Coen Brothers' 'True Grit' remake shooting in New Mexico

Trout fishing has been suspended at the popular fishing spot of Monastery Lake, near Pecos, New Mexico, to accomodate location shooting for the Coen Brothers' remake of the classic 1969 western, "True Grit."  Shooting at Monastery Lake begins today, and is scheduled to go through Friday, March 19th, according to Before the Trailer and On Location Vacations. 

Recent Academy Award winner Jeff Bridges is taking on the role of United States Marshal Reuben J. "Rooster" Cogburn that won John Wayne his only Oscar.  Wayne, who finally won the Oscar after decades as one of Hollywood's most popular stars said at the time if he'd known all it took was an eyepatch, he would have worn one a lot sooner.

Matt Damon is playing Texas Ranger La Boeuf, played in the original by Glen Campbell. 

Josh Brolin is also featured in the movie, and although IMDb.com does not specify his character, as no one else is listed as playing "the killer Tom Chaney," it stands to reason that Brolin is playing the ranch hand who murders the heroine's father at the beginning of the story.

Newcomer Hailee Steinfeld is playing the young heroine, Mattie Ross, a girl who wants her father's killer brought to justice.  Steinfeld is either 13 or 14, depending on which source you believe, but in any case she's much younger than Kim Darby was when she played the part in the original.  The filmmakers claim this is closer to Charles Portis' original novel.  Steinfeld's previous credits include 2009's "She's a Fox" and "Heather:  A Fairy Tale" in 2008. 

The original "True Grit" was directed by western veteran Henry Hathaway.  Ethan and Joel Coen are co-directing the new version from their own screenplay, based on Charles Portis' novel.  The Coens are also co-producing with David Ellison, Scott Rudin and Steven Spielberg.

"True Grit" is scheduled to be released on Christmas Day, 2010.