With his Oscar contender "Big Eyes" starring Amy Adams and Christoph Waltz coming soon, those who prefer Burton’s more whimsical movies shouldn’t worry. Early next year he’s gearing up an adaptation of Ranson Riggs’ “Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children,” and he’s got his eye on a former collaborator for a role. "Dark Shadows" star Eva Green is in negotiations to play the lead character in the story about "a teenager who finds himself transported to an island where he must help protect a group of orphans with special powers from creatures out to destroy them." Sounds like a good match of director, actress and material. [Variety]
Even though it’s apparently years off from actually happening, Neil Druckman revealed at Comic-Con that filmmakers are eyeing "Game Of Thrones" star Maisie Williams to lead the adaptation of his video game "Last Of Us." Sam Raimi is producing this one over at Screen Gems, and it continues to move along in development for what everyone promises will be a faithful adaptation. [Badass Digest]
Peter Sarsgaard and Mary-Louise Parker will lead the NBC miniseries "The Slap." Based on an Australian series of the same name, the story will follow the drama "that explodes from one small incident where a man slaps another couple’s misbehaving child. The seemingly minor domestic dispute pulls the family apart, begins to expose long-held secrets, and ignites a lawsuit that challenges the core American values of all who are pulled into it." Lisa Cholodenko ("The Kids Are All Right") directs. [Deadline]
Andy Samberg and Kit Harington will be spending "7 Days In Hell." The unlikely pair will star in the HBO mockumentary about a two tennis rivals who have an epic, seven-day showdown at Wimbledon. Fred Armisen, Lena Dunham, Will Forte, Karen Gillan, Howie Mandel, Soledad O’Brien, Michael Sheen, Mary Steenburgen and June Squibb are lined up for roles, and holy hell, we will watch the heck out of this. Jake Szymanski will direct. [Deadline]
Felicity Jones is reading for the role of the young Queen, in the massive Netflix production "The Crown." The 60-hour (!) drama comes from the pen of Peter Morgan ("The Queen"), and will have Stephen Daldry on hand to direct some episodes and produce as well. The film will chronicle Queen Elizabeth’s reign and her impact on national politics. It looks like early development is underway on what looks to be the streaming site’s biggest endeavor yet. [Baz Bamigboye]
Some bummer news. Matthias Schoenaerts has had to drop out of "Belgica" from "Broken Circle Breakdown" director Felix van Groeningen. The actor is focusing on a U.S. project at the moment, but he isn’t leaving the other movie high and dry—they have time to find a replacement before production begins in December on the drama about "two brothers who start a bar and get swept up in its success in the midst of Belgium’s nightlife scene." [Screen Daily]
Lastly, Christopher Walken and Giancarlo Esposito have joined Ben Kingsley, Lupita Nyong’o, Idris Elba and Scarlett Johansson in Jon Favreau‘s "The Jungle Book." Walken takes the role of King Louie, the ruler of a troop of monkeys and apes, while Esposito will voice Akela, the leader of the wolf pack. The film opens on October 9, 2015.