Anthony Mackie joins Bill Condon’s Wikileaks movie, now titled “The Fifth Estate”; first image released

January 22, 2013 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting, Images 2 Comments

UPDATED: The first official image from the film has been added.

Well this movie just keeps getting better and better. In a press release today announcing the start of principal photography on “The Fifth Estate”, the previously untitled Wikileaks movie directed by Bill Condon, it’s revealed that Anthony Mackie has joined the cast that already boasts Benedict Cumberbatch, Daniel Bruhl and Alicia Vikander.

Cumberbatch will play Julian Assange and Bruhl his one-time right hand man, Daniel Domscheit-Berg. The Dreamworks film is taking its source material from Domscheit-Berg’s “Inside WikiLeaks: My Time with Julian Assange at the World’s Most Dangerous Website” and “WikiLeaks: Inside Julian Assange’s War on Secrecy” by David Leigh and Luke Harding, British journalists who worked at The Guardian and helped Assanage publish his first findings. Vikander will play a co-worker and eventual love interest to Bruhl’s charcter, while “Downton Abbey” star Dan Stevens will play a hacker friend of Domscheit-Berg’s who eventually comes to work with the Wikileaks team. There’s no word on who other cast members including Mackie, Laura Linney, David Thewlis, Peter Capaldi, and Carice van Houten will play. “The Fifth Estate” has also just been set for a November 15, 2013 release.

Mackie will film this first before heading to Cleveland in April to play the Falcon opposite Chris Evans, who reprises his role as Steve Rogers in “Captain America: The Winter Soldier.” The two also recently wrapped up filming on “A Many Splintered Thing” together. Mackie is currently on screen in “Gangster Squad” opposite Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone and will next be seen opposite Mark Wahlberg in Michael Bay’s “Pain & Gain.”

Meanwhile, the first official image featuring Cumberbatch and Bruhl has been released and can be viewed below.

Watch: Anthony Mackie and Rebel Wilson in first trailer for Michael Bay’s “Pain and Gain”

December 19, 2012 | Posted by Linda Ge in Videos Leave a comment

Michael Bay tries his hand at a low budget black comedy and the result is… pretty much “Transformers” without the giant robots. The first trailer for weightlifting heist thriller/comedy “Pain and Gain” starring Mark Wahlberg, Dwayne Johnson and Anthony Mackie has just been released, and it has all the Bay aesthetics we’ve come to expect from the bombastic summer blockbuster director. There’s scantily clad women, car chases, guys lifting weights and bromancing it up and an American flag or two.

Can’t say this is exactly up our alley, but we enjoy Wahlberg and Mackie’s work and Rebel Wilson was a pleasant surprise in the trailer. “Pain and Gain” will be released on April 26, 2013 and the first trailer can be viewed below.

Frank Grillo to play villain Crossbones in “Captain America: The Winter Soldier”

October 29, 2012 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting Leave a comment

We still don’t know for sure who will be playing Sharon Carter in “Captain America: The Winter Soldier”, but the latest Marvel flick does have another villain now locked down. After a week of rumor and speculation, Variety confirms “End of Watch” actor Frank Grillo has closed his deal to play Brock Rumlow, who would ultimately adopt the villainous moniker Crossbones, opposite Chris Evans returning as supersoldier/Avenger Steve Rogers.

Grillo teased fans last week when he tweeted about meeting with Marvel and hoping a deal could be worked out, along with the hashtags #CaptainAmerica and #bones. Well, work out it did, and Grillo becomes the latest to join the cast that already includes Sebastian Stan returning as Bucky Barnes, who becomes the titular Winter Soldier, Scarlett Johansson as the Black Widow, Cobie Smulders as Maria Hill, as well as fellow newbie Anthony Mackie, who takes on the role of the Falcon. And of course, whoever lands the role of Sharon Carter, be it Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Jessica Brown Findlay or any of the other dozen names mentioned in relation to that particular casting. Anthony and Joseph Russo will direct “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” next March, with a release already set for April 4, 2014.

Grillo has been acting steadily on TV and in movies for years, but is undeniably having a bit of a moment on the big screen right now, thanks to a string of impressive supporting turns, first opposite Joel Edgerton in “Warrior”, then Liam Neeson in “The Grey” and most recently opposite Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael Pena in “End of Watch.” He’ll surely impress further when he reteams with Edgerton in Kathryn Bigelow’s “Zero Dark Thirty” and with Mackie in “Gangster Squad.”

Mary Elizabeth Winstead is the secret front-runner for “Captain America 2″ according to latest Marvel rumor

October 12, 2012 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting 3 Comments

The search for the female lead of “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” is becoming one of those long-winded musical chair sessions. First it was Imogen Poots vs. Felicity Jones vs. Anna Kendrick, then it was Poots up against a few other names, including Alison Brie, Emilia Clarke, Teresa Palmer and Jessica Brown-Findlay. Now, the latest rumor suggests it may not be any of the above. Latino Review reports that Marvel actually “has the most traction” with a name that has not been on either list: Mary Elizabeth Winstead.

