The face of "Doctor Who" for the last four years, as well as one of the stars of Ryan Gosling‘s misfire "Lost River," Matt Smith is now bringing this talents to a twisted take on a Jane Austen classic. The actor is joining Lily James, Sam Riley, Jack Huston, Bella Heathcote and Douglas Booth in "Pride And Prejudice And Zombies." Burr Steers will finally get this long developing project moving, and the story follows "Liz Bennett, [who] is pressured by her family to marry into a wealthy upper-class home and chafes at the stiff societal ways of 1800s England. Instead, she feels that she should help defend the countryside against the onslaught of a horrifying zombie plague." Smith will play Mr. Collins, and production starts next week. [THR]
"Sons Of Anarchy" star Katey Sagal is joining Miles Teller, Aaron Eckhart and Ciarin Hinds in "Bleed For This." The movie tells the true story of pugilist "[Vinny] Pazienza’s miraculous recovery from a car crash that left him with a broken back. He was told he might never walk again, let alone fight, but no one could stop the Pazmanian Devil, a world champ in two weight classes." Ben Younger wrote the script and will direct. [Deadline]
Zoë Kravitz, Keith Stanfield, Kimberly Elise, A$AP Rocky and Tyga will star in "Dope" alongside Shameik Moore, Tony Revolori (the kid from "Grand Budapest Hotel") and Kiersey Clemons. Rick Famuyiwa ("The Wood," "Brown Sugar," "Our Family Wedding") directs the "coming of age story about geeks growing up in Inglewood, California, trying to avoid gangs, drugs, and crime." Cameras are now rolling. [Shadow & Act]
John Carroll Lynch ("Zodiac") has joined Brian De Palma’s "Happy Valley" starring Al Pacino. He’ll take the role of notorious Penn State coach Jerry Sandusky, in the movie about "football coach Joe Paterno, whose legend took a major hit when it was revealed that he knew former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky was molesting children and did little to stop it in order to protect the reputation of his prized pigskin program." Dave McKenna (“American History X”) penned the script. [The Wrap]
