Looks like Keanu Reeves might need to reboot his career a bit. His latest blockbuster, “47 Ronin,” was a flop, and the string of indies he’d done since 2008’s “The Day The Earth Stood Still” barely made a ripple. That’s not to mention the sci-fi “Passengers,” which needs to find a female lead (after Rachel McAdams dropped out) if shooting is to proceed on schedule this summer. So his move is—go make a low budget horror with Eli Roth.
Reeves has signed up to star in “Knock Knock,” joining a cast of mostly unknowns including Lorenza Izzo, Ana de Armas, Colleen Camp and Aaron Burns, playing “a happily married family man who’s left alone for the weekend. Two beautiful girls show up at his house, and turn his life upside down.” Everything coalesced fast on this one, with the $10 million dollar production starting in Chile on April 14th. [Deadline]
Denis Villeneuve‘s “Sicario” keeps getting more intriguing. After locking down Emily Blunt earlier this week, Benicio Del Toro has now boarded the thriller. Penned by Taylor Sheridan, the “No Country For Old Men”-esque movie, will center on a female cop (Blunt) and two male Delta Force rangers who cross from Tucson to Mexico to catch a drug lord—but once they cross the border, it’s a whole different, more dangerous and depraved world than they were expecting. Oh, and Del Toro’s role? He’ll play “an assassin hired by the U.S. government to help bring down the Cartels, which are responsible for the death of his family.” Hell yes. Production begins this summer. [The Wrap]
After an underrated turn in “True Detective,” Michelle Monaghan has been given the thankless task of playing female role in an Adam Sandler movie. She’s joined “Pixels,” about a bunch of nerds hired by the government to help when ’80s video games characters start attacking New York City. Kevin James, Josh Gad and Peter Dinklage co-star. [The Wrap]
Amy Ryan and Jillian Bell have joined Dylan Minnette, Jack Black and Odeya Rush in an adaptation of R.L. Stine‘s famed book series “Goosebumps.” The story will follow “a teen named Zach Cooper, whose family moves to a new home where his new neighbor is a mysterious author. When a demonic ventriloquist’s dummy unleashes the author’s creepy creations, it’s up to his niece Hannah and Zach to battle the evil forces and save their town.” Rob Letterman (“Gulliver’s Travels,” “Shark Tale“) directs. [The Wrap]
Lastly, Gwendoline Christie (aka Brienne on “Game Of Thrones“) has replaced Lily Rabe as Commander Lyme in “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2.” The latter had to drop out due to scheduling conflicts. [Deadline]
