Moviefone Editorial

Tag: casting

  • Woody Harrelson to Star in Limited Series ‘The Most Dangerous Man in America’

    Woody Harrelson to Star in Limited Series ‘The Most Dangerous Man in America’

    Woody Harrelson
    Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

    Woody Harrelson is ready to go on the run as the infamous psychologist Timothy Leary. He is set to star in and executive produce the limited series “The Most Dangerous Man in America,” Deadline reports. The project is an adaptation of Bill Minutaglio and Steven L. Davis’s nonfiction book of the same name.

    Luke Davies will adapt the story. It centers on Leary and his 1970 escape from prison. The ex Harvard professor and LSD proponent had been imprisoned for drug possession before he managed to break out. Leary went on the run, instigating a global manhunt.

    Harrelson hasn’t starred in as many TV series as films in recent years, but the Emmy winner’s breakout role was on the iconic show “Cheers.” Additionally, he appeared in the special “Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear’s All in the Family and The Jeffersons” in May. On the film side, his recent credits include “The Highwaymen,” “Venom,” “Solo: A Star Wars Story,” and more.

    Harrelson and Davies will executive produce “The Most Dangerous Man in America” alongside Tim White, Trevor White, and Allan Mandelbaum. The project comes from Wiip and Star Thrower Entertainment.

    [via: Deadline]

  • Bradley Cooper May Join Guillermo del Toro’s ‘Nightmare Alley’: Report

    Bradley Cooper May Join Guillermo del Toro’s ‘Nightmare Alley’: Report

    Bradley Cooper in War Dogs
    Warner Bros. Pictures

    A star is in talks.

    Bradley Cooper is interested in Guillermo del Toro‘s upcoming “Nightmare Alley” adaptation. The actor-director is in early talks to join the Fox Searchlight project, Variety reports. He’d fill a role that Leonardo DiCaprio previously circled, per the publication.

    “Nightmare Alley” is based on the 1946 novel of the same name by William Lindsey Gresham. The book was first adapted to film not long after it was published. Edmund Goulding‘s 1947 film “Nightmare Alley” starred Tyrone Power and Joan Blondell. Del Toro is directing the new film and he wrote the script with Kim Morgan. It follows the unique path of an ambitious and corrupt carny named Stan Carlisle.

    Cooper has reportedly received an offer, but Variety’s sources say it’s unclear if he’ll reach a deal. His star power has been rising in recent years as he’s had success with high-profile projects such as MCU films and his “A Star Is Born” remake. He also recently starred in “The Mule” and “War Dogs.”

    Del Toro has to finalize the cast in the coming months. Production is slated to begin this fall. The director is producing alongside TSG Entertainment’s J. Miles Dale.

    [via: Variety]

  • Kathy Bates to Star in Richard Jewell Movie: Report

    Kathy Bates to Star in Richard Jewell Movie: Report

    Kathy Bates in On the Basis of Sex
    Focus Features

    The cast is coming together for Clint Eastwood‘s Richard Jewell movie.

    Academy Award winner Kathy Bates is reportedly signing on. She’ll star in the Warner Bros. film as the titular character’s mother, according to Deadline. Eastwood is the director, and Billy Ray is writing the script based on a Vanity Fair article by Marie Brenner called “The Ballad of Richard Jewell.”

    The project tells the story of a real-life security guard named Richard Jewell whose life changed after he tipped off police about a suspicious backpack at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. He was at first credited with saving lives in the bombing, but when word got out that he was being investigated as a possible suspect, he was vilified. Jewell’s name was eventually cleared, but the experience took a heavy toll on him.

    News of Bates’s casting comes following a THR report that Paul Walter Hauser (“BlacKkKlansman”) will play Jewell. They join Sam Rockwell, who is set to play Jewell’s defense attorney. Bates’s addition means the cast will have another Oscar winner on board.

    A veteran actress, Bates won her Academy Award for her role in 1990’s “Misery.” She has been nominated for the prestigious prize on two other occasions. Over the years, Bates has starred in a number of high-profile films, including “Titanic” alongside “Richard Jewell” producer Leonardo DiCaprio.

    The Richard Jewell project comes from Malpaso, Misher Films, 75 Year Plan, and Appian Way. DiCaprio is producing alongside Jonah Hill, Tim Moore, Jessica Meier, Kevin Misher, and Jennifer Davisson.

    [via: Deadline]

  • ‘Love, Simon’ Series for Disney+ Adds Ana Ortiz

    ‘Love, Simon’ Series for Disney+ Adds Ana Ortiz

    Ana Ortiz in Whiskey Cavalier
    Nick Ray/ABC

    The upcoming Disney+ series “Love, Simon” has added its first cast member.

