A long time ago we talked about Denzel Washington and Benecio Del Toro both had a lucrative play or pay deal for a film called American Gangster. It was cancelled, and they received their full pay. Cancelled within days of them being signed up. Not bad for a pay check.

Well news from Variety through Rope of Silicon shows that it just refuses to die.

The film was in pre-production at Universal at the time and the fate of the film seemed bleak, but with Denzel Washington and Benicio del Toro already attached to star this is one the U could not give up on and they haven't as it was announced today by Variety that Hotel Rwanda helmer Terry George is now aboard to direct...

...Universal paid out its pay-or-play obligations, which Variety estimates at approximately $20 million leaving no one attached to the film, but with George now aboard it seems eyes are turning to Don Cheadle for the role of Frank Lucas since he and George worked so well on Hotel Rwanda.

Since the original problem with the film was money the script is currently being reworked so the film can be executed stylishly for a reduced price. This means casting announcements will not be made for some time now.

Amazing that the original deals went so far and so much money was lost that now they are looking to make a movie with an inferior budget. Mind you, strangely that doesn't necessarily mean that the movie will be any worse, it might even be better than was originally planned. Who can tell at this early stage.