**Keanu Reeves in Talks for AKIRA? [UPDATED] **Will Smith Frontrunner for Tarantino’s DJANGO UNCHAINED; Christoph Waltz Confirmed to Star **Casting Call: Vincent D’Onofrio, Chelsea Handler, and Eric Bogosian Join MALL; Walton Goggins Set for Indie Drama OFFICER DOWN **Laura Linney to Star Opposite Bill Murray in HYDE PARK ON THE HUDSON; Ricky Gervais’ Voice Joins SPY KIDS: ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD

Casting Call: Vincent D’Onofrio, Chelsea Handler, and Eric Bogosian Join MALL; Walton Goggins Set for Indie Drama OFFICER DOWN

by Adam Chitwood   Posted: May 6th, 2011

We’ve got a couple of casting stories for you today. First up, Vincent D’Onofrio, Chelsea Handler and Eric Bogoslan will star in an adaptation of Bogoslan’s novel Mall, the directorial debut of Linkin Park’s Joe Hahn. Deadline reports that the film will tell the intersecting stories of five suburbanites: “a stoner teen, a restless housewife, a voyeuristic businessman, a mall security guard and a trigger-happy crystal meth addict who heads to the mall looking for trouble.” Handler will play the dark role of the housewife, D’Onofrio will take on the voyeuristic businessman, and Bogoslan is set to play a store owner. Hahn has directed a number of Linkin Park’s music videos.
Additionally, Walton Goggins (Justified) has joined the cast of the indie drama Officer Down. The film stars David Boreanaz, Stephen Dorff, Dominic Purcell (Prison Break) and AnnaLynne McCord (90210) and centers on a doctor and security guard who live out each other’s daytime lives in their dreams at night. The security guard murders his wife, but is then hit by a car and is brought in to the hospital that he doctor works at, where they recognize each other. Deadline reports that Goggins will play the prime suspect in the sexual assault of a young woman, a case being investigated by Dorff’s character. Hit the jump to read a synopsis of the novel Mall.
.... http://collider.com/vincent-donofrio-chelsea-handler-eric-bogosian-mall-walton-goggins-officer-down/89415/

Keanu Reeves in Talks for AKIRA? [UPDATED]

by Adam Chitwood   Posted: May 6th, 2011

The live-action version of Akira may actually be happening. After Warner Bros. secured a co-financer for the $230 million pricetag (Legendary Pictures, who just recently backed out of the deal), and Harry Potter screenwriter Steve Kloves turned in a rewrite of the script that had everyone eager to get going, producers began searching for their cast. Directors the Hughes brothers have been searching for an A-lister with global appeal to star in the flick (you don’t gamble that amount of money without ensuring that you’re gonna rake in serious international revenue), but for a while it seemed like they were searching in vain.
Now, Vulture reports that Keanu Reeves is in very early talks to take on the starring role in the film. Based upon the manga and the 1988 anime adaptation, Akira centers on teenager Shōtarō Kaneda and his quest to stop his friend Tetsuo from destroying Neo-Tokyo. Hit the jump for more on the project.
[Update: Heat Vision reports that Reeves is in talks for the role of Kaneda, the gang leader.]
................ http://collider.com/keanu-reeves-akira/89419/

Laura Linney to Star Opposite Bill Murray in HYDE PARK ON THE HUDSON; Ricky Gervais’ Voice Joins SPY KIDS: ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD

by Ramses Flores    Posted: May 6th, 2011

Laura Linney (The Big C) will star alongside Bill Murray in Hyde Park on the Hudson.  The film focuses on FDR’s love affair with his cousin, Daisy, during a June weekend in 1939 when the British King and Queen visited Roosevelt’s upstate New York cottage in what was the first ever visit to America by a member of the British monarchy.  As we previously reported, the notoriously reclusive Bill Murray has signed on to star as FDR.  Now, Deadline reports that Linney has signed on to play FDR’s cousin/lover, Daisy.  I’ll watch anything with Bill Murray and it’ll be interesting to see who will end up playing Eleanor Roosevelt along with the King and Queen.  Roger Mitchell (Morning Glory) will direct the film.
In other casting news, Ricky Gervais has signed on to voice the character of Argonaut in the upcoming Spy Kids film, Spy Kids: All the Time in the World.   In the press release Gervais said, “Not only am I lending my voice to Spy Kids, but they can keep it.  I’m sick of it.”  Not much is known about Argonaut besides the fact that he is a robot spy dog.  Gervais joins the cast which already includes Jessica Alba, Jeremy Piven, Joel McHale, Rowan Blanchard, Mason Cook, Antonio Banderas, Danny Trejo , Alexa Vega, and Daryl Sabara.  Spy Kids: All the Time in the World opens on August 19, 2011 and it’s written and directed by Robert Rodriguez.  Hit the jump  for the synopsis.
.......... http://collider.com/laura-linney-hyde-park-on-the-hudson-ricky-gervais-spy-kids-all-the-time-in-the-world/89451/

Will Smith Frontrunner for Tarantino’s DJANGO UNCHAINED; Christoph Waltz Confirmed to Star

by Ramses Flores    Posted: May 6th, 2011

Will Smith has been informally offered the lead role in Quentin Tarantino’s upcoming “Southern”/Spaghetti Western, Django Unchained.  The project came out of nowhere last week and we’ve slowly been getting more details about the film during the past couple of days.  We know that Tarantino is aiming to start production in late summer or fall and we also have this plot synopsis:

“Django is a freed slave, who, under the tutelage of a German bounty hunter becomes a bad-ass bounty hunter himself, and after assisting Waltz in taking down some bad guys for profit, is helped by Waltz in tracking down his slave wife and liberating her from an evil plantation owner.”

