A host of new talent has joined writer/director Peter Landesman’s JFK feature film, Parkland.  Newly on board the Tom Hanks-produced assassination picture are Jackie Earle Haley (Watchmen), Colin Hanks (King Kong), Ron Livingston (Office Space), James Badge Dale (The Departed) and David Harbour (Quantum of Solace).  The actors join Zac Efron, Marcia Gay Harden, Paul Giamatti, Billy Bob Thornton and Jacki Weaver.

Parkland will film in Austin and Dallas with an expected release date somewhere around the 50th anniversary of the assassination that occurred on November 22, 1963.  Hit the jump for a list of the actors involved in Parkland and the roles they’ll be playing, along with the full press release.

A couple of actors have been added to writer/director Peter Landesman’s JFK feature film Parkland.  Produced by Tom Hanks, the pic revolves around the chaotic events that occurred at Parkland Hospital in Dallas on the day that President John F. Kennedy was assassinated.  Parkland Hospital is where Kennedy, Lee Harvey Oswald, and Jack Ruby all died.  It was announced today that Zac Efron and Marcia Gay Harden will be joining previously announced Paul Giamatti, Billy Bob Thornton, and Jacki Weaver in the film.

Specific character details regarding any of the actors have yet to be disclosed, but production is set to begin in Austin soon for a 2013 release around the 50th anniversary of Kennedy’s death, which is November 22nd.  Hit the jump to read the full press release.

Steve walked the floor at the American Film Market (AFM) early this morning and managed to bring back some detailed synopses for the following films:

• Jane Got a Gun – A Western starring Natalie Portman and Michael Fassbender
• Parkland – A drama about the JFK assassination starring Billy Bob Thornton, Paul Giamatti, and Jacki Weaver.
• The Green Inferno – The next directorial project from Eli Roth.
• A Walk Among the Tombstones – A crime thriller starring Liam Neeson.
• Agent: Century 21 – An action comedy starring Cameron Diaz and Benicio Del Toro.

Hit the jump to check out all the detailed synopses, which include production start dates.

The Tom Hanks-produced JFK feature film Parkland just landed three impressive actors.  It was announced today that Paul Giamatti, Billy Bob Thornton, and Jacki Weaver have joined the cast of the real-life drama.  The film revolves around the chaotic events that occurred at Parkland Hospital in Dallas on the day that President John F. Kennedy was assassinated.  Parkland Hospital is where Kennedy, Lee Harvey Oswald, and Jack Ruby all died.

Peter Landesman wrote the screenplay based on the book by Vincent Bugliosi and will make his directorial debut with the pic.  No word on what characters the aforementioned actors will portray, but production is set to take place in Austin.  The film is being planned for a 2013 release around the 50th anniversary of the assassination, which will be November 22nd.  Hit the jump to read the full press release.

Tom Hanks occasionally stars in historical dramas, but he’s always quick to take on a producing role when it comes to American history.  According to Variety, Hanks and his Playtone Pictures partner Gary Goetzman (The Pacific) will produce Peter Landesman‘s script, Parkland, which is about the assassination of John F. Kennedy.  The movie will reportedly revolve around the events leading up to the assassination and Abraham Zapruder‘s 8mm film that captured the event.  Parkland refers to Parkland Memorial Hospital where Kennedy his assassin, Lee Harvey Oswald, and Oswald’s killer, Jack Ruby, all died.  The film will be an ensemble piece that views how multiple characters, including “an FBI agent, a young doctor, a reporter, several Secret Service agents, Kennedy’s staff, Oswald’s older brother, Jackie Kennedy, and Zapruder.”

Hanks and Goetzman are no strangers to putting together big ensemble dramas, but it’s usually in the form of a mini-series.  It will be interesting to see how they plan to pull it together in a single film.  Landesman will make his feature directing debut on Parkland.