    Ana Ortiz signed on for a starring role, Deadline reports. The series is a spinoff of the 2018 movie of the same name, which in turn is based on the young adult novel “Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda” by Becky Albertalli. While those projects centered on a boy named Simon (Nick Robinson), the series follows a boy named Victor. Ortiz’s character is his mother, Isabel.

    Ortiz recently starred in ABC’s action comedy-drama “Whiskey Cavalier” as Susan Sampson, an FBI profiler. The network canceled the series in May, but then reportedly considered renewing it after all. Unfortunately for fans, nothing changed; ABC “fully and finally” pulled the plug very shortly thereafter. Their loss is a win for “Love, Simon,” though — Ortiz is a TV vet who has also starred in the shows “Devious Maids” and “Ugly Betty.”

    “Love, Simon” the series is written by Isaac Aptaker and Elizabeth Berger. They serve as executive producers alongside showrunner Brian Tanen, Marty Bowen, Isaac Klausner, and Pouya Shahbazian. The project comes from 20th Century Fox TV.

    Disney+, Disney’s forthcoming streaming service, is slated to launch in November.

    [via: Deadline]

  • Sam Rockwell to Join Clint Eastwood’s ‘Ballad of Richard Jewell’

    Sam Rockwell to Join Clint Eastwood’s ‘Ballad of Richard Jewell’

    Sam Rockwell in The Best of Enemies
    STX Films

    The upcoming biopic “The Ballad of Richard Jewell” appears to have found one of its stars.

    Academy Award winner Sam Rockwell is in final talks for a starring role, according to Variety sources. Rockwell will reportedly play a defense attorney for the title character.

    “The Ballad of Richard Jewell” is a biopic that will be directed by Clint Eastwood. It tells the story of Jewell, a security guard who tipped off the police about a suspicious backpack during the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. He was first hailed as a hero for saving hundreds of lives, but then a report in the media named him as a possible suspect in the bombings. He was ultimately cleared but never recovered from the experience. The script is being penned by Billy Ray, based on a Vanity Fair article by Marie Brenner.

    Rockwell’s character will work for Jewell after he becomes a suspect. Leonardo DiCaprio was previously attached for Rockwell’s role, with Jonah Hill playing Jewell. The two actors have since moved on, but they’ll still produce.

    Rockwell is a two-time Oscar nominee. He won in 2017 for his role in “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” and was nominated again in 2018 for “Vice.” More recently, he starred in the film “The Best of Enemies” and the TV miniseries “Fosse/Verdon.”

    Eastwood is also producing “The Ballad of Richard Jewell,” as are Tim Moore, Jessica Meier, Jennifer Davisson Killoran, and Kevin Misher. Warner Bros. Studios acquired the rights for the film in May.

    [via: Variety]

  • Peter Dinklage to Join Rosamund Pike in Thriller ‘I Care a Lot’

    Peter Dinklage to Join Rosamund Pike in Thriller ‘I Care a Lot’

    Peter Dinklage in Game of Thrones
    Macall B. Polay/HBO

    The upcoming thriller “I Care a Lot” is poised to add a “Game of Thrones” vet.

    Peter Dinklage is in talks to join the film, Variety reports. He’s expected to co-star with Rosamund Pike. The project is written by J Blakeson, who will also direct.

    The film centers on Marla Grayson (Pike), a legal guardian who uses the law to her benefit, yet at the expense of her clients. She’ll apparently pick out a client she thinks is perfect, only to find that looks are deceiving. No details have been revealed about Dinklage’s character.

    The actor is well-known for playing Tyrion Lannister in all eight seasons of “Game of Thrones.” His work on the show has earned him three Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe. Dinklage is also a SAG Award winner for his role in “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.” Other recent films that include the actor are “Avengers: Infinity War,” “I Think We’re Alone Now,” and “Three Christs.”

    “I Care a Lot” is slated to start production this month. It comes from Black Bear Pictures and Sugar November. Blakeson will produce alongside Teddy Schwarzman, Ben Stillman, and Michael Heimer. Sacha Guttenstein will serve as executive producer.

    [via: Variety]

  • ‘In the Heights’ Movie Adds Marc Anthony in ‘Pivotal’ Role

    ‘In the Heights’ Movie Adds Marc Anthony in ‘Pivotal’ Role

    Marc Anthony in El Cantante
    Picturehouse

    Lin-Manuel Miranda couldn’t keep it to himself anymore: Marc Anthony has joined the movie adaptation of “In the Heights.”

    Anthony, a Grammy winner multiple times over, has taken on what Miranda described on Twitter as a “brief but pivotal role.” It’s as the father of the young barrio jokester Sonny (Gregory Diaz). That makes him the uncle of bodega owner Usnavi (Anthony Ramos).

