
Production is set to begin next week on the untitled international suspense thriller starring Eric Bana and Rebecca Hall, and Working Title has announced a few additions to the cast. Julia Stiles, Jim Broadbent, Ciarán Hinds, Riz Ahmed, Kenneth Cranham, and Anne-Marie Duff have been added to the cast, with John Crowley (Boy A) set to direct. The story centers on two ex-lovers who “find their loyalties tested and their lives at risk when they are joined together on the defense team in a terrorism trial.” Not much else is known plot-wise, but Crowley has assembled a fine international cast and I’m looking forward to seeing how the suspense thriller plays out.
Hit the jump to read the full press release.

Yesterday came the joyous news that we would finally be getting a sequel to Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy. We know that Will Ferrell, Paul Rudd, and Steve Carell will all be reprising their lovably buffoonish character, Adam McKay will return to the director’s chair, and filming is set to begin in February. If Anchorman 2 returns with only people from the original cast, I have no problem with that. But sequels usually bring new faces, so I’ve compiled a list of 12 actors who would fit well within the Anchorman universe. Keep in mind: I have no idea what the plot will be, or if there will be roles for these actors, and how radically McKay will change the look of the first movie. The Legend of Ron Burgundy has a goofy 70s vibe, but it’s possible they’ll reset the time and place (the first movie ends with Ron and Veronica leaving San Diego to become worldwide news anchors). Also, I’m not saying that all of these actors should be in the movie. I’m just saying I can see them fitting into an Anchorman sequel.
Hit the jump for my criteria on making the list and who made the cut.

A bit of a casting switcheroo is taking place on Robert Luketic’s (21) diamond heist-thriller Brilliant. Variety reports that Gerard Butler is replacing Eric Bana as the star of the film, as Bana apparently bowed out after previously entering negotiations last fall. The story involves a small-time criminal who joins up with polished thieves in order to attempt a diamond heist. The logline isn’t exactly thrilling and Luketic’s filmography includes Legally Blonde and The Ugly Truth, so Bana may have been on to something when he vacated the project. The film may have a more intriguing hook that they’re keeping close to the vest, but its success will probably hinge on who they cast to team up with Butler. Producers are currently looking for a female lead and I sincerely hope Luketic doesn’t feel compelled to pair Butler with Katherine Heigl once again.
The 300 actor has quite a few films on the horizon. He’s already completed the surfing pic Of Men and Mavericks and the romantic sports comedy Playing the Field, and he’s poised to star in Antoine Fuqua’s Hunter Killer, the 3D motion-capture war movie Thunder Run, and a fact-based mercenary pic for director Ridley Scott.

Eric Bana and Rebecca Hall are set to team up for an untitled international suspense thriller. Focus Features and Working Title films are set to produce the flick, with Boy A helmer John Crowley onboard to direct. The film centers on two ex-lovers who “find their loyalties tested and their lives at risk when they are joined together on the defense team in a terrorism trial.” The film is described as a nail-biting thriller that also plays as an emotional roller coaster. Bana and Hall are stellar performers and the script comes from Eastern Promises scribe Steven Knight, so this one has the ingredients for quite the flick. Production is set to begin in April.
Bana has a number of projects on the horizon, including the thriller Blackbird, the heist pic Brilliant, and he’s next set to play Elvis Presley in Elvis & Nixon. As for Hall, she’ll next be seen in Stephen Frears’ gambling dramedy Lay the Favorite. Hit the jump for the press release.

We’ve got a batch of goodies from the American Film Market that includes a new image and synopsis for Blackbird, a promo poster for Attack of the 50 Ft. Cheerleader, and a new image from Love Bite. The thriller Blackbird stars Eric Bana and Olivia Wilde as sibling fugitives on the run who encounter a convict boxer (Charlie Hunnam). The cast also includes Sissy Spacek, Kris Kristofferson, and Kate Mara (American Horror Story). There’s not a ton of info on Attack of the 50 Ft. Cheerleader, but according to the promo poster it stars Sean Young, Treat Wiliams, and Jena Sims, and is produced by Roger Corman.
As for Love Bite, the film stars Ed Speleers (Eragon) and Jessica Szohr (Gossip Girl) and centers on a small town that falls victim to a werewolf who feeds on teen virgins. Hit the jump to check out the images, promo poster, and synopsis.

The first word I would use to describe Hanna would of course be basdass. Taking what Chloe Grace Moretz accomplished in Kick-Ass to a whole new level of insane, director Joe Wright pushes the little-girl assassin sub-genre into a way more mature and refined world, and everything is simply stunning. The fight choreography is tight and visceral, the editing is sharp and precise, and the music/sound editing collaborates perfectly with the story. Along with very affecting cinematography and enchanting acting throughout, Hanna is easily one of my favorite films of the year. To check out my review of the DVD hit the jump.

Eric Bana and Danny Huston have signed on to play Elvis Presley and Richard Nixon, respectively, in Cary Elwes‘ directorial debut, Elvis & Nixon. According to THR, the movie centers on the famous December 21, 1970 meeting/photo-op between The King (who was beginning to enter his Fat Elvis phase) and the crooked president. Elvis had written Nixon a six-page letter requesting to be a “Federal Agent-at-Large” in the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs, and considering that Elvis died from drug abuse, he was clearly committed to his work. Elvis brought family photos and a Colt 45 pistol as gifts for Nixon. Nixon brought an incredibly awkward situation.
THR doesn’t say whether or not Elvis & Nixon is intended to be a comedy, but even if it’s a drama, seeing Bana play Elvis is too enticing a prospect to pass up. In case you haven’t seen the photo of Elvis and Nixon, hit the jump.

