Human reinforcements arrive as Team Human Nature/Ian and Eowyn, a.k.a. Tim Robbins and Miranda Otto respectively, spell Tom Cruise and Dakota Fanning in Spielberg’s War of the Worlds. Good. I generally root for all of these actors, Code 46 notwithstanding.
Tag: Casting
Feeling Rock, Seeing Spots.
In comic casting news, Laurie Holden (a.k.a. Marita Covarrubias of The X-Files) is rumored to have been cast as The Thing’s fiancee Debbie in Fantastic Four (Debbie? I take it she’s pre-Alicia Masters, who may be played by Kerry Washington of She Hate Me.) And Simon Pegg, whose praises I was just singing as Shaun of the Dead, may be up for Rorschach in The Watchmen. Ooh, that’s a great idea.
Courtiers to the King.
It seems Meryl Streep, Kate Winslet, and Mark Ruffalo may be joining Sean Penn (Willie Stark) and Jude Law (Jack Burden) in the forthcoming remake of All the King’s Men. Streep is apparently set to play Sadie, Willie’s long-suffering right-hand woman, which must make Winslet and Ruffalo Anne and Adam Stanton respectively.
Joey and the Bat / Gary vs. the Empire.
In the fanboy bin, Bruce Wayne’s girl-of-the-moment Katie Holmes talks a little about Batman Begins, and Gary Oldman opts out of Revenge of the Sith due to its being a non-SAG production.
The Talented Queen Ripley.
Sigourney Weaver as Emma Frost? It probably won’t happen now that Bryan Singer’s X3 team has moved to Superman, but that would’ve been fun casting.
It Really Tide the Room Together.
Jeff Bridges joins the cast of Terry Gilliam’s next film after The Brothers Grimm, Tideland.
Gertie 2.0.
Uh-oh. Dakota Fanning is cast as the daughter of Tom Cruise (soon to reunite with Michael Mann for a Battle of Britain film) in the upcoming War of the Worlds remake. It’s nothing against Fanning — she actually seems like a relatively talented child actress. But the combination of cute kids and Spielberg have been a recipe for real schmaltzy trouble in the past.
Sexy Beast?
Word is Ray Winstone, of Sexy Beast and late of King Arthur, will be voicing Mr. Beaver in The Chronicles of Narnia. Yeah, I can dig it.
Red Dragon, Black Wizard.
In Harry Potter casting, Ralph Fiennes is cast as Voldemort for Goblet of Fire. Ok, I guess…but to be honest, I expected someone older. Terence Stamp, perhaps?
The Doom of Man.
Word is Julian McMahon of Nip/Tuck will be Victor Von Doom in the forthcoming Fantastic Four. Never seen Nip/Tuck myself, but his headshot looks the part.