The Fate Of Owen Wilson's Upcoming Projects

Hearing the tragic news of Owen Wilson's emergency hospitalization reminded me of an interview I did with the actor a few years ago at the Biltmore Hotel in downtown Los Angeles. Wilson was shooting a scene that day for Warner Bros. Starsky & Hutch and I remember the conversation vividly because it was, well, a little odd. Wilson sat on a couch wearing sunglasses and stared straight ahead as we talked. Even though the room was noisy because of the production crew, he spoke in a small, quiet voice and allowed several (and I mean several) seconds to pass before answering questions. He seemed a little out of it, but he was still charming and funny and his unusual behavior somehow played into his unique laid-back persona. A few minutes after our conversation, he was up on the ballroom dais with his buddy Ben Stiller, knocking out that hilarious scene where they find a bunch of cocaine in the trunk of a VW.

It's his off-beat nature that has made him a successful, in-demand actor and news of his hospitalization after what some media outlets have characterized as a failed suicide attempt has sparked questions about the fate of his upcoming projects. Here's a quick rundown. He's been cast in the DreamWorks comedy Tropic Thunder, which has begun filming in Hawaii, and his next release The Darjeeling Limited is about to play the festival circuit before Fox Searchlight releases it on Sept. 29. According to the Hollywood Reporter, DreamWorks declined comment on whether Wilson is expected to take part in Thunder, directed by Ben Stiller, or if his cameo role would be recast, saying only that "Filming on 'Tropic Thunder' continues." Darjeeling, directed by Wes Anderson, will follow a screening next week at the Venice Film Festival by playing in the opening night slot at the New York Film Festival. It's unclear at this time if Wilson will be participating in the publicity/marketing activities surrounding the film's openings, but his publicist Ina Treciokas says he's already completed his long lead press commitments and that "he's always committed to and supports his projects."

Wilson has also signed on to Fox comedy Marley & Me, where he will play opposite Jennifer Aniston. The film was tenatively planned to shoot in January. When asked by Variety if the production would be affected, a Fox spokesman said "It's a totally inappropriate question at this time whe all of our thoughts and concerns are with his health and well being." Wilson also has the Judd Apatow-produced Drillbit Taylor, which is scheduled for a March 21 release from Paramount.

Wilson's camp declined to talk about the status of upcoming projects. "I respectfully ask that the media allow me to receive care and heal in private during this difficult time," the actor has said in a statement.

Owen Wilson projects in question [Variety]
Wilson's film plans on hold [The Hollywood Reporter]