Amanda Seyfried Joins Noah Baumbach’s “While We’re Young” with Adam Driver

May 23, 2013 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting Leave a comment

amanda-seyfried Confirming earlier reports, Amanda Seyfried is now in final negotiations to join Ben Stiller, Naomi Watts and Adam Driver in Noah Baumbach’s long-gestating next film, “While We’re Young”, according to The Wrap.

The film is about two couples, an older, uptight married one comprised of a documentary filmmaker (Stiller) and his wife (Watts) who find their lives turned upside down when they befriend a free-spirited younger couple, to be played by Driver and Seyfried. Filming will take place in New York this fall should everything come together, though it should be noted this project has been on and off for years, with other actors like Jesse Eisenberg and James Franco in Driver’s role, and frequent Baumbach collaborator Greta Gerwig in Seyfried’s.

Last seen as Cosette in Tom Hooper’s Oscar-winning adaptation of musical “Les Miserables”, Seyfried also earned acclaim at Sundance this year, where her titular “Lovelace” premiered to mostly rave reviews. She’s currently filming Seth MacFarlane’s Western comedy “A Million Ways to Die in the West” opposite Charlize Theron and has recently signed on to a string of films, including sci-fi adaptation “Z for Zachariah” with Chris Pine and true life family drama “Three Little Words” opposite Reese Witherspoon.

James Franco May Join Robert Pattinson in Werner Herzog’s “Queen of the Desert”

April 25, 2013 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting 1 Comment

james-franco James Franco to the rescue? When Werner Herzog’s Gertrude Bell biopic lost Jude Law, it ground the production – starring Naomi Watts and Robert Pattinson – to a halt, but now it appears Oz the Great and Powerful himself may ride in to save the day. Deadline reports filmmakers are now in talks with Franco to take over Law’s role in “Queen of the Desert”, but they caution scheduling is still being worked out and everything is contingent upon that right now.

Watts stars as writer Gertrude Bell in the flick that chronicles “Bell’s life as a writer, archaeologist, explorer, cartographer and political attache for the British Empire. One of the first women to graduate from Oxford at the turn of the 20th century, she traveled through the Middle East, defining the borders of Iraq, Jordan and Saudi Arabia.” Pattinson’s supporting role will be that of T.E. Lawrence, a British army officer whose brilliant writing of his experiences in WWI, particularly in his best known “Seven Pillars of Wonder”, earned him international acclaim as Lawrence of Arabia and became the subject of the iconic 1962 film starring Peter O’Toole. Lawrence and Bell were good friends and helped establish the Hashemite dynasties in Jordan and Iraq in the 1910s. Law’s role – now Franco’s – was never specified, but speculation pegged it as Charles Doughty-Wylie, with whom Bell had a two-year affair.

The free-spirited Franco was nominated for an Oscar for his role in Danny Boyle’s “127 Hours”, and most recently starred as the titular Wizard in Disney’s megahit “Oz the Great and Powerful.” He’s currently filming true life crime drama “True Story” with Jonah Hill and Felicity Jones and will soon be seen playing himself along with some of his celebrity friends in apocalyptic stoner comedy “This Is The End.” He does all this in between directing his own films, putting on art shows, taking college classes and writing a column for The Huffington Post. No wonder scheduling is an issue!

Andrea Riseborough Rounds Out Cast of Ensemble Comedy “Birdman”

March 7, 2013 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting Leave a comment

andrea-riseborough British actress Andrea Riseborough has joined the already star-studded cast of Alejandro Gonzalez Innaritu’s ensemble comedy “Birdman”, according to Deadline. Emma Stone, Michael Keaton, Zach Galifianakis, Edward Norton and Naomi Watts also star.

“Birdman” follows a washed-up former comic book movie star (Keaton) who sets out to mount a Broadway play based on a Raymond Chandler short story, but things get out of control with the arrival of the egotistical leading man (Norton). Stone will be Keaton’s daughter-turned-assistant, who’s just out of rehab, while Watts will play an actress in the show and Galifianakis will play the production’s conniving producer. Deadline reports Riseborough plays the role of Laura but there are no details about her character.

