Jennifer Lopez is at a bizarre crossroads in her career, where she’s currently famous for formerly being a superstar, because at any rate, no one wants to see her in movies or listen to her music. Her last few efforts on the big screen — “The Back-Up Plan,” “El cantate” and “Bordertown” — were outright duds. While on the music fromt, despite having a hit single with “On The Floor,” no one bought her album “Love?” with only 183,000 copies sold to date a far cry from her previous effort “Brave” (650,000 copies) and leagues away from the era when she was moving units in the millions. But that being said, she’s still a brand, an “American Idol” host and a hugely influential and popular figure in the Latino community and above all, there is still a curiosity factor about Jenny from the block that for whatever reason piques the pop culture mind. But movie execs are dumb, and while Lopez is getting another shot at a couple of upcoming movies, she will not be toplining as she did back in her “Maid In Manhattan“/”The Wedding Planner” days.
Deadline reports that J.Lo is in talks for the female lead in the Jason Statham thriller “Parker” and is looking at the supporting role in “What To Expect When You’re Expecting.” First up, “Parker” is set to be directed by Taylor Hackford, and is based on the character created by Donald E. Westlake—portrayed on screen already by Mel Gibson in “Payback” and Lee Marvin in “Point Blank”—and rather than being based on any single book, it seems the character will be lifted and plopped into some fresh adventures in a script by John J. McLaughlin, who co-wrote “Black Swan.” Lopez would play Leslie, a woman who gets linked with Parker as he pulls off a heist in what we’re guessing is some kind of femme fatale-ish role if Westlake’s books are anything to go by.
Meanwhile, “What To Expect When You’re Expecting” stars Cameron Diaz and Matthew Morrison in an adaptation of the best-selling pregnancy book. “Nanny McPhee” and “Everybody’s Fine” helmer Kirk Jones will be behind the camera for the film and while no specific plot details yet, the the movie is said to be a multi-thread narrative not unlike “Love Actually” that will track five different couples on the path to having a baby. Diaz will play the host of weight-loss fitness show who is exactly 42 years old, with Lopez eyeing the role of Holly.
“Parker” is set to shoot in August, and though not production slate has been announced just yet for ‘Expecting,’ with a May 11, 2012 date already pencilled in, it will likely start shooting soon. So can J.Lo rebuild her film career with supporting roles? It will be up to audiences to decide, but as far as career strategies go, it’s a smart play.
