Tomorrow is the annual Academy Awards Nominees Luncheon in Los Angeles with lots of this year’s awards hopefuls due to attend.
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Stars head to the Screen Actors Guild Awards
The presenters for this year’s Screen Actors guild Awards have been revealed.
Patricia Arquette, Ellar Coltrane, Kevin Costner, Ethan Hawke, Rashida Jones, Michael Keaton, Lorelei Linklater, Matthew McConaughey, Edward Norton, Julia Roberts and Emma Stone will be presenters at the 21st Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards.
Joining them will be Benedict Cumberbatch, Viola Davis, Adrien Brody, Bryan Cranston, Eric Dane, Felicity Jones, Lenny Kravitz, Eddie Redmayne, Tony Revolori, JK Simmons and Laverne Cox.
Carrie Fisher will also present her mother Debbie Reynolds with the lifetime achievement award.
The awards show takes place on January 25 in Los Angeles.
Casting Call – January 18
Latest casting news from TV and film.
Tom Cruise looks set to work with his Edge of Tomorrow director Doug Liman on a new project which would see the actor playing a pilot in the 1980s. No, it’s not another Top Gun, this time Cruse would be playing a real-life pilot called Barry Seal who was a gun runner and drug trafficker who transported contraband for the CIA and the Medellin cartel. If Cruise and Liman sign on then the film, called Mena, is expected to be made later this year.
Stevie Wonder is working with NBC on a miniseries set against the background of America’s underground railway and the slaves who worked on it. The series is already being developed into. Broadway musical with Stevie writing the score. NBC has also signed a deal with Dolly Parton to work on a series of TV movies based on her songs, stories and life. The films are expected to include music but won’t be musicals and Dolly may appear in them.
Lea Michele, Joe Manganiello, Abigail Breslin, Ariana Grande and Keke Palmer have joined the cast of new TV series Scream Queens. They join Jamie Lee Curtis and Emma Roberts who have already signed on to the drama which has been created by Ryan Murphy. Like almost all of Murphy’s shows (apart from Glee) it will be an anthology series with the first season set on a college campus which is rocked by a series of murders. The show will air from this autumn.
How’s this for a dream cast? Brad Pitt, Ryan Gosling, Christian Bale and Steve Carell are all in talks to appear in a new film called The Big Short. The multi-strand drama is set against backdrop of the housing and credit bubbles of the 2000s that led to the 2007-08 global financial crisis. Everyone’s currently in talks so we’ll have to see what happens but wouldn’t it be great if they all sign on?
Hugh Jackman is set to star in a new film about Eddie ‘the Eagle’ Edwards. He won’t be playing the ski-jumper, that will be rising star Taron Egerton. Instead the Oscar-nominated actor will appear as Eddie’s mentor, Chuck Berghorn. The film’s been in development for years, I remember Rupert Grint being attached to play Eddie at one point, but it looks like it’s finally going ahead with Dexter Fletcher directing.
Jennifer Lawrence is expected to play a freediver in a new film based on a true story. JLaw is in talks to star in The Dive which is being produced by James Cameron. Francis Lawrence is in talks to direct. The film tells the story of Francisco “Pipin” Ferraras and his wife Audrey Mestre, who competed to travel as deep as possible underwater on a single breath of air. Lawrence will play Mestre, who died during an attempt to beat her own world record of 557.7 feet.
Ben Affleck looks set to work with David Fincher once again on a remake of Alfred Hitchcock’s Strangers on a Train. To make it a proper Gone Girl reunion, Gillian Flynn is expected to write the script. Although based on Hitchcock’s adaptation of the original novel by Patricia Highsmith, the new version is expected to differ somewhat. Affleck will play a movie star in the middle of a campaign for an Oscar during awards season whose private plane breaks down and is given a ride to LA on another plane by a wealthy stranger. Sounds pretty awesome.
Meanwhile Jeffrey Tambor and John Lithgow are joining Affleck on another project. They’re both in talks to appear in thriller The Accountant. They join Anna Kendrick, JK Simmons and Jon Bernthal who have already been cast in the thriller which follows a mild-mannered accountant who also happens to be an assassin. Gavin O’Connor directs.
