It’s a casting-o-rama Friday. With Cannes around the corner and the entire industry getting together for their quarterly wheeling and dealing, it means a lot of pacts are being made. Perhaps the most interesting is the adaptation of Patricia Highsmith’s novel “The Blunderer.” She is obviously the writer of the Talented Mr. Ripley series and this non-Ripley-centered psychological thriller will star Patrick Wilson, Jessica Biel, Toby Jones and Imogen Poots. Andy Goddard will direct. [Deadline]
Former “Downton Abbey” star Dan Stevens and “Boardwalk Empire” lead Michael Pitt are on the rise. They’ll both star alongside John Travolta in the drama, “Criminal Activities.” Actor Jackie Earle Haley will make his directing debut and the film centers on four friends who make a risky investment together that puts them in trouble with the mob. Pitt fell off their for a couple years, but between “Boardwalk Empire” and roles in “I Origins” and other indies, it looks like his comeback has almost official arrived. Stevens is proving he can go beyond the TV curse. He has four big roles lined up for this year. “The Guest,” which opens in the U.K. in September, a drug dealer opposite Liam Neeson in “A Walk Among Tombstones,” “The Cobbler,” alongside Adam Sandler, and even a role in the next “The Night at the Museum” movie. [Variety]
“The Dressmaker” already stars Kate Winslet. Added to the cast today are Liam Hemsworth, Isla Fisher, Elizabeth Debicki (“The Great Gatsby”) and Judy Davis. It’s a (fantastical?) drama and Winslet will play an avenging angel who returns home to the remote country town from which she fled as a child after being accused of murder, to make amends with her eccentric mother. [ScreenDaily]
They are still making Iraq War dramas despite the fact most of them tanked at the box-office. This one, “Sand Castle” will star Toby Kebbell and Nicholas Hoult. The Black List script by Chris Roessner is based on real events experienced by a platoon sent to repair an aqueduct in the dangerous and remote village of Baqubah, Iraq. Shooting begins in October. [ScreenDaily]
Gerard Butler dropped out of the “Point Break” remake. Sad face? Get a little bit happier, Ray Winstone has joined the cast in the Gary Busey role. Honestly, I thought he was already in the movie. I guess my imaginative casting is getting ahead of itself. [Deadline]
The “Fantastic Four” may have hired most of its principal cast, but other cast members are still being announced. The latest is Reg E. Cathey, an alum from “The Wire” probably best remembered recently as Freddy, the BBQ cook from “House Of Cards.” He will play the father of Johnny Storm played by Michael B. Jordan. [THR]
Dianne Wiest and Rosie Perez have joined David Oyelowo in the indie drama “Five Nights In Maine.” [Deadline] while Jim Broadbent will be starring in the NGO drama “Cooking Cats.” [ScreenDaily]. “Twilight” star Nikki Reed is set to star in the Vic Armstrong-helmed “The Sunday Horse,” [Deadline] and finally Octavia Spencer will co-star alongside Leslie Mann in DreamWorks “Las Madres.” [Variety]