The cast for Clint Eastwood‘s forthcoming biopic “J. Edgar” continues to build in fits and starts. Leonardo DiCaprio is already on board, and he’ll be joined by Armie Hammer and as we exclusively revealed Aussie actor Damon Herriman and now, the director himself has confirmed a very big name for the cast.
Speaking with SandwichJohnFilms on the red carpet for his California Hall Of Fame induction, when asked about Charlize Theron‘s possible casting in film Eastwood told the site, “We think she will be in the film [with a smile.] And Judi Dench is definitely in the film and there we are.”
We have been hearing about Dench’s potential casting for awhile, and had been trying to confirm with official reps, but with the director himself dropping the news, you can certainly consider this legit. As for Theron, it seems like it’s not quite official but it certainly appears like she’s leaning toward working with Eastwood and DiCaprio rather than toplining the fairy tale tentpole “Snow White And The Huntsman” which she’s also considering, and which is slated to shoot at the same time.
No word yet on Dench’s role in the role, but Eastwood is certainly amassing one helluva group of actors for his next film. DiCaprio is set to take the titular role; with Hammer playing his assistant/closeted lover Clyde Tolson; Herriman as Bruno Hauptmann, the man convicted of kidnapping and killing the Lindbergh baby and Theron — if she takes the role — as Helen Gandy, a Justice Department file clerk who ended up being Hoover’s personal secretary.
One of our most anticipated of 2011? You better believe it. Filming begins in February.