Catherine Zeta-Jones is in talks to join “Lay The Favorite” for Pathe and Emmett Furla Films reports Deadline.
Based on Beth Raymer’s bestseller “Lay the Favorite: A Memoir of Gambling”, the story charts her rise from lowly Vegas cocktail waitress to one of the top sports gambling bookmakers. Rebecca Hall has been cast in the role.
Zeta-Jones would play the wife of Raymer’s mentor, a cantankerous ex-New York bookmaker (Bruce Willis).
The film was originally setup at Focus Features who then ditched plans to make it due to the $20 million budget. Pathe and Emmett Furla then rescued it and came onboard as co-financiers.
D.V. DeVincentis (“High Fidelity,” “Grosse Pointe Blank”) adapted the script and shooting aims to kick off in New Orleans in April.
