We have a few casting stories to attend to this afternoon.  Briefly:

  • Naomi Watts has landed the critical role of Evelyn in the Divergent sequel Insurgent, as well as the two-part conclusion to the franchise Allegiant.
  • Tim Roth will play Governor George Wallace in the Martin Luther King, Jr. film Selma.
  • The Wire alum has joined John Travolta and Ethan Hawke in director Ti West’s (The Sacrament) Blumhouse Pictures Western In a Valley of Violence.

Hit the jump for more on the aforementioned casting.

naomi watts st vincent de van nuys
Image via Gaumont

Filming is currently underway on the Divergent sequel Insurgent in Atlanta with director Robert Schwentke (Red), but the crucial role of Evelyn has only just been cast.  THR reports that Naomi Watts will tackle the character, who is the leader of the Factionless and plays a pretty heavy role in the subsequent events of the franchise.  Watts will also return for the two-part conclusion to the franchise, Allegiant – Part 1 and Allegiant – Part 2.  The actress joins Shailene Woodley, Theo James, Kate Winslet, and Octavia Spencer in the cast, and once she wraps Insurgent she’ll shoot Gus Van Sant’s drama Sea of Trees opposite Matthew McConaugheyInsurgent arrives in theaters on March 20, 2015.

Additionally, Deadline reports that Tim Roth will play Governor George Wallace in director Ava DuVernay’s MLK film Selma.  Wallace was the Alabama governor who favored segregation and whose tactics spurred Dr. King into action.  David Oyelowo leads the film as Dr. King, while Tom Wilkinson plays President Lyndon B. Johnson.

Finally, The Wire actor James Ransone has been added to the promising Western In a Valley of Violence.  The film marks the first foray into the genre for the horror-centric Blumhouse Productions and stars Ethan Hawke as a man seeking revenge on the people who killed his best friend.  Deadline reports that Ransone will play the son of John Travolta’s character, with Taissa Farmiga and Karen Gillan also onboard to star.  Ransone will also reprise his role in the Blumhouse horror sequel Sinister 2.