Do you feel the heat? Maybe that’s just because the ever-busy Christoph Waltz has joined the promising drama “Tulip Fever.” Co-starring Dane DeHaan and Alicia Vikander, Justin Chadwick (“The Other Boleyn Girl,” “Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom“) will direct the adaptation of Deborah Moggach‘s novel that follows the affair between a man and a woman in 17th century Holland, during a period where tulip bulbs became hot trading items, with a single bulb selling for as much as ten times the average annual salary. Pre-production will start this April on The Weinstein Company film. [THR]
Salma Hayek and Shohreh Aghdashloo have teamed up to star in the adaptation of Dalia Sofer‘s “The Septembers Of Shiraz.” The based-on-a-true-story thriller “tells the story of a Jewish family caught in the Islamic revolution in 1981 Iran. The story centers on an imprisoned gem dealer, his despairing wife, their daughter—whose playmate’s father is in the charge of the prison—and their New York-based son as they try to come together and escape the deadly tyranny. Hayek will play the mother while Aghdashloo is the family’s housekeeper whose son used to work for the gem dealer but is not part of the Revolutionary Guard.” Gerard Butler is producing and Wayne Blair (“The Sapphires“) is directing but no start date has been slotted just yet. [THR]
Eliza Dushku, Bradley Whitford and Joel David Moore have joined Tyson Ritter and William Hurt in the Gregg Allman biopic “Midnight Rider.” Randall Miller (“Bottle Shock,” “CBGB“) is directing the film about the rock ‘n roller who battled drugs, saw his sibling tragically pass away and more, all while going on to become a legend. Production starts on the film later this month. [Variety]
Martin Henderson, Emily Watson, Michael Kelly and Thomas Wright are joining the bro-tacular group of Josh Brolin, Jake Gyllenhaal, Jason Clarke and John Hawkes in “Everest.” Baltasar Kormákur (“Contraband“) will direct the Justin Isbell-penned true story of a 1996 expedition up the famed mountain that follows eight explorers who lose their lives when a storm hits them mid-climb. The film is slated to hit theaters on February 27, 2015 in 3D and IMAX 3D. [The Wrap]
Lastly, Ed Skrein, aka Daario Naharis from “Game Of Thrones,” has landed the role of young Frank Martin in the “Transporter” reboot aka “Transporter 4.” This will be an origin story, including Frank’s relationship with his father, giving audiences the much-needed context for the Jason Statham films. Bill Collage and Adam Cooper (“Tower Heist“) penned the script, and Camille Delamarre (“Brick Mansions“) will direct. [Variety]