It’s not often that romantic comedies and jewel heists occupy the same space in an article, but that’s where our casting news has taken us. First up is Jacki Weaver, nominated for an Oscar for her role in last year’s Animal Kingdom. Weaver is in negotiations to join the David O. Russell (The Fighter) adaptation, The Silver Linings Playbook. The film stars Bradley Cooper as a former high school teacher returning home from a four year stint in a mental institution to live with his mother, played by Weaver. Cast also includes Jennifer Lawrence and Robert De Niro.
Eric Bana (Hanna) is looking to join director Robert Luketic’s (21) heist-thriller, Brilliant. In a first time writing credit by Gillian Gorfil, who was a producer on Blood Diamond, the script involves a low-level criminal who joins up with polished thieves to attempt a diamond heist. Hit the jump for more on both of these projects.

Yesterday, we showed you the first look at Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss in Gary Ross’ adaptation of The Hunger Games. Today, two more images of Lawrence in Katniss garb have gone online along with a new look at Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum in 21 Jump Street as well as a couple images from the indie crime thriller Blackbird, which stars Charlie Hunnam, Olivia Wilde, and Eric Bana.
Hit the jump to check out the images. The Hunger Games opens March 23, 2012. 21 Jump Street is set for March 16, 2012. No release date has been announced for Blackbird.

Focus Features has released some artwork inspired by Joe Wright’s latest film Hanna. The studio sought out artists who “could capture the spirit of the characters and bring them to life in their own mediums.” The resulting product is pretty damn cool. Hanna stars Saoirse Ronan, Cate Blanchett and Eric Bana.
Hit the jump to check out the artwork. And if you haven’t seen Hanna yet, do yourself a favor and make a point to check it out before it leaves theaters.

Director Joe Wright has finally proved he’s a force to be reckoned with. Atonement was undercut by a poor script and his direction on The Soloist overpowered the story and the performances, but with his latest film Hanna, he finally strikes an impressive balance and transforms a standard revenge flick into an effective and surreal dark fairy tale that punches the landscape almost as hard as its protagonist punches her foes. Hanna is a film that defiantly and confidently plays by its own rules and the result is an action flick that is as thoughtful as it is exhilarating.

With director Joe Wright’s (Atonement) action/survival film Hanna opening this weekend, I recently got to speak with most of the cast. Starring Saoirse Ronan, Cate Blanchett, and Eric Bana, the film tells the story of a 16-year-old trained assassin (Ronan) whose perpetual fleeing an intelligence agent takes her across Europe. Like I said when I posted the clips, I thought Hanna was fantastic and the music by The Chemical Brothers fits the movie perfectly. Definitely recommended. For more on the film, here’s the full synopsis and a bunch of clips.
During my interview with Bana we talked about preparing for such a physical role, what was it like to film in Berlin, working with Wright and the way he uses long takes, how did he get involved in the project, his next movie Blackbird, and, of course, I asked what’s his karaoke song. Hit the jump to watch.

Last summer we reported that Eric Bana and Colin Farrell were in talks to co-star in By Virtue Fall, the directorial debut of Up in the Air screenwriter Sheldon Turner. Farrell eventually dropped off the project but Bana has signed on and according to 24 Frames, he’ll be joined by James Spader, Ryan Phillippe, and Carla Gugino. The story concerns “two ATF agents who find themselves on opposite sides of the friendship divide after one sells out the other.”
Bana tells 24 Frames that he hopes to make By Virtue Fall his next project after finishing the thriller Blackbird with Olivia Wilde. He’ll be seen in theaters this week alongside Cate Blanchett and Saoirse Ronan in Joe Wright’s Hanna.

Focus Features has given us 5 clips from director Joe Wright’s (Atonement) action/survival film Hanna. Starring Saoirse Ronan, Cate Blanchett, and Eric Bana, the film tells the story of a 16-year-old trained assassin (Ronan) whose perpetual fleeing an intelligence agent takes her across Europe. While I’m embargoed from saying too much, I don’t think Focus will be upset if I tell you I thought Hanna was fantastic. Also, the music by The Chemical Brothers fits the movie perfectly. I’ve been listening to the soundtrack for the past few days almost nonstop. Definitely recommended.
Hit the jump to check out the clips. The film opens on April 8th.

With director Joe Wright’s (Atonement) Hanna opening April 8, Focus Features has released the full press kit and included are 21 high resolution images. Starring Saoirse Ronan, Cate Blanchett, and Eric Bana, the film tells the story of a 16-year-old trained assassin (Ronan) whose perpetual fleeing an intelligence agent takes her across Europe. Hit the jump for all the images and the full synopsis. Also, you can check out the trailer or the international trailer by hitting the links.
PAN’S LABYRINTH’s Ivana Baquero Joins CARRIE Remake Alongside Judy Greer and Gabriella Wilde
Director Brad Parker Talks CHERNOBYL DIARIES and His Future Bad Robot Project
THE DARK KNIGHT RISES Mega Gallery Featuring 50 Images and 15 Posters
Copyright ©2005 - 2012. All Rights Reserved. California web design ![]()