James Caan exits movie over cookie controversy

NEW YORK (Hollywood Reporter) - James Caan has left the political comedy "Nailed" after a dispute led him to storm off the set, and it all seems to have centered on a cookie.

The trouble started last Wednesday on the first of Caan's two days of shooting the role of a U.S. speaker of the house who chokes to death on a cookie. Director David O. Russell asked him to cough as he choked, but Caan argued that the character couldn't cough and choke to death at the same time.

Russell suggested that they shoot it both ways, but the veteran "Godfather" actor expressed distrust that his version would be considered and left the South Carolina set. A spokesman for Caan wouldn't confirm or deny the specifics of what happened but said with a laugh that there were creative differences and the departure was amicable.

Producer Douglas Wick said the discussion was "part of an ongoing creative conversation between the actor and director" and that Russell has behaved professionally throughout the shoot.

Caan's part is being recast. The shoot began April 15.

"Nailed" stars Jake Gyllenhaal, Jessica Biel, James Marsden, Catherine Keener, Tracy Morgan and Olivia Crocicchia in the tale of a woman who gets a nail lodged in her head and travels to Washington to fight for better health care.

Russell has a reputation for on-set battles. He had well-documented differences with George Clooney (in which the two came to blows on the set of "Three Kings") and Lily Tomlin (in heated verbal exchanges on the set of "I Heart Huckabees" as seen last year on YouTube).

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter