More casting news for Clint Eastwood‘s ‘J. Edgar‘ from The Playlist: Eastwood has confirmed that Judi Dench is joining the cast of his biopic of the FBI godfather, and it’s looking more and more likely that Charlize Theron will come aboard, as well.

Dench and Theron will join Leonardo DiCaprio as J. Edgar Hoover, The Social Network‘s Armie Hammer as Clyde Tolson (Hoover’s right-hand man and – according to whisper, rumor and legend – Hoover’s closeted gay lover), and Aussie Damon Herriman as Lindbergh baby kidnapper Bruno Hauptmann.

Eastwood revealed the casting news to sandwichjohnfilms.com while on the red carpet for his California Hall of Fame induction:

“The script is a very good script and we were all preparing it and he [DiCaprio] liked the the script. He actually volunteered for it.”

As for Theron:

“We think she will be in the film. And Judi Dench is definitely in the film and there we are.”

If it’s true, then it seems Charlize Theron will pass up the opportunity to headline Snow White and the Huntsman, which is also scheduled to shoot in February, 2011.

This cast keeps growing, and we’ll keep scrutinizing every bit of information. I know I’m looking forward to Eastwood’s treatment of one of America’s most controversial, beloved and loathed figures. Without Hoover, we’d have no FBI. Every president he served handled him very carefully. He could make careers and bury them. It’s the definition of a juicy role, and since DiCaprio is coming off two impressive performances in Shutter Island and Inception, all this anticipation may very well be be justified.

Are you looking forward to J. Edgar? What do you think of Dench and Theron’s involvement?