Opening today is director Jonathan Liebesman’s (Battle: Los Angeles) Wrath of the Titans.  In the sequel to Clash of the Titans, Perseus (Sam Worthington) is tasked with stopping the titans and saving Zeus (Liam Neeson) from Hades’ stranglehold (Ralph Fiennes). The film also stars Rosamund Pike, Bill Nighy, Edgar Ramirez, Toby Kebbell and Danny Huston.  And for those wondering how the sequel turned out, Wrath of the Titans is what I hoped Clash of the Titans would be.  It’s got a solid story, incredible effects, and the 3D is really well done.  I’ve seen it twice (including IMAX 3D) and it’s definitely recommended.  For more on the film, here’s five clips.

During my interview with Kebbell, we talked about how he got involved in the project, what did he want to bring to his character, what surprised him about making the movie, and what’s his favorite director, actor and movie.  In addition, we talked about director Zal Batmanglij‘s (Sound of My Voice) The East and his thoughts on the live-action Akira.  Hit the jump to watch.

We’ve got a couple of casting stories for you this afternoon. First up, Amy Smart, Ryan Kwanten (True Blood), and Leslie Bibb (Zookeeper) have signed on for the thriller 7500. Takashi Shimizu (The Grudge) is directing the pic from a script by Craig Rosenberg (The Uninvited). Yesterday we brought you some first synopses from a number of films being sold at AFM this week, and 7500 was among them. The pic tells the story of a group of passengers who begin to experience frightening supernatural phenomena after a passenger mysteriously dies in flight. Those remaining are left to wonder if they’re next. Variety reports that Kwanten and Smart will play a married couple who board the flight with two of their longtime friends for a trip to Japan, while Bibb will play “a stewardess involved in a complicated and secret relationship.”

Hit the jump for casting news concerning the indie thriller The East, which stars Brit Marling and Ellen Page.

We’ve got a few more casting stories for you this evening. First up, The Help star Octavia Spencer is in negotiations to join the cast of Diablo Cody’s untitled directorial debut. Penned by Cody, the comedy “follows a sheltered young woman (Julianne Hough) who loses her faith after a plane crash and decides to go to Las Vegas to experience the wild side of life.  On her journey, she meets an unlikely companion (Russell Brand) who inadvertently helps her find her true self.” Showblitz reports that Spencer will play a card dealer at the casino where Brand’s character works. Spencer was celebrated for her more dramatic turn in this summer’s hit drama The Help. She’s also in talks to star in the indie dramedy Smashed. Production on Diablo Cody’s untitled project (previously referred to as Lamb of God) is set to begin next Spring.

Hit the jump for casting news on the indie drama The East and the Tom Cruise thriller One Shot.

We’ve got a couple of casting stories for you this afternoon. First up, Val Kilmer, Radha Mitchell (Silent Hill) and Kate Maberly (Finding Neverland) have joined the cast of D.J. Caruso’s indie The Goats. Based on the young adult novel by Brock Cole, the story centers on two kids who are stranded on Goat Island following a summer camp prank. Rather than return to camp, the duo set out on their own adventure and run away. Chandler Canterbury (Knowing) and Annalise Basso (Bedtime Stories) are set as the two young leads. Variety reports that Kilmer and Mitchell will play parents, with Maberly taking on the role of a camp counselor. Production on Caruso’s passion project began today in Georgia. Hit the jump for the casting news of Toby Kebbel in Zal Batmanglij’s The East, and a synopsis of The Goats.

Zal Batmanglij’s The East has added some star power to its ranks.  Variety reports that Ellen Page has joined rising stars Brit Marling (Another Earth) and Alexander Skarsgard (True Blood) in the dramatic thriller.  The story centers on an undercover agent (Marling, who also co-wrote the film) from a private contracting firm who is tasked with protecting corporations from eco-terrorists and anti-business extremists.  When she is sent to investigate an anarchist organization known as “The East”, she finds herself falling for its leader (Skarsgard).  Page will play Izzy, a member of The East who is the leader’s former lover and is now jealous of Marling’s character.  The Oscar-nominated actress wrapped shooting on Woody Allen’s Bop Decameron this past summer.

Batmanglij and Marling previously teamed-up for the acclaimed drama Sound of My Voice, which was picked up by Fox Searchlight (who are also behind The East) following the buzz it received on the festival circuit earlier this year.  I’m getting pretty miffed at the studio for being silent on their release plans for the film, especially since it looks like The East covers similar ground in exploring cults.

I have not started watching season four of True Blood yet, and I probably never will.  But at the end of the season, I will seek out a compilation of the Eric scenes, because Alexander Skarsgard is a boss.  Filmmakers agree, and are increasingly wooing Sarsgard for a variety of roles, including big studio releases like Straw Dogs and Battleship, and smaller fare like Melancholia and What Maisie Knew.  His new role is an interesting entry in the latter category: Skarsgard is in talks to join fellow rising star Brit Marling in The East.

The story centers on a female FBI agent who infiltrates an eco-terrorist group that call themselves The East.  According to Heat Vision, Skarsgard would play “the leader of the group who seeks revenge against unethical corporations.”  Zat Batmanglij will direct from a script he co-wrote with Marling—the duo previously collaborated on Sundance darling The Sound of My Voice.  Fox Searchlight, the home of Sound of My Voice, is the likely home for the production, tentatively scheduled to shoot in Nashville in October.  We will definitely keep our eye on The East as the project develops.

Brit Marling is having a very good year.  She starred in and co-wrote the critically acclaimed Another Earth and the upcoming Sound of My Voice and now the offers are pouring in.  Vulture reports that she’s being courted for Robert Redford’s political drama The Company You Keep and the action-thriller One Shot starring Tom Cruise.  Marling has already passed on Steven Soderbergh’s Magic Mike, which has Channing Tatum playing Channing Tatum about Channing Tatum’s early years as male stripper (I can’t think of a movie I want to see less even if it did co-star Marling).  Instead, Marling chose to reteam with her Sound of My Voice director Zal Batmanglij for The East, a thriller she co-wrote with him about an FBI agent who infiltrates an ecoterrorist group.  Fox Searchlight intends to start filming on The East this October provided they can find a huge star to anchor it.

Hit the jump for more details on The Company You Keep and One Shot.