Here is today’s casting news:

  • Cole Hauser (Olympus Has Fallen) joins the already star-studded cast of executive producer Christopher Nolan’s sci-fi thriller Transcendence.
  • Rosario Dawson (Trance) is in final negotiations to play the leading role opposite Chris Rock in his latest comedy.

Hit the jump for more details on each project.

First up from Heat Vision, comes news that actor Cole Hauser is set for a role in Alcon Entertainment’s Transcendence.  Hauser will be joining a star-packed cast comprised of Johnny Depp, Morgan Freeman, Kate Mara, Rebecca Hall, Cillian Murphy, and Paul Bettany.  The sci-fi thriller follows two computer scientists as they try to develop technology that will allow computer intelligence to surpass that of humans, when a computer “develops a malevolent awareness.”  Hauser will play a military officer in charge of resolving the aftermath of this error.  Christopher Nolan will serve as executive producer for the film, while the project marks the directorial debut of cinematographer Wally Pfister (The Dark Knight Rises).

Next, from Deadline, we learn that Rosario Dawson has been cast to star opposite Chris Rock in his latest untitled comedy.  Details on her role are scarce at the moment.  Rock wrote and will direct the film, described as an “edgy showbiz-themed comedy with romance.”  The comedian is said to be working in conjunction with producers Scott Rudin and Eli Bush, while the pic is being funded by media executive Barry Diller.  The film is set to start shooting in New York this June.

Meanwhile, Deadline reports that Aasif Mandvi is joining Jon Hamm in the Craig Gillespie-directed Disney film Million Dollar Arm.  The pic, written by Tom McCarthy (Win Win), is based on the true story of sports agent JB Bernstein (Hamm) who comes up with an American Idol-esque way to recruit Indian cricket players to play Major League Baseball.  Mandvi will be playing Bernstein’s partner, Aash Shah.  Together they pull off the game show idea, in order to avoid the impending closure of their office.

Finally, also from Deadline, Christine Lahti will star in the Spike Lee-produced indie Mania Days.  Lahti is set for the role of Katie Holmes’ mother in the drama.  The film tells the story of a manic depressive poet who becomes impregnated by a similarly-diagnosed rapper.  Mania Days will be director Paul Dalio’s first feature film and it’s currently set for a 2014 release.