The film is moving at a fast pace and we now have some info regarding who Tarantino is hoping to cast and which roles they play.  Here’s a hint:  Christoph Waltz and Samuel L. Jackson.  Hit the jump for more.
... http://collider.com/will-smith-django-unchained-christoph-waltz/89456/

**Nicole Kidman May Star in OUR WILD LIFE **Rachel Weisz to Play Evil Witch in OZ, THE GREAT AND POWERFUL **Casting Call: Adam Brody, William Peterson and Rob Corddry in Talks for SEEKING A FRIEND AT THE END OF THE WORLD; David Boreanaz in OFFICER DOWN **

Nicole Kidman May Star in OUR WILD LIFE

by Adam Chitwood   Posted: May 3rd, 2011

Nicole Kidman is apparently eyeing the lead role in Our Wild Life. The drama tells the real life story of Dame Daphne Sheldrick, a Kenyan wildlife conservationist best known for her work with elephants. In fact, Sheldrick hand-reared more than 70 elephants and perfected a milk formula used for baby elephants and rhinos. The Wrap reports that though Kidman isn’t officially attached, she’s taken a liking to the script by Jeff Stockwell (Bridge to Terabithia).

Phillip Noyce (Salt) is attached to direct, with Mandalay Pictures producing the film which has a budget north of $50 million. The sure way to acquire financing of that sort would be to lock in an actress of Kidman’s caliber. Production is expected to get underway in September.

......... http://collider.com/nicole-kidman-our-wild-life/88772/

Casting Call: Adam Brody, William Peterson and Rob Corddry in Talks for SEEKING A FRIEND AT THE END OF THE WORLD; David Boreanaz in OFFICER DOWN

by Adam Chitwood   Posted: May 3rd, 2011

We’ve got a couple of casting stories for you this evening. First up, Adam Brody, William Peterson and Rob Corddry are in talks to join Steve Carell and Keira Knightley in Seeking a Friend at the End of the World. The film, written by and marking the directorial debut of Lorene Scafaria, the writer of Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist, centers on the events surrounding an asteroid spiraling towards Earth, threatening to end all life. Variety reports that Carell will play a man whose wife leaves him once the news of the world’s end hits, prompting him to seek out his high school sweetheart. Knightley stars as his neighbor and adventure companion.

Additionally, Bones star David Boreanaz is set the indie Officer Down. The flick stars Stephen Dorff, Dominic Purcell (Prison Break) and AnnaLynne McCord (90210), with Brian A. Miller making his directorial debut. Deadline reports that the story centers on a doctor and security guard who live out each other’s daytime lives in their dreams at night. The security guard murders his wife, and then is hit by a car sending him to the hospital where the doctor works. I’d say things get a little interesting from there. Boreanaz will play a rival detective oppposite the cop played by Dorff.

........... http://collider.com/adam-brody-william-peterson-rob-corddry-seeking-a-friend-at-the-end-of-the-world-david-boreanaz-officer-down/88776/

Rachel Weisz to Play Evil Witch in OZ, THE GREAT AND POWERFUL

by Eytan Hirsch    Posted: May 3rd, 2011

The lovely and talented Oscar-winner Rachel Weisz is in talks to play the villainess in Oz, The Great and Powerful, Disney’s prequel to 1939’s classic The Wizard of Oz.  THR declares that Weisz would play Evanora, a wicked and powerful witch who is set on obtaining control over the land of Oz.  Directed by Sam Raimi (Spider-Man), the film will star James Franco as a traveling snake oil salesman and illusionist with a grandiose attitude.  After his hot air balloon is swept up by a tornado, he is taken to an enchanted land where he comes across real witches and eventually becomes the legendary Wizard.

We previously reported that Mila Kunis would be taking on the role of Evanora’s sister, Theodora, a good witch whom Evanora coaxes into turning evil after she is rejected by Franco’s character.  The two then join forces to rule all of Oz, and Theodora ultimately becomes the Wicked Witch of the West.  Yet to be cast is the third sister, Glinda (aka the Good Witch of the North).  After Kunis was cast, Olivia Wilde, Amy Adams, Kate Beckinsale, Keira Knightley and Rebecca Hall were all reportedly on the shortlist for the remaining two sisters.  Now that Weisz is set to play Evanora, there’s a good chance that one of these five ladies will play Glinda.

....... http://collider.com/rachel-weisz-oz-the-great-and-powerful/88789/