We’ve got a couple of casting stories to share this afternoon.  Briefly:

• James Gandolfini is in talks to join Tom Hardy in the crime drama Animal Rescue.
• Girls standout Adam Driver is in negotiations to join Tina Fey and Jason Bateman in the comedy/drama This Is Where I Leave You.
• Law & Order star S. Epatha Merkerson is looking to play Marvin Gaye’s mother in the biopic Sexual Healing.

Hit the jump for more details.

Check out the latest casting additions below:

• Jake Johnson and Damon Wayans, Jr., both seen in New Girl pilot, will re-team once again for the buddy comedy Let’s Be Cops from director Luke Greenfield (The Girl Next Door).
• Jesse L. Martin (Law & Order) will replace Lenny Kravitz as Marvin Gaye in the Julien Temple-directed biopic Sexual Healing.
• Jeffrey Dean Morgan (Watchmen) joins Afonso Poyart’s supernatural thriller Solace, which already stars Colin Farrell and Anthony Hopkins.

Hit the jump for more on each casting announcement.