We have two bits of casting news.  First up, Willem Dafoe, Sam Neill and Frances O'Connor have singed on to star in The Hunter.  THR reports that the film will be a psychological thriller based on the novel Hunter by Julia Leigh, which centers on “a mercenary sent from Europe by an anonymous biotech company to the Tasmanian wilderness on a dramatic hunt for the last Tasmanian tiger.”  Australian director Daniel Nettheim will be directing the film, which already started production this week in Tasmania.

After the jump, you can read about Aubrey Plaza (Parks and Recreation) being attached to star in The Hand Job.

Aubrey Plaza is one of those actresses that I’m sure will breakthrough into the mainstream soon.  She’s had scene stealing roles in Funny People and in this summer’s Scott Pilgrim vs. The World.  This is in addition to her great work in Parks and Recreation, where she has proven to be one of the highlights of the show every week.

It’s because of this that I am happy to report on the news that Plaza will get her chance to carry a film with the comedy, The Hand Job, where she will be playing the lead role.  Cinematical reports that the film tells the story of “a young woman who graduates high school and decides she needs to learn about sexual activities before college, including the one in the title.”  The screenplay - written by Maggie Carey – made it on to the 2009 “Black List”, which is a list consisting of the best unproduced screenplays.

The film is still in its earliest stages of development.  As of right now, the film is unattached to any studio or production company.  That, however, did not stop the Austin Film Festival from having a staged script reading in front of an audience on Sunday.  Such actors and actresses as Bill Hader, Jessica Alba, Alexa Vega, Daryl Sabara, and Colin Hanks joined Plaza in reading the buzzed about screenplay for a crowd.  If this staged reading is any indication, The Hand Job is one very screenplay with the potential to be one very funny film.