    “In the Heights” is based on the Tony-winning musical of the same name that began its Broadway run in 2008. It centers characters living in Washington Heights, a predominately Latino neighborhood in New York City. Miranda wrote it with Quiara Alegria Hudes, and the two are producing with Scott Sanders, Anthony Bregman, and Mara Jacobs. The film’s executive producers are Jill Furman, Kevin McCollum, and Jeffrey Seller.

    Miranda shared that he “still can’t believe” Anthony has joined the film. The singer is primarily known for his successful music career, but he has had a number of film and TV roles as well. He starred in 2006’s “El Cantante” and 2001’s “In the Time of the Butterflies” and was also a regular in the TV series “Hawthorne.”

    Production on “In the Heights” kicked off earlier this month. The film is scheduled to open June 26, 2020.

    [via: Lin-Manuel Miranda/Twitter; h/t: THR]

  • Elizabeth Hurley to Play ‘Marvel’s Runaways’ Season 3 Supervillain

    Elizabeth Hurley to Play ‘Marvel’s Runaways’ Season 3 Supervillain

    Elizabeth Hurley in The Royals
    E!

    Elizabeth Hurley is ready to unleash her power on “Marvel’s Runaways.” The actress is set to play sorceress Morgan le Fay in Season 3 of the Hulu series.

    Hurley’s casting was announced Tuesday. Marvel TV head Joeph Loeb, one of the show’s executive producers, said that they “couldn’t be more thrilled to have her,” per Variety. Meanwhile, the official “Runaways” Twitter account tweeted that the “Royals” vet will “enchant us all season 3.”

    Hurley’s character is a Marvel supervillain with faerie heritage. In the comics, she can control minds, perform healing, fly, and more. Because she’s half-faerie, she can mystically manipulate the environments of both Earth and the astral plane.

    Prior to her casting, Hurley’s most recent TV role was as Queen Helena on E!’s “The Royals.” She has appeared on a variety of other TV shows, including “Gossip Girl,” which was created by “Runaways” showrunners Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage. They’re reteaming to create more magic.

    “Runaways” was renewed for Season 3 in March. Its premiere date has not yet been announced.

  • Netflix Rom-Com ‘Holidate’ Adds ‘SNL’ Cast Member Alex Moffat

    Netflix Rom-Com ‘Holidate’ Adds ‘SNL’ Cast Member Alex Moffat

    Saturday Night Live still
    Saturday Night Live/YouTube

    It looks like it’s the more the merrier for “Holidate.” “Saturday Night Live” cast member Alex Moffat has joined the upcoming Netflix rom-com starring Emma Roberts and Luke Bracey, Deadline reports. The cast also includes Jessica Capshaw, Frances Fisher, and Kristin Chenoweth.

    “Holidate” focuses on Sloane (Roberts) and Jackson (Bracey), two holiday-hating people who dislike the judgment they get from their families when they show up without a date. They decide to be each other’s plus-ones for all of the holidays throughout the year. Moffat’s character hasn’t yet been revealed, but after his “guy who just bought a boat” skits on “SNL,” we’re picturing him as an unwanted suitor for Sloane.

    The comedian first appeared on “SNL” in 2016 and became a cast member in 2018. In addition to being the “guy who just bought a boat,” he has memorably impersonated numerous celebrities and public figures. Some of them include Billy Bush, Eric Trump, and Mark Zuckerberg. He also recently had a role in another Netflix rom-com, “Someone Great.”

    “Holidate” was written by Tiffany Paulsen, and McG is producing. Steven Bello is the executive producer. So far, a release date has not been announced.

    [via: Deadline]

  • Cloris Leachman Joins Phil Connell Drama ‘Jump, Darling’

    Cloris Leachman Joins Phil Connell Drama ‘Jump, Darling’

    Cloris Leachman in American Gods
    Starz

    The LGBTQ family drama “Jump, Darling” has just added Cloris Leachman.

    The Academy Award winning-actress has signed on to star alongside Thomas Duplessie, Deadline reports. The cast also includes Linda Kash, Jayne Eastwood, and Marc Caven, as well as drag stars Tynomi Banks, Miss Fiercelicious, and Fay Slift. Phil Connell is both the screenwriter and director.

    The story centers on Russell (Duplessie), a rookie drag queen who is conflicted about taking an unconventional career path as a queer artist. Leachman will play his grandmother, Margaret, who doesn’t want to be sent to the local nursing home. Russell will visit her as they both face important decisions. It’s described as “an intergenerational family drama with a juicy queer underbelly.”

    Leachman has had a long career in acting, racking up an Oscar and multiple Emmy Awards — both primetime and daytime. She recently starred in the film “I Can Only Imagine” and appeared in the Starz series “American Gods.” Some of her most well-known films include “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” and “The Beverly Hillbillies.”

    “Jump, Darling” comes from Big Island Productions, with Katie Corbridge producing and Karen Harnisch serving as executive producer. Shooting will begin in early June in Canada.

    [via: Deadline]