The production of Jane Got a Gun is becoming a mess it would seem.

Last month saw the ill-fated western lose its director Lynne Ramsay as well as actors Michael Fassbender and Jude Law though things had looked to cool down following the involvement of Warrior director Gareth O’Connor and Oscar-nominated star Bradley Cooper.

Unfortunately the calm has ended after Cooper (The Hangover Trilogy, Silver Linings Playbook) confirmed his departure from the project via Deadline after he admitted he was unable to work on both this and his Silver Lining director David O. Russell’s new film American Hustle.

“Regretfully, due to date conflicts between the film I am currently shooting for David O Russell and Jane Got a Gun, I am unable to join Natalie, Joel, Noah and Gavin on this truly exciting project. I was really looking forward to being a part of it and hope to work with each and every one in the future.”

Oscar-winning actress Natalie Portman (Star Wars Prequel Trilogy, Black Swan) produces and stars in the indie-western as a woman who seeks the help of her ex-lover to protect her husband who is being pursued by a murderous gang.

Joel Edgerton (Warrior, The Great Gatsby) co-stars as the ex-lover with Noah Emmerich (Little Children, Super 8) playing Portman’s husband.

Deadline have also said that the studio has a shortlist of names lined up to replace Cooper which include Joseph Gordon-Levitt (The Dark Knight Rises, Looper), Jake Gyllenhall (Brokeback Mountain, End of Watch), Tom Hiddleston (Thor, The Avengers) and Tobey Maguire (Spiderman Trilogy, Seabiscuit).

This production really does need a break!