved Arrested Development & Superbad… So Cera is going to do a bang-up job…
Comment by Rock Roche — March 19, 2008 @ 7:09 pm
Awesome! I started reading Scott Pilgrim just the other day for the first time and I’m loving it. Can’t wait for a film version
Comment by Anonymous — March 19, 2008 @ 7:19 pm
Honestly…this is terrible news. I LOVE Scott Pilgrim. I can’t tell you the number of people I’ve purchased the existing four trades for. Cera is not Scott Pilgrim. This kid plays a lovable loser and Scott, while he may be a slacker and slow on-the-uptake, is not a loser. Honestly, if this kid gets cast I will have to pass on this film series. This truly sucks. I hope the film gets pushed back until they find a better actor.
Comment by Jeff — March 19, 2008 @ 9:36 pm
Google Van Hansis, a current soap actor, and you’ll see a kid born to play Scott. He has the same hair and everything. Scott is a rebel and this kid is more of the quiet background dude.
And it’s not boo-hoo! Knocked Up wasn’t funny in the least. Just because an actor loves a book doesn’t mean he should be so vain as to think he’d be perfect for the role.
Comment by Ann — March 19, 2008 @ 9:41 pm
I agree with Jeff.
Scott is not a dweeb loser, he is cool and awesome. If he plays the same type as he did in Superbad and Juno then its going the wrong way - not that, that would kill the movie - but its not right for the look of the comic.
I like Justin Chatwin too but was also digging Thomas Dekker the kid who plays John Connor on the Sarah Connor Chronicles…he has more of that slacker cool look and I believe he would fight the 7 ex-boyfriends with more verve.
We’ll see though, I do like Cera, and of course Edgar Wright so I trust the brain talent more than the looks right now.
But what happens if this movie comes out before the end of the comic? I’m sure the movie must fufill the series concept as I dont think this is a franchise.
Comment by CL — March 19, 2008 @ 10:08 pm
I am curious how Cera would play Scott. It might be his “break out” moment, where he plays something against type. Even Tom Hanks pretty much played the same bumbling character until he hit A League of Their Own. This could be the breakout role that Cera needs to help his image and move him away from what he was in Arrested Development.
Comment by gee — March 20, 2008 @ 2:07 am
HORRIBLE!!! GOD WHY!?!?!?!
I love Scott Pilgrim and HATE Michael Cera. He is one of the worst actors of ALL TIME! Scott should be cool and slick, not some dumbass lie Michael Cera.
Comment by Billy — March 20, 2008 @ 2:16 am
By the way, the “Precious” thing was an error on HR’s part — and the title they’re using isn’t even from the first book. They’re using the title from one of the other volumes, although I don’t know which one. (Bryan Lee O’Malley told me so.)
Comment by Gordon — March 20, 2008 @ 1:58 pm
Yeah I hate laughing too! Michael Cera sucks! Nic Cage should be Scott Pilgrim!
Comment by Digdug — March 20, 2008 @ 4:16 pm
I’m sorry, but I was just re-reading the most recent SP last night after this news and I have to ask: Are people reading the same book? Scott is lovable and infuriating. He’s cool and he’s clueless. He’s talented and a screw-up. He’s lazy as hell until the current book and a drag on all of his friends due to his complete lack of any real ambition. But, his genuine caring for people offsets that. Scott lacks any reflexive empathy, but is able to put himself in others’ shoes when put on the spot. In other words, Scott is a young man in his 20’s like so many other young men in their 20’s. (And I say this as a man nearing 40! So been there, done that.)
Michael Cera’s turn in Juno, IMO, is the best foundation for an on-screen portrayal of Scott. Bleeker is a genuine, caring, kid, caught up in situations that he has no idea how to cope with, but he does his best to treat Juno with respect and be as honest as he knows how to with her. He loves Juno utterly and tries earnestly to be a good “man” to her. The connections to Scott Pilgrim are already there.
I, for one, think this is inspired casting if it goes through.
Comment by Nick — March 20, 2008 @ 6:14 pm
Ask Brian Lee O’Malley what he thinks TOMORROW 3.22.08 @ MELTDOWN COMICS IN LA, 2-4pm
Comment by Meltdown Comics — March 21, 2008 @ 2:23 pm
scott and wallace in their room/house here!
http://img507.imageshack.us/img507/3156/hansis03bc5.jpg
i am of course kidding but they don’t look that bad.. its that guy “Van Hansis” from a tv show
Comment by pantouflas — March 22, 2008 @ 8:20 am