Spielberg No Longer Interested in HARVEY

Fans of fine, original cinema can rejoice.  At least this day.  Steven Spielberg, who has been working on a remake of the James Stewart-starring classic HARVEY, has announced to 20th Century Fox that he is stepping away from the project.  This news comes from Variety, who is saying Spielberg’s departure has been confirmed, though no reasons have been given.

The film and Spielberg’s involvement as director was announced this past August.  Since that time, Spielberg has had a difficult time finding an actor who would want to step into Stewart’s iconic role of a man who has a giant rabbit for an imaginary friend.  Tom Hanks, a shoe-in for the role, was approached first, but he turned it down.  Robert Downey Jr. was also in talks for the role, but he and Spielberg never saw eye-to-eye about the direction of the film.

20th Century Fox was to co-produce the film with DreamWorks, and soundstages were being booked for production to begin in early 2010.  With Spielberg’s departure, don’t expect the project to fall into the ether by any stretch of the imagination.  Fox will continue to push the project forward with a different director in the driver’s seat.  Two questions now remain.  Who will step in to direct HARVEY and what will be Spielberg’s next, directing gig?

If you have any thoughts on either of these, let us know in the comments section below.