Other than the premieres of many high-profile and exciting films, the Cannes Film Festival is also host to a marketplace where production companies try to entice distributors—or just regular old financiers—to buy into projects. As a result, many news of castings or just plain brand-new films filter out of that glamorous place, and naturally we’ve rounded up a few of those items for your easy-reading pleasure below.
First up, the long-brewing adaptation of Deborah Moggach’s “Tulip Fever” has added a trio of actors, one in particular being a surprising choice. Per Screen Daily rising star Jack O’Connell, “The Borgias” actress Holliday Grainger and—surprisingly—none other than Zach Galifianakis. Keep in mind that the novel is set in 1630s Amsterdam and “The Other Boleyn Girl” and “Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom” director Justin Chadwick will helm the film from a Tom Stoppard screenplay. So yeah, the material’s definitely out of the comedy star’s wheelhouse but we’re definitely curious how it all plays out in the film. It can’t be worse than “The Hangover Part III.” The movie already stars Alicia Vikander (“Anna Karenina“), Dane DeHaan and Christoph Waltz.
Last seen on the big screen in the affront-to-good-taste that was 2011’s “Jack and Jill,” Katie Holmes seems to be righting the ship with a busy next few months ahead of her—three films are already in the can with the YA adaptation “The Giver” in post—and she’s added another role to her full plate. Screen Daily reports the former “Dawson’s Creek” star will join Helen Mirren in the 1980’s-set stolen art drama, “Woman In Gold”—formerly “The Golden Lady”—alongside the already-cast Ryan Reynolds and Daniel Brühl.
What does “Groundhog Day,” “Source Code” and “The Edge Of Tomorrow” all have in common? They all feature the protagonists repeating the same day over and over again. You can now add a low-budget “psychological thriller” to the very specific microgenre as Deadline reports “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter”—and runner-up to many franchise leads before and since—star Benjamin Walker will co-star with fellow lower-tier studio film vet Teresa Palmer in “2:22.” The film follows Walker as “a man whose life is permanently derailed when an ominous pattern of events repeats itself in exactly the same manner every day, ending at precisely 2:22 PM. he falls for a woman (Palmer) whose life is threatened by these strange events, and he must solve the mystery to save her.” The film shoots this fall in Australia with Paul Currie at the helm.
While she was virtually everywhere in 2008 with her song “Mercy”—seriously, it must have scored at least a few dozen trailers and TV spots—British singer-songwriter Duffy has moved into the film world in between releasing new music. According to Screen Daily, the Welsh native will return to her home country to star in “Secret Love” for TV vet Dewi Humphreys. The romance centers on “the bittersweet love story between a young woman and an older, married man and her subsequent turmoil after he unexpectedly passes.” The film shoots this fall.
“Blade” villain Stephen Dorff will make good on the promise he showed in Sofia Coppola’s “Somewhere” by starring, per Screen Daily, in a New Orleans-set film that sees the actor as “Melvin, a reluctant superhero who lives only for crime, women and drugs – until he realizes that the only way he will ever get to see his son is to go straight and fulfil his potential as a crime fighter. But in a world where no one understands Melvin’s condition or where it came from, his incredible powers could ultimately be his demise.” The still-untitled film, naturally, will begin shooting in just a couple of weeks.
Jeremy Irons and Sienna Miller have joined Tom Hiddleston in Ben Wheatley‘s next effort, “High Rise,” reports Screen Daily. Based on the novel by J.G. Ballard, the movie “centres on a new residential tower built on the eve of Margaret Thatcher’s rise to power, at the site of what will soon become the world’s financial hub. Designed as a luxurious solution to the problems of the city, it is a world apart. Enter Robert Laing (Hiddleston), a young doctor seduced by the high-rise and its creator, the visionary architect Anthony Royal (Irons). Laing discovers a world of complex loyalties, and also strikes up a relationship with Royal’s devoted aide Charlotte (Miller). But rot has set in beneath the flawless surface. Sensing discord amongst the tenants, Laing meets Wilder, a charismatic provocateur bent on inciting the situation. Wilder initiates Laing into the hidden life of the high-rise and Laing is shocked at what he sees. As the residents break into tribal factions, Laing finds himself in the middle of mounting violence. Violence that he also finds emerging in himself.” So yes, sounds awesome. Production starts in July.
Screen Daily keeps it coming, noting that Luke Evans will star in “SAS: Red Notice.” The movie is set in “the Channel Tunnel, where 100 meters underground 20 accused war criminals hold 400 hostages. Only one man can get them out alive – Tom Buckingham – an SAS operator who is trying to save his relationship with the woman he loves. The explosive conflict rages from Central London to the very heart of Paris, where Tom uncovers a conspiracy.” Geez, this sounds kinda dumb. Nick Love (“The Sweeney“) will direct.
Lastly, Screen Daily (again!) reveals that Takashi Miike has cast “The Raid 2” star Yayan Ruhian in his “Yakuza Apocalypse: The Great War Of The Underworld.” The story will follow “a yakuza underling who discovers his boss is a bloodsucker, only to get bitten himself before going up against a gang of deadly international assassins.” The film is excepted to be completed for a 2015 release.