It always seemed a bit like an odd fit when Colin Firth signed up to voice the beloved bear “Paddington,” and it seems he finally realized too, dropping out of the project, which already has a November 28th release date and has released a couple of trailers. But at least as far as PR goes, everyone is totes cool with it. “After a period of denial, we’ve chosen ‘conscious uncoupling,’” Firth cheekily said in a statement. “I cannot thank [Firth] enough for his contribution to Paddington. We love the voice and we love the bear, but as our young bear came into being we agreed that the two didn’t seem to fit. So, with somewhat heavy hearts we decided to part ways,” director Paul King said, though he probably wishes Firth would’ve realized all of this a bit sooner. [EW]
Character actor veteran Dylan Baker has joined the cast of Ava DuVernay‘s MLK pic “Selma,” taking the role of J. Edgar Hoover. As you’ll recall, the FBI had a pretty unhealthy obsession with the civil rights leader, so we’ll be curious to see how he comes to bear on film’s seminal, titular event. [Deadline]
Like mother, like daughter. Mamie Gummer is looking to join her mom, Meryl Streep, along with Kevin Kline, in Jonathan Demme‘s “Ricki And The Flash.” The Diablo Cody-penned movie will follow Ricki, “a rock ‘n’ roll-loving woman who chased her dreams at the cost of her family, but gets a chance to put things right. […] When [Ricki’s daughter] Julie gets divorced from her cheating husband, Pete (Kline) asks Ricki to visit Chicago and help their daughter (Gummer) through a difficult time.” [The Wrap]
Remember those ugly ubiquitous Troll Dolls? Well, Dreamworks Animation is turning them into the film “Trolls.” Anna Kendrick is leading the voice cast. “Shrek Forever After” helmer Mike Mitchell will direct. Speaking of celebrities voicing animated movies, Albert Brooks, Lake Bell, Hannibal Buress, Ellie Kemper and Bobby Moynahan (“Saturday Night Live”), are going to join Louis C.K. and Kevin Hart to voice the animated “Untitled Pets Project” for Universal and Illumination Entertainment. [The Wrap/The Wrap]
Alcon Entertainment has announced that Teresa Palmer will play the female lead in the upcoming remake of the 1990s action classic “Point Break.” She’ll be taking Lori Petty’s part in the original. Edgar Ramirez, Luke Bracey and Ray Winstone co-star. Ericson Core directs, and the movie comes out August 15, 2015.
We already know that Ice Cube’s lobbying has worked: his son O’Shea Jackson, Jr. will play his dad in the upcoming NWA biopic directed by F. Gary Gray (“Law Abiding Citizen,” “The Italian Job”). Two more members of the seminal gangster rap group have been cast. Theater actor Marcus Callender has nabbed the role of Dr. Dre and unknown actor Jason Mitchell will play the departed Easy E. No word on who will play MC Ren or DJ Yella yet. [THR]
The most expensive Chinese-language film in history, “Dragon Blade” stars good ol’ Jackie Chan. Well, he has company now, with John Cusack and Adrien Brody joining the $65-million epic about a legion of Roman soldiers who traveled to China in 48 BCE. [THR]