For those of you hoping to see Emma Stone star in haunted house movie CRIMSON PEAK for director Guillermo Del Toro, I have some bad news. Stone has cited scheduling conflicts and has dropped out of the horror film that also is to star Jessica Chastain, Charlie Hunnam and Benedict Cumberbatch. According to The Wrap, Stone has commitments to Cameron Crowe and Woody Allen projects that forced her to drop CRIMSON PEAK. But, a replacement is being considered.
Mia Wasikowska of STOKER and ALICE IN WONDERLAND is currently in talks to replace Stone. Wasikowska is a talented actress and has proven she can tackle lots of different roles. Her portrayal opposite Michael Fassbender in JANE EYRE was phenomenal.
Wasikowska is being eyed to play a young author named Edith Cushing who discovers that her charming new husband is not who he appears to be.
Benedict Cumberbatch and Jessica Chastain will co-star as siblings from an aristocratic family, while del Toro's "Pacific Rim" star Charlie Hunnam also has a lead role in the movie.
I would have loved to see Emma Stone in a dramatic horror film like this. While she is certainly good in comedic roles she has shown prowess in dramas like THE HELP and GANGSTER SQUAD. I think she has the potential to turn into quite a high caliber actress if she picks her roles right.
CRIMSON PEAK is not due to begin production until 2014 so hopefully we don't lose any of the other actors in the meantime. This entire cast would be perfectly fit to take on Del Toro's type of horror especially if he plans to give this movie the feel of the old school THE HAUNTED and THE INNOCENTS.