Edgar Wright may work with Ansel Elgort on his next film. Elgort is in early talks to star in Baby Driver Which is about a young getaway driver who is coerced into working for a crime boss.
Former West Wing star Bradley Whitford is joining the cast to Brooklyn Nine-Nine. He will play the father of Andy Samberg’s character Jake Peralta. Whitford is set to appear in at least one episode as Captain Roger Peralta, a charming regional airline pilot who has made a career out of letting down Jake.
Casting Call – January 11
A weekly round-up of the latest casting news in film, TV and theatre:
Just before Christmas it was announced David Oyelowo and Lupita N’yongo look set to star together in new film Americanah. Now they’re in talks to work together again in new Disney movie Queen of Katwe which is about a young African chess prodigy, Oyelowo is expected to play the young girl’s mentor with Oscar-winner N’yongo appearing as her mother. Filming is expected to begin in the spring.
Jennifer Hudson is to make her Broadway debut in a revival of The Color Purple. Hudson will play Shug Avery in the production which will open later this year and has Oprah Winfrey among its producers.
Phylicia Rashad has joined the cast of new film, Creed. The film will see Sylvester Stallone return as Rocky Balboa as he becomes the coach of a young boxer played by Michael B Jordan. Rashad will play the young boxer’s mother. Filming is due to begin later this month.
John Travolta is returning to TV for the first time in over 30 years. He will appear in new drama American Crime Story: The People vs O J Simpson. The show has been created by Ryan Murphy – the man behind Glee and American Horror Story – and will look at the Simpson trial from the perspective of both the defence and prosecution, Cuba Gooding Jr. will star as Simpson with former Friends actor David Schwimmer playing Robert Kardashian, one of Simpson’s lawyers.
It looks like the new Ghostbusters movie is finally gearing up to start shooting this summer. The new film will focus on a group of female Ghostbusters with Melissa McCarthy in talks to play the lead character. Other actresses being mooted for roles in the film include Jennifer Lawrence, Emma Stone and Rebel Wilson. The film is expected to include cameos from Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd and Ernie Hudson.
Snoop Dogg will play himself in an upcoming episode of new drama series Empire. The show debuted in the States this week and tied with How To Get Away With Murder as the top premiere of the new TV season. Snoop will appear in episode 11 which is expected to air in late February or early March.
Lena Dunham will appear in The Simpsons later in the year. She’ll appear in the premiere episode of the show’s 27th season as Candace, a pharmacist who helps Homer when he develops narcolepsy.
The character was created especially for Dunham says The Simpsons executive producer Al Jean but Dunham is “not playing herself or Hannah from Girls. But it’s that funny, intellectual, slightly awkward, endearing tone that everybody’s familiar with, so we were just writing it with her voice in our heads.”
Sienna Miller will take over the role of Sally Bowles in the Broadway production of Cabaret next month. She follows Emma Stone who herself took over from Michelle Williams in the role. Miller who star in what’s currently expected to be the show’s final six weeks at Studio 54, running from February 17 to March 29.
Reese Witherspoon, Matt Damon, Alec Baldwin, Neil Patrick Harris and Jason Sudeikis are to star in Alexander Payne’s new film. Downsizing is described as a social satire about a man who realises he could have a better life if he were to shrink himself. We’ll have a while to wait to see the film though, filming doesn’t begin until 2016 with the film expected to be released in late 2017.
Ted Danson, Patrick Wilson and Jean Smart have joined the cast of the second season of Fargo. They join Kirsten Dunst and Jesse Plemons in the drama which is set in 1979 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and Luverne, Minnesota. Production begins on January 19.
Michael Keaton’s Hollywood revival continues. He’s in talks to join Tom Hiddleston and JK Simmons in Kong: Skull Island. The film is set in the mysterious and dangerous home of the iconic ape as a team of explorers ventures deep inside the treacherous, primordial island.
Michael C Hall is the latest actor to join the cast of Disney’s remake of Pete’s Dragon. Robert Redford, Bryce Dallas Howard and Wes Bentley have already been announced with newcomer Oakes Fegley playing Pete. No word yet on Hall’s role.
