Gere gets busy

A friend of mine, Paul, who we’ll call a struggling actor, just booked a part in the upcoming Amelia Earhart biopic AMELIA. Another struggling actor, who goes by the name of Richard Gere, just did the same thing. Gere will star as George Putnam, a publisher and husband to the famous pilot, to be played by Hilary Swank. The film, to be directed by Mira Nair (MONSOON WEDDING) will document the couple’s rocky relationship, in a lead up to what I can only assume will be Earhart’s mysterious mid-flight disappearance.

Because one movie just simply isn’t enough, Gere has also signed on to star in BROOKLYN’S FINEST, directed by Antoine Fuqua and co-starring Ethan Hawke and Don Cheadle. The script has been big news here in New York, because it was written by a former subway worker—his first screenplay—and not only did it get picked up by a studio, but is being fast-tracked and has attracted major talent, obviously. It centers on three policemen from different backgrounds who find themselves at the same crime scene. Good on R. Gere for not only keeping busy, but for choosing meaty roles too. And Paul, congrats. You booked it.