The Coen Brothers Have Their Mattie

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( john wayne, kim darby, glen campbell in 1969's "true grit")

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A few weeks ago we wrote about The Coen Brother's upcoming remake of the classic movie, "True Grit". Many fans of the much beloved film held their breaths in horror when they heard it was being remade, but were able to wipe their brows in relief when they heard it was being done by the incredibly talented, superb storytellers, Joel and Ethan Coen. If anyone won't make a mess out of this iconic film, it's The Coen's. So with a fantastic writer and director in place, next in question was the casting. Then came word that Jeff Bridges will play Rooster Cogburn, check, Matt Damon will be La Beouf, check, Josh Brolin will play the murderer Tom Chaney, check, and Barry Pepper will be Duvall's Lucky Ned Pepper, check, check and check! The pulse rate of fans started to race; that's an unbelievable cast. But there came no word about the most pivotal role of all, that of Mattie Ross. Then we heard that The Coen's wanted an unknown in the role, and that they were holding a nation-wide casting search, something akin to the national search which took place in 1938 for the role of Scarlett O'Hara.

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(hailee steinfeld)
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Finally, we just found out today that the role of Mattie has been cast; it's been awarded to almost complete unknown, 13 year-old actress, Hailee Steinfeld. Hailee had done a couple of small films, but is best known as "Little Girl" in the Fox failed Kelsey Grammar sitcom, "Back to You". Anyone see that show? Steinfeld's casting is causing some concern, especially considering that The Coen's reportedly plan to make Mattie the central character in their film, as opposed to Rooster being the star in the original film. But we're not worried, when have The Coen's not gotten a spectacular, if not Oscar-winning performance, out of anyone? The film is supposed to be ready for a December release. We can't wait to see it.