George Clooney Replaces Robert Downey Jr. in 'Gravity'

George Clooneyis set to star alongsideSandra Bullockin Alfonso Cuaron’sGravity, a 3D outer space survival story preparing to shoot in Spring 2011. Clooney replacesRobert Downey Jr.who left the projectlast monthdue to scheduling conflicts.

Clooney will play a veteran spacewalker and the leader of a team of astronauts repairing the Hubble telescope when they are bombarded by orbiting debris.  Bullock is set as Ryan Stone, a technician on her first mission who braves the emptiness to find a way back to Earth.

I was sorry to see Downey jettisoned, but Clooney exudes a similar enough charm and movie star quality that the production shouldn’t miss a single beat. It’s a testament to the project’s quality that Cuaron was able to find another A-lister so quickly that wanted to be a part of this ambitious film, especially for a supporting role like this.  For a movie already plagued with casting delays, Clooney’s“Hail Mary” hiring, according toTHR, was the kind of quick turnout needed to keep everything on track.

Written by Cuaron and his son Jonas, the $80 million film will reportedly open on an uninterrupted, 20-minute opening shot— like the continuous shot in Cuaron’sChildren of Men— and contain roughly 60% CGI to simulate the infinite space.

Meanwhile, Clooney is lining up a stellar cast forIdes of March, his adaptation of the play Farragut North that he will direct next year. Ryan Gosling, Paul Giamatti, Evan Rachel Wood, and Marisa Tomei are on board.

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