While Kathryn Bigelow has found her lead for her currently untitled Zero Dark Thirty follow-up, she is still shaping the rest of the cast. Now, Deadline reports, Anthony Mackie has joined the film that charts the Detroit riots of 1967 which lasted over 5 summer days and was one of the most destructive in history. Mackie, re-teaming with the director, reportedly plays a Vietnam veteran who is a key role in the unfolding narrative. Off a script penned by Mark Boal (Zero Dark, The Hurt Locker), the film is said to focus on the discrimination that led to the protests.
This comes with news from Variety that three other roles have been filled by Will Poulter, Jack Reynor, Ben O’Toole, currently in unknown roles. Reynor was recently in Sing Street, while Poulter shared a lot of screen time with Tom Hardy in The Revenant, and O’Toole can be seen next in Mel Gibson’s Hacksaw Ridge.
In other news, plans are moving forward with Fox to adapt a spy novel by Jason Matthew‘s titled Red Sparrow with Jennifer Lawrence already attached. The book, set in current day Russian, follows a state intelligence officer (Lawrence) who is forced to become a titular “sparrow” — a “trained seductress in the service” — and is assigned to go up against CIA officer who handles extremely sensitive information against Russia. Deception, spying, and sexual tension thrive as the two spry, vivacious officers begin a forbidden romance outside the grasp of national securities. Lawrence may have now found her counter-operative, as Joel Edgerton is in talks to join the project, according to Deadline. Edgerton can recently be seen in Midnight Special and the upcoming Loving, along with his directorial debut last year with The Gift.
Red Sparrow is helmed by Francis Lawrence, who worked with star Jennifer Lawrence previously on the last three Hunger Games features. The script is penned by Eric Warren Singer (American Hustle, The International) with re-writes done by The Lone Ranger writer Justin Haythe.
Lastly, The Spectacular Now director James Ponsoldt is teaming up with Disney for an ambitious project, according to THR. Based off an original concept by the The End of the Tour director, Wild City will follow the wild life in Los Angeles through a live-action/CGI hybrid. This will be Ponsoldt’s first studio effort, after a successful run in the independent circuit that also includes the forthcoming The Circle. No other word on the project has been reported as it’s in the development stage, so check back as more unfolds.