Casting Call: Catherine Zeta-Jones and Judy Greer Join PLAYING THE FIELD; Mae Whitman Signs on to THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER
by Matt Goldberg Posted: April 5th, 2011
Catherine Zeta-Jones and Judy Greer have joined Gerard Butler in Gabriele Muccino’s Playing the Field. The comedy centers on a former soccer star (Butler) who decides to coach his son’s little league soccer team, but ends up becoming the object of attraction for the town’s local women. 24 Frames reports that Zeta-Jones will play a vixen newscaster while Greer will play a hot-and-bothered housewife. The cast also includes Uma Thurman as another wife who’s attracted to Butler’s character, Dennis Quaid as Thurman’s husband, and Jessica Biel as Butler’s estranged wife. Additionally, The Kids Are All Right co-writer Stuart Blumberg recently came on to write a new draft of Rob Fox’s script. Filming on Playing the Field began shooting this week.
Hit the jump for casting news on the coming-of-age drama The Perks of Being a Wallflower.
Addison Timlin in Talks to Star Opposite Anton Yelchin in ODD THOMAS
by Brendan Bettinger Posted: April 5th, 2011
Lily Collins was poised to land the female lead in the feature adaptation of Dean Koontz novel Odd Thomas. In the days since the report, with the upcoming shoot of The Mortal Instruments to still fresh on her mind, Collins was cast as Snow White in The Brothers Grimm: Snow White. And so director Stephen Sommers (G.I. Joe) must look elsewhere for his Stormy Llewellyn.
Variety reports that Addison Timlin (Californication) has emerged from a shortlist that also includes Emma Roberts, Kat Dennings, and Portia Doubleday in addition to Collins. Stormy is the girlfriend of the titular Thomas (Anton Yelchin), “a short-order cook with clairvoyant abilities who encounters a mysterious man with a link to dark, threatening forces.” The story is set in a California desert town; Odd Thomas will shoot in Santa Fe, New Mexico with a May 2 start date. Read the book synopsis after the jump. http://collider.com/addison-timlin-odd-thomas/84489/
Meg Ryan Will Make Her Feature Directing Debut with INTO THE BEAUTIFUL
by Brendan Bettinger Posted: April 5th, 2011
Meg Ryan will make her feature directorial debut with the comedy-drama Into the Beautiful. The script by Anne Meredith (Cavedweller) is described as “a contemporary Big Chill with longtime friends reconnecting.” At the sound of that logline, I thought a star studded cast of Ryan and famous friends (Tom Hanks!) might be in store. At this time, however, there are no plans to include Ryan in the cast.
Producer Wendy Finerman (P.S. I Love You) told Variety: “I’m often drawn to pictures that make you laugh and cry. I think this is the perfect project for Meg to bring to life. She’s poignant and funny and heartfelt.” Natalie Marciano and Lisa Zupan will also produce. Into the Beautiful is scheduled to begin shooting this September in New York. Ryan will next appear on screen in Lives of the Saints.