Angela Bassett is the latest to join "Olympus Has Fallen," Millenium Entertainment's rival to Sony's "White House Down." Set to be directed by Antoine Fuqua, the premise is pretty much the same: White House + terrorists/bad guys = hero saves the day. In this case, it's Gerard Butler with Aaron Eckhart along for the ride as POTUS. Basset will play Secret Service director Lynne Jacobs. [Deadline]
Canadian filmmaker Atom Egoyan ("Chloe," "The Sweet Hereafter") is finalizing the casting of his West Memphis Three darama, "The Devil's Knot." Starring Reese Witherspoon, Colin Firth, and Amy Ryan, three more actors have joined the cast. "Mad Men" star Michael Gladis will play a defense attory, Canadian actor Bruce Greenwood (who also starring in 'Hereafter'), will play a stubborn Judge and ABC "Scandal" star Matt Letscher will play yet another defense attorney. "The Devil's Knot" centers on the infamous 1993 West Memphis Three murders the spawned the popular "Paradise Lost" documentaries that helped free three wrongly convicted men who spent 18 years in prison and were released last year. The film will center on the savage murders of three young children in West Memphis, Arkansas that sparked the controversial trial of three teenagers accused of killing the kids as part of a satanic ritual. The cast also includes Mireille Enos ("The Killing"), Dane DeHaan ("Chronicle"), Alessandro Nivola, and Collete Wolfe and filming begins today. [Deadline/THR]
Ron Livingston has joined the offbeat indie dramedy "The Pretty One" which already stars Zoe Kazan and Jake Johnson (Fox's "The New Girl," "Safety Not Guaranteed") Jenee LaMarque's script — about a woman who assumes her identical prettier twin sister's identity when she dies, moving into her apartment and the big city — made the Black List in 2011 and she's also directing. The film started shooting in L.A. already. [Deadline]
David Tennant ("Doctor Who") and Emily Watson ("War Horse," "Synecdoche, New York") will play a husband and wife in upcoming three-part BBC Two series, "The Politician’s Husband." Created by Paula Mine (BBC's "The Night Watch" and "White Heat"), the three parter is a a follow-up to 1995’s BAFTA-winning "The Politician’s Wife." [Deadline]
Marcia Gay Harden is set to star in the indie drama "The Librarian" about a mild-mannered woman suffering a mid-life crisis whos finds a new life path while touring Costa Rica when accidently hires a lothario and dime-store philosopher for her guide. Juan Feldman, who has worked for as a first AD, is directing off a script from Joel Silverman who wrote "Garo" for Jerry Bruckheimer and "Undefeated" for Scott Stuber. [Variety]