2015 preview: Films
There are so many films that I’m already looking forward to in 2015 but I have managed to narrow the list down to just ten.
Snoopy and Charlie Brown: The Peanuts Movie: you might think ‘oh, good grief!’ But I always enjoy a bit of Charlie Brown and the gang. The trailer looks a lot of fun and the use of computer animation isn’t distracting at all.
The Minions Movie: Minions make me giggle. That’s all.
Jurassic World: I still remember sitting in the cinema watching the opening five minutes of Jurassic Park and thinking ‘oh this is going to be good!’. Unfortunately the two sequels never quite lived up to the first. Can this new film, directed by Colin Treverrow, take us back to the magic and wonder of the first?
Birdman: a but of a cheat this one as I’ve already seen it – but it’s not out in the UK until 2015! Michael Keaton is on top form as the former superhero actor trying to kickstart his career by starring in, and directing, a Broadway play. The supporting cast are also excellent – particularly Emma Stone as is daughter. But my favourite thing about Birdman is the craft that’s gone into making the film – the idea of just a single shot through the whole film, I think it’s incredibly clever!
Whiplash: I’m calling it now, you won’t see a better onscreen villain in 2015 than JK Simmons’ horrific music teacher. He’s brutal! Miles Teller holds his own but it’s Simmons who has the showier role and he absolutely runs with it. An Oscar is surely in the bag. Whilst there are plot points in the film that I could see coming the ending was fantastic. It’s a great movie.
Selma: British actor David Oyelowo stars as Martin Luther King in the drama which focuses on his campaign for civil rights and the march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, in 1965. Oprah Winfrey is among the supporting cast.
Spectre: Bond is back! But no Judi Dench this time. Can director Sam Mendes emulate the phenomenal success of Skyfall? I’ve never been a huge fan of 007 but I am looking forward to the new film. Plus, who’s going to perform the theme song?
Tomorrowland: George Clooney leads the cast of this scifi mystery about a former boy-genius and a gifted teenager who set out on a dangerous mission to unearth the secrets of an enigmatic location caught between time and space. The cast also includes Hugh Laurie and young actress Britt Robinson. It’s directed by Brad Bird who made the last Mission: Impossible movie as well as Pixar’s The Incredibles so I think it should be in safe hands.
Avengers: Age of Ultron: Iron Man, Hulk, Thor, Captain America (and the others) back on screen together. I just can’t wait! Director Joss Whedon’s brought the whole gang back (we might even get to see Tom Hiddlestone’s Loki). Avengers Assemble set the bar so high, can they reach those heights again? Or even top them? We’ll find out in April.
Star Wars: The Force Awakens: did you really think I wouldn’t include this in my list of must-see films? Of course it tops the list! The first film I ever saw at the cinema was Star Wars, it is the franchise that I have loved for over 30 years. And it’s back. And I can not wait until December!!
So that’s my top 10 must-see movies for 2015. Close but no cigar mentions for Love is Strange, Blackhat, Cinderella, Frankenstein, The Lady in the Van and Absolutely Anything.
What are you looking forward to? Tell me in the comments section below!
The Governors’ Awards – major celebs due
Tomorrow night in LA the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences hosts its annual Governors’ Awards dinner.
The event has become more and more significant as a place for potential Ocsar nominees to schmooze Academy members as the race to February 22 kicks up a gear.
The list of expected guests this year features plenty of talent that will be hitting the campaign trail hard over the next few months including Jennifer Aniston, Emily Blunt, Chadwick Boseman, Steve Carell, Jessica Chastain, Ellar Coltrane, James Corden, Kevin Costner, Benedict Cumberbatch, Robert Downey Jr., Robert Duvall, Clint Eastwood, Jake Gyllenhaal, Felicity Jones, Michael Keaton, Keira Knightley, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Liam Neeson, Edward Norton, Jack O’Connell, Eddie Redmayne, Chris Rock, Mark Ruffalo, Andy Serkis, JK Simmons, Timothy Spall, Octavia Spencer, Hilary Swank, Tilda Swinton, Channing Tatum, Mark Wahlberg and Reese Witherspoon. Phew!
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