A diverse slate of big-budget studio and indie fare — from romantic comedy to the latest actioner from “End of Watch” director David Ayer — are slowly shaping up for production, and that means their cast lists are growing larger, starting with a long-gestating WWII period drama just finding its leads.
First announced in 2010 with “The Duchess” director Saul Dibb attached, the wartime-set drama “Suite Francaise” brought on Michelle Williams last week, and now Kristin Scott Thomas will join her to lead the adaptation of Irene Nemirovsky's novel, which charts the love affair between a young French woman (Williams) and the German officer assigned to watch her in Nazi-occupied France. Scott Thomas is on-board to play Williams' mother, while the role of the officer has not yet been cast. With two pivotal parts secured though, expect production to speed nicely along. [Screen Daily]
One independent project that just begun filming in New York, Max Nichol's directorial debut “Two Night Stand” has received a high-profile addition in the form of musician/actor Scott "Kid Cudi" Mescudi. Best known on-screen for his role in HBO's “How To Make It In America,” Mescudi will join the Analeigh Tipton and Miles Teller-starring romantic comedy on the periphery, playing the boyfriend of Tipton's roommate (Jessica Szohr) as their friends enter the online dating scene and wind up spending more time than they expected together. [THR]
Finding his first major public exposure as John McClane's son in “A Good Day to Die Hard,” actor Jai Courtney's profile has only climbed after scoring a role opposite Tom Cruise in “Jack Reacher,” and now again as he finds himself alongside Joel Edgerton and Tom Wilkinson in a fresh project. “Felony,” the second film from director Matthew Saville after his excellent Aussie drama “Noise,” centers on Edgerton as a decorated cop who lies about a drunk-driving incident and finds it coming back to haunt him via a newcomer detective (played by Courtney) out to investigate. [Deadline]
Fresh off an excellent NYCC response to the “Evil Dead” remake in which he stars, “Red Riding Hood” star Shiloh Fernandez is set to continue his streak of good luck by landing the lead role in director Gregg Araki's latest film, “White Bird.” Featuring an exciting cast that includes Eva Green and Shailene Woodley, the drama focuses on a young woman attempting to cope after her mother suddenly disappears, and it's likely that Fernandez will put himself forward as a potential solution. Quiet since his apocalyptic “Kaboom,” any news from Araki is intriguing enough, and even more so with the talent he's assembled. [Deadline]
Rounding off matters is word that “Lost” actor Harold Perrineau, these days featuring as a regular on FX's “Sons of Anarchy” and next seen in Kathryn Bigelow's “Zero Dark Thirty,” will join the adrenaline-fueled cast of David Ayer's action-drama, “Ten.” Starring opposite Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sam Worthington, the thriller finds an elite DEA task force led by Schwarzenegger slowly being picked off one by one. Production begins later this month in Atlanta. [Variety]
