Here's a bit more casting for you this evening:

  • Idris Elba (Pacific Rim) is rumored to be starring in director Colin Trevorrow's Jurassic World.  The fourth picture in the Jurassic Park franchise stars Bryce Dallas Howard (The Help), Ty Simpkins (Iron Man 3), and Nick Robinson (Melissa & Joey).
  • Jason Statham (Homefront) is about to enter negotiations to star in Paul Feig's upcoming spy comedy, Susan Cooper, starring Melissa McCarthy (Mike & Molly) in the title role.
  • Nelsan Ellis (True Blood) has landed the role of Bobby Byrd in Tate Taylor's James Brown pic, Get on Up.

Hit the jump for more on each project.

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Image via BBC

News of Elba's casting in Jurassic World comes via a casting announcement.  Casting is currently underway in Los Angeles, Louisiana and Hawaii.  This isn't a confirmed synopsis, but more of a general description of one, and it likely gives an idea of what the fourth dino flick is about:

"Jurassic World" is set in present day Isla Nublar, now an actual theme park, as originally intended by John Hammond in the first film. It garners 10 million visitors per year and is completely safe – until it’s not. The park itself is described as very Sea World-esque and includes an area called the Isla Nublar Lagoon. That means underwater dino’s for the first time. No indication of what kind, but there’s concept art showing one of the aquatic dino’s, as part of a show, jumping out of the lagoon and eating a strung up great white shark like it was a fish for a dolphin at sea world.

As for Statham, CinemaBlend originally reported that the action star was being eyed to star in Susan Cooper.  Deadline follows up today with news that Statham's camp is about to enter negotiations for the picture.  If a deal closes, he would play a spy on the same side as the bumbling title agent.

Deadline also reports that Ellis will star in Get on Up as Byrd, a longtime friend and musical collaborator of Brown, who will be played by Chadwick Boseman (42).  Viola Davis (The Help) and Octavia Spencer (Fruitvale Station) also star.  Production on the Universal picture is set to begin this November in Mississippi.