Casting Call: Jason Clarke Signs on for Baz Luhrmann’s THE GREAT GATSBY, Ellie Kemper Joins 21 JUMP STREET, and Josh Stewart Added to THE DARK KNIGHT RISES
by Adam Chitwood Posted: June 13th, 2011
We’ve got a couple of casting stories for you this evening. First up, Baz Lurhmann is close to filling out the cast for his adaptation of The Great Gatsby, as THR reports that Jason Clarke (The Chicago Code) has signed on to play George Wilson, husband of Myrtle. Lurhmann’s A-list cast includes Leonardo DiCaprio as Gatsby, Tobey Maguire as Nick Carraway, Carey Mulligan as Daisy and Joel Edgerton as Tom Buchanan. Isla Fischer is poised to play Myrtle. The film is gearing up to start filming this fall in Australia.Additionally, Bridesmaids star Ellie Kemper has landed a supporting role in the 21 Jump Street remake. Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum star in the film as young cops undercover at a high school. Variety reports that Kemper will play “an annoyingly sincere chemistry teacher,” who has a crush on Tatum’s character. The cast also includes Brie Larson, Ice Cube and Rob Riggle. Phil Lord and Chris Miller (Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs) are directing. 21 Jump Street hits theaters on March 16th 2012. Hit the jump for the casting of Josh Stewart in The Dark Knight Rises, as well as a synopsis of The Great Gatsby. http://collider.com/jason-clarke-great-gatsby-ellie-kemper-21-jump-street-josh-stewart-dark-knight-rises/96233/
Tom Cruise in Talks for Christopher McQuarrie’s ONE SHOT
by Adam Chitwood Posted: June 13th, 2011
Tom Cruise may be adding yet another “starring role in an action-centered film” to his list, this time with Christopher McQuarrie’s adaptation of Lee Child’s One Shot. The book is part of a series which centers on Jack Reacher, a former military police officer-turned drifter. Deadline reports that Cruise is now in talks to star in the thriller, which Paramount hopes to turn into a series. McQuarrie, best known as the screenwriter of The Usual Suspects and Bryan Singer’s upcoming Jack the Giant Killer, will be directing from a script he wrote.Cruise is also attached to star in Tron: Legacy director Joseph Kosinski’s sci-fi flick Oblivion. The current plan, if the deal pans out, is for Cruise to film One Shot this fall before moving on to Oblivion which starts production in January. I’m liking Cruise’s choices as of late. I thought Knight and Day was a smart move back into more action-oriented fare, and he’s assembled a top-notch team for Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol. He’s currently filming Adam Shankman’s musical adaptation Rock of Ages. Hit the jump to read a synopsis of One Shot. http://collider.com/tom-cruise-one-shot/96228/
Bill Pullman, Debra Winger and THE KILLING’s Joel Kinnaman Join Romantic Comedy LOLA VERSUS
by Adam Chitwood Posted: June 13th, 2011
Production has begun on Fox Searchlight’s low-budget romantic comedy Lola Versus, and a few new castmembers have been announced. Bill Pullman, Debra Winger and Joel Kinnaman have joined a cast headed up by Greta Gerwig. Hamish Linklater (The New Adventures of Old Christine) has also come aboard the film that tells the story of a 29-year-old woman (Gerwig) who gets dumped be her fiancée (Kinnaman) three weeks before the wedding. She proceeds to embark on a series of desperate encounters as she finds herself questioning her place in the world on the cusp of turning 30.Kinnamann is best known as one of the stars of AMC’s successful drama series The Killing, which was just recently picked up for a second season. He steps into Lola Versus replacing Orlando Bloom in the role of Gerwig’s fiancée. Daryl Wein (Breaking Upwards) is directing from a script he co-wrote with Zoe Jones. Filming is currently underway in New York City. Hit the jump to read the full press release. http://collider.com/bill-pullman-debra-winger-joel-kinnaman-lola-versus/96222/
