Based on the cast alone, Steven Soderbergh‘s upcoming spy flick “Black Bag” could be his buzziest feature in a long time. Deadline reports that two more join Michael Fassbender and Cate Blanchett on the thriller’s cast list: Regé-Jean Page and Marisa Abela. Abela’s casting is a coup for her, another major role after she stars in the Amy Winehouse biopic “Back To Black” this Spring, which will likely be a breakout role for the “Industry” actress. As for Page, “Black Book” pairs well with actor’s other upcoming actioner, Paramount‘s “The Saint” reboot.
Plot details remain under wraps for Soderbergh’s next film, which hit the market shortly after the director’s latest film “Presence” bowed at Sundance in January. Focus won the sweepstakes there. David Koepp writes the script for Soderbergh, making it three features in a row for the pair after “Presence” and “KIMI.” But it remains unclear what Koepp and Soderbergh have in mind for “Black Book.” Will this be a globetrotting spy film in the style of James Bond, or something more intimate like Soderbergh’s “Haywire“? Stay tuned for details, as Soderbergh plans to shoot the film in Europe this summer on a $60 million budget; not a huge number, but we’ve seen SS do a lot more with much less cash.
No other news for “Black Book” yet except that Casey Silver and Greg Jacobs co-produce the film through Focus Features. Still, it’s nice to see Abela snag another film role as “it “Back To Black” approaches its world premiere. And it’s also great to see Fassbender working regularly again after years away from the industry to race cars and raise his family with Alicia Vikander. Let’s hope “Black Book” ends up as good as it sounds on paper.
If Soderbergh indeed shoots “Black Book” this summer, it’s all but assured he’ll be back at Sundance again next year for its world premiere (if not earlier, given his work rate).