After recently reporting that District 9’s Sharlto Copley was to appear in the upcoming I Am Number Four, the news broke yesterday that he has, in fact, dropped out of the film; due to his promoting duties, for the soon to be released A-Team movie, keeping him busy after filming starts on Number Four.
The film, which is to be based on the, also not yet released, book by James Frey, revolves around nine teenage aliens that escape from their home planet, shortly before it’s destroyed by another alien race, and come to Earth disguised as a bunch of high-school kids, in an attempt to avoid the aliens that are hunting them.
Sharlto Copley’s role won’t remain empty however, as Deadwood’s Timothy Olyphant (who can most recently be seen in the TV series Justified) will be stepping in to replace him as Henri; the mentor and guardian of the titular number four (who will be played by Alex Pettyfer, Beastly), meaning that shooting should be able to begin as planned, with D.J. Caruso (Disturbia) directing the picture, that is due to be released next year.
