Casting Bits: Ben Affleck, Julianne Moore, Ralph Fiennes, Michael C. Hall, ‘Once Upon A Time In Hollywood’ And More
A whole bunch of casting news happened this week, and we went ahead and rounded it all up for you in one spot. You’re welcome! In this edition of Casting Bits:
The Last Thing He Wanted
THRsaysBen Affleck,Toby Jones,Rosie PerezandEdi Gathegiwill all co-star alongsideAnne HathawayinThe Last Thing He Wanted, the new film fromMudbounddirectorDee Rees. The film is an adaptation of Joan Didion’s 1996 novel of the same, and focuses on “hardscrabble journalist, Elena McMahon (Hathaway), who inherits her father’s position as a dealmaker — an arms dealmaker. She soon finds herself on dangerous ground as the Iran-Contra Affair’s arms-for-drugs plot reaches its tipping point.” This is a damn good cast, and I’m loving the return of Anne Hathaway, who seems to be working more and more these days.The Last Thing He Wantedwill be distributed by Netflix, who also distributed Rees’Mudbound. It will be the second Netflix film for Affleck, who is also starring in J.C. Chandor’sTriple Frontierfor the streaming service. Everyone wants to get in on this Netflix action, folks.
The Woman in the Window
Red head powers,activate.THRreports thatJulianne Mooreis likely to joinAmy Adamsin the thrillerThe Woman in the Window. TheRear Window-esque film is based on the best-selling novel by A.J. Finn, and focuses on an alcoholic recluse (Adams) who spends her time spying on her New York City neighbors. A new family moves in to a house across the way, and Adams' character ends up witnessing something she shouldn’t. Cue the spooky music. Per THR, “Moore will play the mother of a mysterious young boy who moves in across the street.“Joe Wrightis directing, with a script byKiller JoewriterTracy Letts. This project sounds derivative as hell, but that combination – Adams + Moore + Wright + Letts – is pretty damn fantastic, so it’s going to be hard to ignore this film.The Woman in the WindowopensOctober 4, 2019.
Mr. Vertigo
Terry Gilliamlikes to tempt fate. Even though he continually has problems when making his films, he refuses to give up. Case in point: after spending approximately 300 years trying to getThe Man Who Killed Don Quixotemade, Gilliam got the job done. Now he’s moving on to something else. That something isMr. Vertigo. Speaking at the Brussels International Film Festival (viaThe Playlist), Gilliam announced his intention to helm the film, which is adapted from a Paul Auster novel. Gilliam also said thatRalph Fienneswill star in the film. Here’s the book’s synopsis:
This sounds pretty neat, and Fiennes is a phenomenal actor. The only wildcard here is Gilliam, who was once an amazing filmmaker but hasn’t really delivered anything memorable in decades (reviews forDon Quixotehave been mixed at best).
Rosario Dawsonhas spent the last few years playing a thankless supporting role on Marvel’s Netflix shows. Now, she’s taking the lead elsewhere.Varietysays Dawson will star in the USA Network pilotBriarpatch. The show will have Dawson playing “Allegra ‘Pick’ Dill, a tenacious and highly-skilled investigator working in Washington, DC for a young, ambitious Senator. When her ten-years-younger sister, a homicide detective, is killed by a car bomb, Allegra returns to her corrupt Texas hometown. What begins as a search for the murderer becomes a fraught and dangerous excavation of the past Allegra has long sought to bury.” IfBriarpatchgoes to series, it will be Dawson’s first lead TV role. There was a time when USA Network shows didn’t inspire much confidence, but in recent years, the network has stepped up its game. Last year’sThe Sinnerwas a particularly well-received show for the network.
According toDeadline,Michael C. Hall,Cleopatra ColemanandBokeem Woodbineare joiningBoyd Holbrookin the Netflix dramaIn the Shadow of the Moon.Holbrook plays “a Philly police officer who struggles with a lifelong obsession to track a mysterious serial killer whose crimes defy explanation.” No word on Hall, Coleman or Woodbine’s characters. I’m particularly interested in this for two reasons: one, I’m from Philadelphia, so I’m always vaguely fascinated by movies and shows set there. And two:In the Shadow of the Mooncomes from directorJim Mickle. Mickle helmed the fantastic, under-seen John Carpenter throwbackCold in July, whichalsofeatured Hall.In the Shadow of the Moonis expected to hit Netflix next year.
Alright,Quentin Tarantino. This is getting out of hand.Deadlinesays the filmmaker has added evenmorecast members to his star-studdedOnce Upon a Time in Hollywood. Here are the latest names:Spencer Garrett,Martin Kove,James Remar,Brenda Vaccaro,Nichole Galicia,Mike Moh,Craig Stark,Marco Rodriguez,Ramon FrancoandRaul Cardona. I’ll be honest: I don’t know whoanyof these actors are, with the notable exception of James Remar. Remar is a stellar character actor whose appeared in pretty mucheverything, including Tarantino’sDjango Unchained.
Deadline doesn’t confirm this, but there’s a rumor floating around that Mike Moh is playing legendary actor and martial artist Bruce Lee. This rumor seems to be bolstered by this Tweet from Moh (although this tweet is from 2015, so there’s no way the actor was somehow dropping a hint about the film way back then).
These actors join a cast that includesLeonardo DiCaprio,Brad Pitt,Margot Robbie,Burt Reynolds,Kurt Russell,Timothy Olyphant,Damian Lewis,Dakota Fanning,Scoot McNairyandAl Pacino.Once Upon a Time in Hollywoodis set in Hollywood during the summer of 1969. Various characters and storylines intersect, while the specter of Charles Manson and his Manson Family lurks in the background. The film will openAugust 9, 2019.
