Raise the Titanic! The doomed ship’s power couple, Kate Winslet and Leonardo di Caprio, reunite for Sam Mendes’ forthcoming Revolutionary Road. “The DreamWorks project, based on the 1961 novel by Richard Yates, revolves around a suburban couple caught between their hopes for a life of art, culture and sophistication and the everyday drudgery of boring jobs and domesticity.” (And, speaking of Titanic, I saw some of it again on TNT a few weeks ago and, while I knew Theoden King (Bernard Hill) was also the ship captain, I hadn’t realized until then that Mr. Fantastic/Horatio Hornblower, Ioan Gruffudd, played Officer Lowe.) Add that to your Kevin Bacon list.
Category: Casting
Kiss Me Cate.
Also breaking during my west coast sojourn, the lovely Cate Blanchett will apparently star in Indy IV, I’m presuming as Dr. Jones’ love interest. Well, Blanchett definitely adds star wattage and acting chops to the ledger. But, really, doesn’t Jones have unfinished business with Marian Ravenwood? Act your age, Indy.
Four-Color Gyllenhaals.
It‘s official: Maggie Gyllenhaal takes Katie Holmes’ place in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight. And, with Tobey Maguire appearing to beg off any future webslinger installments after Spidey 3, the door is now wide open for Maggie’s brother Jake…
No Short Round for Shia?
Also in fanboy casting and Spielberg news, Shia La Boeuf — confirmed by Variety only yesterday — shoots down rumors that he’s been cast as the progeny of Indiana Jones. “Would he deny it if offered though? The IESB says according to him ‘depends on what the script is about, he doesn’t want to go in as just a sidekick character’.”
Shia is Sonny?
If adventure has a name, it must be…Shia LaBoeuf? AICN and others report a rumor that the Transformers/Bobby actor is set to play Indy’s son in the forthcoming Indiana Jones sequel. Nothing against LaBoeuf, but the idea of an Indy Jr. running around with Ford and Connery sets off red flags for me, particularly given George Lucas’ recent track record.
Dented Eckhart | Ripley Returns.
As rumored a few weeks ago and in a bit of inspired casting, Aaron Eckhart looks set to join Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight as Harvey Dent, a.k.a. Two-Face. And, also in fanboy casting news, the cast of James Cameron’s Avatar fills out, with Wes Studi, Sigourney Weaver, and others joining Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldana for the 3D-epic.
Blame the Skekses | In the Company of Dent?
The Power of the Dark Crystal, the sequel to the 1982 muppet fantasy announced last year, has officially been put on hiatus. (Sorry, Gelflings.) And Latino Review, breakers of the Heath Ledger Joker casting, says Thank You for Smoking‘s Aaron Eckhart is now in line to play Harvey Dent (a.k.a. Two-Face) in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight. Great choice. (Also, apparently Katie Holmes has been kicked off the Batman Begins sequel — word is she’ll be replaced by Emily Blunt, Rachel McAdams, or Maggie Gyllenhaal.)
Five Hands for Kaufman’s Pen.
Philip Seymour Hoffman, Catherine Keener, Michelle Williams, Samantha Morton, and Tilda Swinton line up behind Charlie Kaufman’s next project, Synecdoche, New York. “Hoffman will play a theater director who ambitiously attempts to put on a play by creating a life-size replica of New York inside a warehouse…Keener is set to play his first wife, Williams will play his second wife, Morton will appear as his sometime lover, and Swinton will portray Keener’s best friend and the dubious mentor to the daughter of Hoffman and Keener’s characters.“
Severus does Sweeney.
Alan Rickman joins Tim Burton’s forthcoming version of Sweeney Todd, already with Burton stalwarts Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter…as well as Sasha Baron Cohen. Verrry nice.
Sometimes there’s a man.
While writing up his set visit of The Golden Compass on his official site, author Philip Pullman inadvertently leaks that Sam Elliot is playing Lee Scoresby. That works.