Downey Dropped From ‘Sweethearts,’ Source Says

Robert Downey Jr.’s role in the upcoming “America’s Sweethearts” is going to be recast, according to a source at Revolution Studios, which is producing the film.

Revolution Studios chief Joe Roth, who will direct “America’s Sweethearts,” decided not to use Downey in the romantic comedy that stars Julia Roberts and Catherine Zeta-Jones. The film is scheduled to start shooting Jan. 11; Downey was set to play Zeta-Jones’ lover.

According to a source at Revolution, the official reason for the action was the uncertainty of the outcome of Downey’s court date on Dec. 27, after his arrest in Palm Springs on Nov. 25 on suspicion of possession of cocaine and amphetamines. But, sources said, the key reason is that the 35-year-old Downey is uninsurable by Revolution’s outside financial backers.

The logistics of the potential actors and writers strike exacerbate the problems, because actors such as Roberts and Zeta-Jones have commitments right after the film’s completion. “The film is on a very fixed schedule,” the source said, and can’t afford the risk of delays.

Ed Limato, Downey’s agent, said Wednesday: “We have received no call from Revolution. . . . As far as I know it’s status quo.” Limato refused to comment on Downey’s insurability for motion pictures. Over the weekend, Downey reportedly checked into Cedars-Sinai Medical Center for treatment of depression and was released on Sunday.

Downey was signed to appear in eight episodes of the Fox series “Ally McBeal,” a deal struck before the actor was released from prison on a prior drug charge. His turn as an attorney and love interest for series star Calista Flockhart led to an additional two episodes, which Downey was expected to begin this week or next and complete by Christmas.

Asked recently if Downey would deepen his commitment to “Ally McBeal” in 2001, Fox Television Group President Sandy Grushow said, “Nobody has closed the door on him coming back to do more.”

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Times staff writer Paul Brownfield contributed to this report.