The young lady chosen will likely be playing Sharon Carter, or S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent 13 in the film opposite Chris Evans returning as Steve Rogers. Depending on the mythology, which varies even in the comics, Sharon is the niece or granddaughter or some other relative of Peggy Carter, Rogers’ love interest in “Captain America: The First Avenger” as played by Hayley Atwell. Latino Review further details that actresses auditioning for the role should be in their 20s and read their lines with “an accent.”

Anthony Mackie and Aubrey Plaza joining “A Many Splintered Thing” starring Chris Evans and Michelle Monaghan

October 2, 2012 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting Leave a comment

Anthony Mackie, Aubrey Plaza, Giovanni Ribisi and Philip Baker Hall are all in talks to join Chris Evans and Michelle Monaghan in indie “anti-romantic comedy” “A Many Splintered Thing”, reports Variety.

Evans plays a man disillusioned with love, who meets the beautiful but engaged Monaghan while pretending to be a philanthropist at a charity dinner. He pretends to put himself into the Friend Zone in order to continue to pursue her romantically. No word on who any of the aforementioned new cast additions will play, but according to Deadline, Topher Grace will play Evans’ best friend. Commercials director Justin Reardon makes his feature directorial debut from a Black List script by Chris Shafer & Paul Vicknair. Production is slated to begin next month.

Mackie and Evans will work together here first, before heading to Cleveland to shoot “Captain America: The Winter Soldier.” Mackie has been confirmed for the role of Marvel superhero Sam Wilson, aka The Falcon in that film. He also has Michael Bay’s dark comedy “Pain & Gain” opposite Mark Wahlberg, as well as Ruben Fleischer’s “Gangster Squad” with Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone awaiting release. Plaza, a regular on NBC comedy series “Parks and Recreation”, and Mackie worked together on the recently released high school reunion drama “10 Years.” Her completed indie films include “The Necessary Death of Charlie Countryman” opposite Shia Labeouf and Evan Rachel Wood, and Roman Coppola’s “A Glimpse Inside the Mind of Charles Swan III” with Mary Elizabeth Winstead.

Anna Kendrick, Felicity Jones, Imogen Poots front-runners for “Captain America 2″ female lead?

August 19, 2012 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting 9 Comments

Now that “Iron Man 3″ filming is underway and “Thor: The Dark World” is well on its way to production, attention turns to casting on “Captain America: The Winter Soldier”, the sequel to Joe Johnston’s hit Marvel “Avengers” prequel that saw Chris Evans as the quintessential American soldier and superhero leader.

With Evans back on board and Sebastian Stan most likely reprising his role as Bucky Barnes, who eventually becomes the titular Winter Soldier, as well as Anthony Mackie joining the team as Falcon, the search now turns to the female lead. The identity of the role is not revealed but has been speculated to be that of Sharon Carter, SHIELD agent and love interest to Evans’ Rogers, and descendant of his first love Peggy (played by Hayley Atwell in the first film). Page Six reports three young actresses who are considered front-runners for the role are Anna Kendrick, Felicity Jones and Imogen Poots. Anthony and Joseph Russo will direct “Captain America: The Winter Soldier”, with a release already set for April 4, 2014.

Jones and Poots are no strangers to shortlists. Jones, who broke out in Drake Doremus’ improv romance drama “Like Crazy”, most recently lost out on the female lead role in Kenneth Branagh’s “Jack Ryan” reboot to Keira Knightley, though she did win out over Poots – who has appeared in “Fright Night” and currently shot footage for Terrence Malick’s “Knight of Cups” – for the lead role in Ralph Fiennes’ Charles Dickens biopic “The Invisible Woman.” Kendrick, though critically lauded, has seemed to have a hard time breaking into leading lady status, often playing quirky, supporting roles in comedies instead. One of those roles – opposite George Clooney in Jason Reitman’s “Up in the Air” – did win her an Oscar nomination, so it’s obviously working for her, but the female lead role in “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” would still certainly be a major breakthrough for her.

Watch: First trailer for Channing Tatum’s “10 Years” starring Oscar Isaac, Anthony Mackie, Chris Pratt and more

August 16, 2012 | Posted by Linda Ge in Videos Leave a comment

Channing Tatum invited all of his actor friends – basically everyone around the age of 30 you’ve vaguely heard of, including his wife Jenna Dewan, Anthony Mackie, Oscar Isaac, Justin Long, Kate Mara, Max Minghella, Chris Pratt, Rosario Dawson, Ari Graynor and many, many more – to be in “10 Years” (formerly “Ten Year”), the high school reunion ensemble drama he produced and which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival last year. A year later, the Jamie Linden-directed flick is finally seeing a theatrical release and along with it, finally a trailer.

