There’s been a flurry of actors signing onto projects in recent days, with indie projects, tentpoles and European productions all in the mix, here’s a quick rundown of who signed onto what.
First up, the always busy Nicolas Cage has signed on to another random project to keep us on our toes: “Hotel 33.” Newcomer Kellie Madison wrote the script and will direct the movie, which will find Cage playing Detective Kaminsky (obviously) who is investigating the disappearance of 32 people on the opening night of the Grand Hotel in Williamsport, PA in 1953. But his attention soon turns toward the strange disappearance of two of the four teenagers, spooky! Production begins in September and Open Road will release the movie.
Samuel L. Jackson will star in the English-language debut of filmmaker Jalmari Helander (“Rare Exports: The Truth About Santa“), entitled “Big Game.” Executive-produced by Alex Garland, it’s an action adventure flick “about a shy 13-year-old Finnish boy who has to spend the night in a local forest to prove his manhood; but when Air Force One is shot down by terrorists and the boy meets the US president, they fight to save themselves.” Yes, Sam Jackson is the President. [Screen Daily]
Character actor Stephen Lang, probably best known for “Avatar,” has joined the Stephen King adaptation “A Good Marriage” with Kristen Connolly, Anthony LaPaglia and Joan Allen with documentarian Peter Askin to direct. The movie will follow “Darcy, who discovers the sinister and gruesome double life that her husband and father of their two children, has been living. She must now decide how far she is willing to go to maintain the marriage.” Lang will play an investigator tasked with solving the crime.[THR]
Salma Hayek will take a left turn, starring in the Black List-approved action flick “Everly.” She’ll play “a down-on-her-luck woman forced to fend off waves of assassins sent by her ex, a dangerous mob boss.” The kicker? The entire movie takes place in a single room. Joe Lynch (“Knights Of Badassdom“) directs and shooting takes place in Serbia this summer. [Deadline]
The omnipresent William Fichtner has joined the currently shooting “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.” His role is being kept secret, though it’s described as “a lead with iconic stature” in TMNT lore, so probably Shredder. [Deadline]
Lastly, “The Artist” star who is dancing between Euro movies (“Mobius“) and Hollywood fare (the upcoming “Monuments Men“), is going to back to France to team with Gilles Lelouche for “La French” (yes, really). And no, it’s not a light rom-com: “Dujardin will star as police magistrate Pierre Michel who waged an obsessive six-year battle to bring down the French Connection, the infamous drug ring. Lellouche, will topline as Tany Zampa, a powerful drug lord.” Cedric Jimenez (“Paris Under Watch”) will direct with lensing to start in the fall, and a second half 2014 date being eyed. [Variety]
