Jennifer Garner And Nick Nolte Join Russell Brand's Arthur Remake

Variety is reporting that Jennifer Garner and Nick Nolte are in talks to join Russell Brand in the remake of the 1981 comedy Arthur. The original '80s film focused on class, alcoholism and romance, and starred Dudley Moore and Liza Minelli. Garner will play a character played by Jill Eikenberry in the original — the wealthy heiress "who's insecure about her humble background and is about to marry the title character in an arranged marriage."

Brand is on board to play a wealthy drunk playboy who is set to "inherit a fortune if he marries an heiress his family thinks will make something out of him." Helen Mirren will play Arthur's longtime nanny, who replaces the valet character from the original film. John Gielgud won a best supporting actor Oscar for his performance as Arthur's foil in the 1981 original. So it is possible that Mirren sees the same performance possibilities in this new character. Greta Gerwig (Greenberg, The House of the Devil) is signed on to play Liza Minelli's old role, the charming blue-collar shoplifter who Arthur falls for.

Jason Winer, who executive produces and directs many episodes of the show Modern Family, is attached to direct. Peter Baynham, who works with Sacha Baron Cohen (he was a story writer on Borat and Bruno) is writing the script. Production is scheduled for a July start in New York City.