The antics the reunited group get up to seem firmly cliche and surface-skimming, with some having become famous, other laden down with spouses and children, while still others clearly haven’t gotten over their high school crushes. This seems like the kind of movie that won’t offer up anything groundbreaking plot-wise and will instead rely heavily on the charisma and chemistry of its cast, so luckily, it’s got a damn good one. “10 Years” will be released on September 14th and the trailer can be viewed below.

Rebel Wilson set to play imaginative lead in Miguel Arteta-directed “Unicorn Store”

August 15, 2012 | Posted by Rebecca Lewis in Casting Leave a comment

As we eagerly await the release of “Pitch Perfect” and “Bachelorette”, two upcoming comedies starring Australian actress Rebel Wilson as a co-lead, the young star who broke out in the 2011 smash-hit “Bridesmaids” looks set to finally take on her first leading role, joining indie comedy “Unicorn Store“.

All details for the film are currently being kept under wraps but Variety reports that the film can be described as quirky, and Wilson’s character an “imaginative lead”. Colour us intrigued.

The pic will be directed by Miguel Arteta (“Cedar Rapids“) from a debut script by Samantha McIntyre but no word yet on when they plan to go into production.

Wilson has recently wrapped filming alongside Anthony Mackie in “Pain and Gain” and will soon be on promotional duties as “Bachelorette” goes on limited release in Septemeber and “Pitch Perfect” in October.

“The Hunger Games” tribute Dayo Okeniyi joins indie “The Spectacular Now” and gambling drama “Runner Runner”

July 19, 2012 | Posted by Rebecca Lewis in Casting 1 Comment

As casting for the sequel to “The Hunger Games”, “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” gets underway, the young actors who didn’t make it to the end of the first Games are beginning to make their own odds in Hollywood.

Dayo Okeniyi is the latest tribute to find life after the arena, with THR reporting that the Nigerian actor will be joining the cast of two Hollywood flicks – indie coming-of-age drama “The Spectacular Now” and the gambling drama “Runner Runner” starring Justin Timberlake.

In “The Spectacular Now”, Miles Teller stars as party-hard high school senior Sutter Keely, who has no ambitions beyond high school except to have as much fun as possible. When he wakes up on a random front lawn and meets shy, introverted Aimee – to be played by Shailene Woodley – she begins to turn his world upside down as he does hers. Based on the award winning novel by Tim Tharp, the film will be directed by James Ponsoldt and also stars Brie Larson.

In the Brad Furman-helmed “Runner Runner“, Okeniyi will be joining Timberlake, Ben Affleck, Oliver Cooper, Anthony Mackie and Gemma Arterton as a Princeton PhD student. The film follows two friends (Timberlake and Cooper) who get drawn in to the shadier side of gambling after being hired by Affleck’s billionaire online gambling business owner. Trouble soon comes in the form of Mackie’s FBI agent, who has been tracking Affleck for years. Arterton plays Timberlake’s love interest and filming is already underway in Puerto Rico.

Anthony Mackie in talks to join “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” as Falcon

July 16, 2012 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting Leave a comment

More “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” news? Bring. It. On. Especially when it’s casting news as awesome as one of our favorite rising stars, Anthony Mackie, in talks to join the cast as Marvel superhero Falcon. THR reports Mackie is in negotiations for the role of Sam Wilson opposite returning Cap Chris Evans (and most likely Sebastian Stan as well).

The title of the film definitely seems to indicate Stan’s deceased Bucky Barnes will be revived and brought back to battle Evans’ Steve Rogers in modern times, following his fate in the comics. Mackie’s character Wilson is credited as being the first African-American superhero in mainstream comics, who is endowed with the ability to fly and communicate with birds by Cap’s nemesis, Red Skull. Rogers befriends Wilson and successfully turns him against the villain who “created” him, and the two go on to have many crime-fighting adventures together. Of course, this is the Marvel movie universe, so a whole new history could be created for this version of the Falcon. Anthony and Joseph Russo will direct “Captain America: The Winter Soldier”, with a release already set for April 4, 2014.

After breaking out in Kathryn Bigelow’s Best Picture Oscar winner “The Hurt Locker” opposite Jeremy Renner, Mackie has been increasingly in demand, appearing in four movies in 2011 and “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter” already out this year, with “Gangster Squad” set for release in September. He recently wrapped up Michael Bay’s dark indie comedy “Pain and Gain” opposite Mark Wahlberg and is currently filming gambling thriller “Runner Runner” with Justin Timberlake and Ben Affleck.

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