Movie bosses are on the hunt for Brittany Murphy’s replacement.
The studio behind Murphy’s latest project will go ahead with the film and will find a replacement for the 32-year-old actress, who died suddenly of cardiac arrest on Sunday December 20.
Murphy was to begin work on ‘Shrinking Charlotte,’ a comedy with Kathleen Turner, Matthew Lillard and True Blood’s Sam Trammell. Producer Darren VanCleave reportedly told TMZ.com that they are now looking to recast the part – and are also planning to dedicate the project to Murphy.
Reports continue to emerge about Murphy’s appearance and work ethic in the months prior to her death, with various industry people using complimentary adjectives. This is surely in response to speculation about the state of the actress’s mental and physical state and rumours that she suffered from anorexia nervosa and/or was abusing drugs.
Also, in the weeks before she passed away, Murphy was dogged by rumours about her on-set behaviour and reports that she was difficult and erratic. She was supposedly fired from Sylvester Stallone’s ‘The Expendables’ as well as from the thriller ‘The Caller,’ in which she was replaced by Canadian actress Rachelle Lefevre. There were also rumours that her husband, Simon Monjack, fought with the locals in Puerto Rico.
A rep for Murphy refuted the reports, telling OK! Magazine, “The allegations currently circulating on the Internet about Brittany Murphy and her husband, Simon Monjack, read like a fictional plot from one of the 50 plus movies Ms. Murphy has successfully completed without incident.
“She was not, nor has she ever been, fired from any job big or small. Mr. Monjack did not engage in any alleged scuffles. Though due to creative differences, Ms. Murphy and the production mutually parted ways.”
Murphy had recently completed work on ‘Abandoned,’ in which she plays a women searching for her missing boyfriend. She also wrapped the mystery thriller ‘Something Wicked,’ in which she plays a psychiatrist.
Executive producer of ‘Something Wicked,’ Scott Chambers, told the Los Angeles Times that Murphy appeared frail but that he was impressed with her work ethic. And writer-director of ‘Shrinking Charlotte,’ Rene Eram, told E! News that Murphy was “impressive” and professional, but looked very thin.
Meanwhile, TMZ has obtained details about prescription drugs contained in an investigator’s report on Murphy’s death. The report apparently notes that numerous bottles of prescription medications, ranging from depression and anti-anxiety meds to painkillers, were found at the home where she collapsed. The county coroner’s office is reportedly investigating how TMZ obtained the report.
(Photo by PR Photos)
Story provided by the Dish Information Corporation