Just like that, The East became one of those films. You know, the kind that has a new cast member join about three times a week, only to the point where it begins to feel a little tired. That last aspect hasn’t been reached yet, but it is worth thinking about when Variety informs us of Patricia Clarkson being in talks for Zal Batmanglij‘s Sound of My Voice follow-up. Led by Brit Marling and Alexander Skarsgård, the drama also has Ellen Page and Tony Kebbell — the latter of whom was added last night — as members of an eco-terrorist group.

The movie, written by Marling and Batmanglij, follows an agent hired by a private contracting firm as she goes undercover with the titular party of pranksters; Clarkson is in talks for the role of the lead’s boss, who sends her on the mission. I’d be more than elated to see her show up here, as she’s a rather talented actress that could add a lot to the project — and this is something that already has much potential behind it.

Moving on to another independent film, ShowBlitz is reporting that The Help‘s Octavia Spencer is in talks to join Diablo Cody‘s directorial debut, originally called Lamb of God but apparently now missing a title. The plot is centered on a woman named Lamb who, after suffering “horrific burns” in a plane crash, goes to Las Vegas “to live the life of a sinner, and on her journey finds her way back to her faith.”

While there, she comes across “Loray, an African-American craps dealer, and William, a bartender”; Spencer is being sought for Loray, and Russell Brand is already on board to play William. Nothing has been said about shooting, but things moving fast makes it seem like this could go before cameras by the end of the year.

Finally, THR has learned that Michael Raymond-James, an actor best known for his work in TV shows like True Blood and Terriers, will appear in Christopher McQuarrie‘s One Shot. Starring Tom Cruise, Rosamund Pike, David Oyelowo, Alexia Fast, Jai Courtney, and — AND — Werner Herzog in the villain role, this one is getting ready to start shooting next month.

Raymond-James will be playing Linsky, “a lifelong criminal who is hired by villain The Zec for a sensitive assignment.” The Zec is Herzog‘s character, who is said to be “an ex-prisoner of war who arranges and stages the killing and is the head of the conspiracy.” Said conspiracy involves a sniper killing five people, sending Cruise‘s Jack Reacher on a mission to find out what’s really going on. Hey, you guys — Werner Herzog is the baddie in this movie! That has me most excited for the February 8th, 2013 release.

Are you looking forward to any of these films?