The Hollywood Reporterreports that Russell Crowe is negotiating to star in the film adaptation of Peter Mayle's book A Good Year. Ridley Scott is set to direct.
The story revolves around a London banker who moves to Provence after inheriting a vineyard. But when he arrives, he meets a California woman who claims that she owns the place.
The Fox project film has a tentative September start date in Paris.
Crowe was last in theaters with the boxing drama Cinderella Man, which bombed at the box office, not helped by his concurrent arrest for allegedly throwing a telephone at a hotel clerk. Scott last directed Kingdom of Heaven, which also did poorly domestically but considerably better overseas. Scott's sword-and-sandal epic Gladiator netted Crowe a best actor Oscar in 2001 and also won best picture.
A Good Year is a funny, charming novel that should suit Crowe's talents perfectly. We're hoping for a speedy resolution of those pesky assault charges Crowe is facing in New York, because of the whole phone-throwing incident.
