Who does David O. Russell think he is? Woody Allen? Okay, we kid, but the number of name-brand stars he’s lining up for his still (aggravatingly) untitled Abscam drama is reaching epic proportions. Christian Bale, Bradley Cooper, Jeremy Renner, Amy Adams, Louis C.K., Jennifer Lawrence, Alessandro Nivola, Elisabeth Rohm, Dawn Olivieri and Jack Huston are already on board the currently shooting movie, which is now adding even more cast members.
Deadline reports that the always solid Michael Pena — last seen in “Gangster Squad” and “End Of Watch” — is taking a role in the film. The based-on-a-true-story tale follows a financial con artist (Bale) and his mistress/partner in crime (Adams) who are forced to work with an out of control federal agent (Cooper) to turn the tables on other con artists, mobsters and politicians. At the epicenter of the entire tale is the passionate and volatile leader of the New Jersey state assembly (Renner), who is also the local hero and mayor of impoverished Camden. No word yet on Pena’s role, but it looks like another huge name is also (quietly) part of the movie too.
According to the sources at The Boston Globe, Russell continues to enlist his “Silver Linings Playbook” team, with Robert De Niro reportedly cast in a small role in the film, for a scene that takes place in a casino. There were some scheduling conflicts, so he will apparently shoot his scenes in May. Either way, this cast is nuts, the material sounds great and we can’t wait to see this.
“The Untitled David O. Russell Movie Starring Everyone In Hollywood” opens wide on Christmas Day. It’s going to be quite the present.