John Hurt, Kevin Bacon, Robert Patrick and Ray Stevenson Join Billy Bob Thornton’s JAYNE MANSFIELD’S CAR
by Adam Chitwood Posted: June 14th, 2011
Billy Bob Thornton hasn’t directed a feature film since 2001’s Daddy and Them. Well, last November Thornton broke the news to us that he was once again stepping back into the director’s chair on a film he co-wrote with his writing partner Tom Epperson called Jayne Mansfield’s Car. Now it looks like Thornton is ready to start shooting on the project, as he’s secured funding and has filled out his cast with John Hurt, Kevin Bacon, Robert Patrick, Ray Stevenson (Thor) and John Patrick Amedori (The Butterfly Effect) joining previously announced Robert Duvall.
Deadline reports that AR Films is funding the project, which is set to start shooting on June 22nd in Georgia. The story revolves around a guy whose wife leaves him for an Englishman and moves away to England. 20 or 30 years later, in 1969, the wife dies but wishes to be returned to Alabama where she grew up, so the English family meets—and clashes with—the original family that she abandoned. While Thornton’s All the Pretty Horses left much to be desired, Sling Blade was a bit of a masterwork. Hopefully he can recapture that magic with this southern tale. http://collider.com/john-hurt-kevin-bacon-jayne-mansfields-car/96415/
Anna Kendrick and Natalie Martinez Join END OF WATCH Starring Jake Gyllenhaal
by Adam Chitwood Posted: June 14th, 2011
Anna Kendrick (Scott Pilgrim vs. The World) and Natalie Martinez (Death Race) are in talks to star in the gritty cop drama End of Watch. Directed by David Ayers (Street Kings), the two will join a bald-headed Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael Peña. Ayers directs from a script that he wrote, which centers on the friendship between two seasoned police officers in Los Angeles. Variety reports that the actresses will play the love interests of Gyllenhaal and Peña, though doesn’t state which actress is paired up with which actor.
Ayer is no stranger to cop dramas, having made his directorial debut with 2005’s Harsh Times. He also penned the screenplays for The Fast and the Furious, Training Day and S.W.A.T. I’m a big fan of Kendrick’s, and Gyllenhaal can be great with good material, so hopefully everything comes together for End of Watch. http://collider.com/anna-kendrick-end-of-watch-natalie-martinez/96410/
Matthew Fox and Ed Harris Join WORLD WAR Z
by Matt Goldberg Posted: June 14th, 2011
With production set to begin this month, Marc Forster’s adaptation of Max Brooks’ World War Z continues to fill out its cast. Bloody Disgusting reports that Matthew Fox is now on board while Deadline adds that Ed Harris is in talks to join him. The zombie-action flick also stars Brad Pitt, Mireille Enos (The Killing), Anthony Mackie, Julia Levy-Boeken, and James Badge Dale. BD reports that Fox will play “Parajumper” while Harris role is currently unknown. The book takes place ten years after a zombie apocalypse but since Paramount sees the property as a tentpole, it will be repurposed into a PG-13 action movie.Hit the jump for a synopsis of the novel. Fox is also attached to play the villain in Rob Cohen’s adaptation of I, Alex Cross starring Tyler Perry. Harris is playing John McCain in Game Change and he’s attached to co-star with Aaron Eckhart in Neil Labute’s The Geography of Hope. http://collider.com/world-war-z-matthew-fox-ed-harris/96353/
