About two months ago the rumor broke that Spielberg was in talks with Robert Downey, Jr. to star in the film. The actor was interested and even handed in some notes on the script by Jonathan Topper. But those notes never really jived with Spielberg’s creative vision for the film and both director and actor amicably walked away from the production.
It’s noted that Fox will continue trying to launch a HARVEY remake and may even reapproach Spielberg and Downey, Jr. in the near future. But here’s hoping they leave well enough alone. This may be wishful thinking but Spielberg hasn’t directed a film that isn’t a) an adaptation of a previously existing story, b) based on a true story or c) a remake, since E.T. I’m just waiting for the man to hatch one of his trademark original concepts and bring it to us, Amblin style.