Riseborough has impressed with dramatic turns in British films “Brighton Rock”, “Never Let Me Go” and “Made in Dagenham”, and has completed filming on her first major studio blockbuster, this summer’s “Oblivion” opposite Tom Cruise. She will also soon be seen opposite James McAvoy in British thriller “Welcome to the Punch.”

Emma Stone Among Star-Studded Cast Joining Dark Comedy “Birdman”

March 5, 2013 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting 1 Comment

emma-stone Emma Stone, Zach Galifianakis, Michael Keaton and Naomi Watts have been cast in dark comedy “Birdman”, according to THR.

Alejandro Gonzalez Innaritu will direct the Fox Searchlight project, which follows a washed-up former comic book movie star who sets out to mount a Broadway play based on a Raymond Chandler short story, but things get out of control with the arrival of the egotistical leading man. Keaton will play the former movie star while Stone will be his daughter-turned-assistant, who’s just out of rehab. Watts will play an actress in the show while Galifianakis will play the production’s conniving producer. The role of the egotistical leading man and Keaton’s ex-wife remain to be cast.

It’s unclear when filming on “Birdman” will take place, as Stone’s schedule is pretty well booked. She’s currently reprising her role as Gwen Stacy in Marc Webb’s “The Amazing Spider-Man 2″ and next heads to Hawaii to film Cameron Croewe’s next with Bradley Cooper. She’s also attached to Guillermo Del Toro’s haunted house horror “Crimson Peak”, which is eyeing a spring 2014 start date. Last seen on the big screen in “Gangster Squad”, Stone can next be heard voicing a character in animated “The Croods.”

AFI Fest REVIEW: Despite strong performances, “The Impossible” is heavy on horror but emotionally distant

November 8, 2012 | Posted by Linda Ge in Reviews 1 Comment

The very first scene of Juan Antonio Bayona’s “The Impossible” makes it clear that this director has deep roots in the horror genre. Creepy something’s-coming music crescendoing into silence over crystal blue skies, followed immediately by the unnerving roar of a jet engine as a passenger plane flies by, you are instantly drawn to the edge of your seat, the knowledge setting in within seconds that this will be a tense, shocking ride. Bayona, previously known for Spanish cult classic horror “The Orphanage”, brings what he does best to this harrowing true life tsunami survival tale, but is unable to bridge the emotion gap. While a story like this should be shocking and horrific, a distinct lack of connection with the family in danger is also unfortunately always present throughout the film.

Robert Pattinson to play a young Lawrence of Arabia, joins Naomi Watts in Werner Herzog’s “Queen of the Desert”

August 14, 2012 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting 1 Comment

Robert Pattinson continues to distance himself from the teenage dreamboat Edward Cullen, with Variety now reporting the “Twilight” heartthrob has joined Naomi Watts in Werner Herzog’s indie drama “Queen of the Desert”, in which he’ll play a young Lawrence of Arabia.

Pattinson is currently making the promo rounds gearing up for the US release of David Cronenberg’s Cannes premiere “Cosmopolis”, while his final appearance as Edward Cullen in “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part II” will roll out in November. After the Herzog film Pattinson is scheduled to head to Australia for David Michod’s futuristic thriller “The Rover” opposite Guy Pearce, and he’s also attached to Iraq War thriller “Mission: Blacklist”, about the hunt for Saddam Hussein.

First Look: Tom Holland survives a tsunami with Naomi Watts and Ewan McGregor in first stills from “The Impossible”

July 24, 2012 | Posted by Linda Ge in Images 2 Comments

Young British actor Tom Holland seems to be a major force in Juan Antonio Bayona’s realistic retelling of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. “The Impossible”, just announced this morning to have its world premiere as a Special Presentation at the Toronto International Film Festival, stars Ewan McGregor and Naomi Watts as parents to three young boys and follows their search for the missing pieces of their family in the aftermath of the disaster. Holland, currently filming “How I Live Now” opposite Saiorse Ronan, plays Lucas, their oldest.

From the look of the stills, it appears Lucas gets stranded in dire straits with mom, while the two younger boys have managed to stay relatively dry with dad. “The Impossible” already has a US release date of December 21, 2012 via Summit Entertainment. Several images from the film can be seen below, while TIFF.net has more.

Aussie actress Sophie Lowe joins Xavier Samuel and James Frecheville in “The Grandmothers”

February 7, 2012 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting Leave a comment

It’s one reunion after another for the cast of “The Grandmothers”, as Variety reports James Frecheville will be joined by “Animal Kingdom” co-star Ben Mendelsohn and Sophie Lowe is also hopping on board, marking a “Road Kill” reunion with Xavier Samuel. The film, based on Doris Lessing’s novel of the same name, stars Naomi Watts and Robin Wright as two lifelong best friends who begin secretly dating each other’s sons (Samuel and Frecheville). Shooting begins tomorrow in Australia under the direction Anne Fontaine, who is making her English directorial debut.

Lowe has been acting in Australia since 2005 and broke out in critically acclaimed 2009 drama “Beautiful Kate”, but may still be most well known to international audiences for landing on the final shortlist for David Fincher’s “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.” The other finalists included fellow Aussie up and comers Sarah Snook and Emily Browning, British actress Katie Jarvis, French actress Lea Seydoux and eventual Lisbeth Salander herself Rooney Mara.

Xavier Samuel and James Frecheville are a couple of mother f*ckers in “The Grandmothers”

November 2, 2011 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting Leave a comment

Young Aussie actors Xavier Samuel and James Frecheville are about to enter MILF territory as they join “The Grandmothers” opposite Naomi Watts and Robin Wright. Screen Daily reported on the casting of the film, which is now entering pre-sales at AFM, earlier today.

Watts and Wright will play lifelong best friends who fall in love with each other’s sons (presumably Frecheville and Xavier) and carry on affairs for years, until one day they vow to end them and see their sons married off, which “has lasting impact on all concerned.” The film is aiming for a February 2012 shoot under the direction of Anne Fontaine in Australia in order to be completed in time to be submitted to Cannes 2013.

Samuel broke out internationally when he played the villainous vampire Riley in the third “Twilight” installment, “Eclipse”, but has since returned to work mostly in his native Australia, recently wrapping up surfing drama “Drift” opposite Sam Worthington. Frecheville earned raves as the lost teenager who gets caught in the crosshairs of his dangerous, dysfunctional family in 2010′s “Animal Kingdom.” He was a finalist for Warner Bros’ wizardry fantasy “The Seventh Son” and recently wrapped up shooting on Jon Kasden’s “The First Time” opposite Brittany Robertson and Dylan O’Brien.

Watch: “J. Edgar” Trailer with Leonardo DiCaprio and Armie Hammer

September 28, 2011 | Posted by Seana Cole in Videos 1 Comment

The trailer for “J. Edgar” starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Armie Hammer, Naomi Watts and Josh Lucas has been released. Directed by Clint Eastwood and written by Dustin Lance Black, the film follows J. Edgar Hoover (DiCaprio), a previous FBI Director.

Here’s the official synopsis:

“During his lifetime, J. Edgar Hoover would rise to be the most powerful man in America. As head of the Federal Bureau of Investigation for nearly 50 years, he would stop at nothing to protect his country. Through eight presidents and three wars, Hoover waged battle against threats both real and perceived, often bending the rules to keep his countrymen safe. His methods were at once ruthless and heroic, with the admiration of the world his most coveted, if ever elusive, prize.

Hoover was a man who placed great value on secrets–particularly those of others–and was not afraid to use that information to exert authority over the leading figures in the nation. Understanding that knowledge is power and fear poses opportunity, he used both to gain unprecedented influence and to build a reputation that was both formidable and untouchable.

He was as guarded in his private life as he was in his public one, allowing only a small and protective inner circle into his confidence. His closest colleague, Clyde Tolson, was also his constant companion. His secretary, Helen Gandy, who was perhaps most privy to Hoover’s designs, remained loyal to the end… and beyond. Only Hoover’s mother, who served as his inspiration and his conscience, would leave him, her passing truly crushing to the son who forever sought her love and approval.As seen through the eyes of Hoover himself, “J. Edgar” explores the personal and public life and relationships of a man who could distort the truth as easily as he upheld it during a life devoted to his own idea of justice, often swayed by the darker side of power.”

The film is set to release in theaters on November 9, 2011.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0pidIk0rl4

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