Emily Blunt and Jason Segel cast in 'Gullivers Travels'

by Joey Paur

Twentieth Century Fox is currently in negotiations with Emily Blunt and Jason Segel to star in the film 'Gulliver's Travels' with Jack Black. The film is going to be directed by Rob Letterman. Now what makes this casting decision really interesting is that Emily Blunt was offered the role of Black Widow in Marvel's 'Iron Man 2', but because of 'Gulliver's Travels' she may not be able to do it because she has no choice. Variety reports:

Fox holds an option on the actress that was part of her deal when she co-starred in "The Devil Wears Prada," and the studio may invoke it to see that she takes part in the giant tale.

While Blunt's reps are still trying to work out scheduling so she can play both roles, it will be an uphill battle because of scheduling overlap. "Gulliver's Travels" will shoot in the U.K. in late March; "Iron Man 2" is expected to begin lensing in early April in Manhattan Beach, Calif.

Well played FOX, well played. Here is my conspiracy theory on the matter. FOX and Marvel don't necessarily see eye to eye on things. Especially on this whole Wolverine Origins movie. Marvel is not happy with what they have done, and I think there may be some bad blood between the two studios. Marvel and Jon Favreau cast Emily Blunt first in 'Iron Man 2'. FOX has been looking for a female lead for 'Gulliver's Travels' they see Blunt in the news, remember they hold an option on her, and use it just to spite Marvel. There are games like this being played in Hollywood all the time so I wouldn't put it past anybody. This is just me having fun speculating, but from some of the stuff I have seen and heard in the industry it may not be too far off from the truth. Variety continues:

Earlier this week it seemed that Marvel Entertainment would have to go back to the drawing board to find an actress to play Natasha Romanoff, the Soviet superspy who moonlights as Black Widow, a beauty in a skintight black costume enhanced by high-tech weaponry. But by late Thursday, it looked like Fox and Blunt's reps were feeling more optimistic that she could do both projects.

Black was set late last year to play Lemuel Gulliver, a travel writer who takes an assignment to the Bermuda Triangle and washes up on the island of Lilliput, where he's a giant among the tiny population. Blunt will play a Lilliputian princess and Black's love interest. Segel will play Horatio, Gulliver's best friend from Lilliput who helps rescue Gulliver when he's captured.

Sounds interesting. I wonder how it will all play out.

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