Here's today's latest casting news:

  • Denzel Washington (Man on Fire) is in early talks to star in Shovel Ready, a Warner Bros. adaptation of journalist Adam Sternbergh's debut dystopian novel.
  • Melissa Leo (The Fighter) has joined Mark Webber's The Ever After, described as a "hard examination of a marriage."  Rosario Dawson (Trance) is also in talks to join.
  • Josh Duhamel (Transformers) will join Lucas Till in Strings, an ensemble drama directed by Daniel Duran.

Hit the jump for more on each film.

First up from Deadline is news that Washington is in early talks for Shovel Ready, a story that takes place in a future war-torn New York City.  The "population escapes reality by tapping into a digital fantasy world, a contract killer is hired to kill the daughter of a powerful, maniacal evangelist. Ultimately, the killer becomes the girl’s protector."  Washington is currently prepping to shoot Antoine Fuqua's The Equalizer.

Leo has joined The Ever After in an undisclosed role.  The picture stars Webber and Teresa Palmer (Warm Bodies) in the lead roles from a script they wrote together.  Per the press release: "The Ever After follows the artistic footsteps of The End of Love, blurring the lines between reality and fiction, using real life relationships, friends and family members to enhance the films overall feeling of realism."  Dawson, rapper Kid Cudi, Phoebe Tonkin and Hart of Dixies’ Jaime King are also in talks to join the film.  Leo recently joined the above-mentioned Fuqua film and will be seen in Lee Daniels' The Butler and next fall's M. Night Shyamalan’s Fox event series, Wayward Pines.

Finally from Variety comes word that Duhamel will join Strings as an army veteran and counselor who treats Till’s character, "a talented DJ who succumbs to the pressures of the industry and sets out to find himself on a trip to his father’s house in North Dakota. Along the way, he meets a girl who has an instant impact on his life.  Production on the picture is currently underway.