The talent keeps growing for "Our Brand Is Crisis." Produced by George Clooney, set to be directed by David Gordon Green and starring Sandra Bullock, now Billy Bob Thornton and Scoot McNairy have joined the cast. Based on the documentary by Rachel Boynton, the story will follow " ‘Calamity’ Jane Bodine, a retired American political consultant who often quotes famous people to help hammer home her talking points." Peter Straughan ("The Men Who Stared At Goats") penned the script, and filming will begin this fall. [The Wrap/Variety]
The "Ben-Hur" remake now has the first two dudes in the chariot: Morgan Freeman and Jack Huston. The Timur Bekmambetov-directed movie boasts a rewrite by "12 Years A Slave" screenwriter John Ridley. That said, it will attempt to have Huston (who we love) step into the role made famous by Charlton Heston, with Freeman as Ildarin who teaches him all his skills. So, yeah, this can’t go wrong….right? [THR/Deadline]
Brie Larson and Ben Kingsley are crossing the "Brooklyn Bridge" for Daniel Radcliffe. The Douglas McGrath ("Emma," "Infamous") written and directed movie will center on "brilliant but inexperienced civil engineer Washington Roebling, who oversaw the building of the Brooklyn Bridge in the second half of the 19th century, based on a design by his father, John A. Roebling." Production starts next spring. [THR]
"Halt And Catch Fire" star Mackenzie Davis has joined Matt Damon and Jessica Chastain in "The Martian." Ridley Scott‘s latest sci-fi is about "an astronaut who becomes stranded on Mars and must figure out how to survive long enough to return home to Earth." Production will get underway this fall, and we love this cast already. [The Wrap]