A drunken Russell Crowe romances Beyonce?

The Warner Bros. remake of A STAR IS BORN (that seems like it has been in the works since around when the Barbra Streisand version came out) is heating up and word is that Russell Crowe is in talks to star alongside Beyonce Knowles. The LA Times is reporting that Warner Bros. has set their sights on Crowe to star as the alcoholic musician who mentors (and really mentors if you know what I mean…) an up-and-coming singer. They had previously talked to Robert Downey, Jr. and Sean Penn about the role but Crowe sparked to the project and his enthusiasm has breathed new life into the film.

Nick Cassavetes (THE NOTEBOOK) is in talks to direct the film from a script by a number of different writers (I’m guessing should Crowe come aboard, he’d bring with him some rewrites of his own). Beyonce last starred in the truly awful revenge thriller OBSESSED and STAR IS BORN would be her first big starring role in a Oscar-caliber type film. (I realize she was in DREAMGIRLS but she was far from the star of that movie.) While she’s been attached to the project for quite some time, Crowe’s interest in the first has apparently resparked her fire to remake the film.

Crowe can be seen next in ROBIN HOOD and recently wrapped filming on Paul Haggis’ next film THE NEXT THREE DAYS.