As someone who hasn’t had the immense pleasure of reading Fifty Shades of Grey, I’d imagine the adaptation would simply by Charlie Hunnam‘s Christian Grey and Dakota Johnson‘s Anastasia Steele going at it, but much to my surprise, there are actually some supporting characters. This morning brings news of the third addition to the cast, as Jennifer Ehle (Contagion, Zero Dark Thirty) has been set in the role of Carl, Anastasia’s mom, described by Deadline as “a strong Southern woman on her fourth marriage.” Set for a release next August, expect a few more casting additions ahead of a shoot this fall.
Ehle is also staying busy, adding another project to her slate. According to The Wrap, the actress has joined Tye Sheridan, Christopher Plummer and John Travolta in the heist film The Forger. Set to be directed by Philip Martin, the film will follow Travolta as Cutter, a man hoping to break out of prison in order to be with his dying son — thus forcing the pair to execute one final score aimed at repaying those who facilitated a prison release. Ehle takes the role of Travolta’s “emotionally fragile” wife, while Abigail Spencer and Marcus Thomas round out the rest of the ensemble.
In other casting news, Pixar recently kicked off the voice sessions for their sequel to Finding Nemo and Willem Dafoe has confirmed his involvement. Speaking with Total Film, the actor has said, “Yeah I’ve already started. It’s even better than the first. It’s fantastic. It’s good to say I think it’s going to be better than the first; that’s good advertising!” Returning as Gill, whose mission was to escape his fish tank in the original, he’s joined by Ellen Degeneres, Albert Brooks, Diane Keaton, Eugene Levy and Ty Burrell when Finding Dory arrives in June 2016.
Moving over the live-action Disney realm, THR reports that Brad Bird’s Tomorrowland has added Kathryn Hahn to his sci-fi blockbuster. A bit of a departure in genre for the actress, who is mostly known for her comedic chops in films such as Step Brothers and Wanderlust, she’ll take a secretive “funny, scene-stealing” role known as Ursula. Also starring George Clooney, Hugh Laurie, Tim McGraw and Britt Robertson, production is already underway in Vancouver for a late 2014 release.
In other casting news, Pierce Brosnan has firmed up roles in two new thrillers. First up, Deadline reports he is being lined up for Stefano Sollima‘s revenge thriller I.T., which will find the actor as a “successful book publisher who finds himself pitted against a young disgruntled I.T. consultant who is tech savvy and uses that to threaten the author’s family and livelihood.”
Also set for an early 2014 production is James McTeigue‘s next film, titled Survivor. Set to star Brosnan, Emma Thompson, Milla Jovovich and Angela Bassett, the film will track a State Department employee (Jovovich) that heads to London, whose job is to stop terrorists, but she must go on the run when she is framed, all while trying to stop an Times Square attack on New Year’s Eve.
In year another Brosnan-related update, after being first announced well over a year ago, things are moving once again on John Erick Dowdle‘s action drama The Coup. Set to star the actor, alongside Owen Wilson, the film follows an American family in their new overseas home soon finds themselves caught in the middle of a coup, and they frantically look for a safe escape while rebels mercilessly attack the city. THR now reports that Lake Bell, coming off her directorial debut In a World…, has signed for the role of Annie Dwyer, “a woman who is loved by everyone and has a seemingly perfect family life, but wonders sometimes if she should be happier than she is.” production begins in a few weeks in Thailand.
Shifting over to an up-and-comer in our last update, Brenton Thwaites has barely been seen on the big screen, but he’s already carving out quite a career. Having already wrapped Maleficent with Angelina Jolie, he’s currently shooting The Giver with Meryl Streep and Jeff Bridges and Deadline now reports another big project he’s signed for. The actor will join Gerard Butler, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau and Geoffrey Rush in Alex Proyas‘ Gods Of Egypt, taking the role of a human thief that gets involved with the affairs of the God.
Which of the upcoming projects are you most looking forward to?