It might have taken a little time (18 months passed between the film’s premiere in Venice and its Oscar victory), but basically everyone came out of “The Hurt Locker” with a ton of heat behind them. Directing and writing pair Kathryn Bigelow and Mark Boal attracted the attention of most of the A-list for their thriller “Triple Frontier,” before switching streams to head to the unexpectedly timely “Kill Bin Laden,” which is gearing up to go next. Jeremy Renner has become the most sought-after leading man in town, with lead roles in “The Avengers,” “Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol,” “Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters” and “The Bourne Legacy,” while Anthony Mackie has done equally well, cropping up in everything from the imminent “Real Steel” to the upcoming “Gangster Squad.”
Less visible, for the most part, so far, is Brian Geraghty, the third of the drama’s lead trio. He’s been working steadily in indies and television, but TIFF entry “Ten Year” was the actor’s most high-profile turn in the three years since “The Hurt Locker.” But it looks like that’s about to change, as The Hollywood Reporter reveals that the actor is in negotiations to join the increasingly strong cast of Robert Zemeckis‘ live-action return “Flight.“
The drama, penned by “Real Steel” writer John Gatins, toplines Denzel Washington as a commercial airline pilot who successfully lands a damaged plane, and is lauded as a hero by the press. But it’s soon revealed that he’s an alcoholic and drug-addict, and may have been under the influence at the controls, leading to a cover up. “Sherlock Holmes” star Kelly Reilly is on board as the female lead, another addict who befriends Washington’s character, while Don Cheadle and Bruce Greenwood are also in ongoing talks to join them in unknown roles.
Geraghty’s the latest on board; he’ll play Washington’s co-pilot, who turns to religion after their miraculous survival. It’s not the only film the actor’s got in the works — he’s wrapped the single-location thriller “ATM” with Alice Eve and Josh Peck, and has a role in teen comedy “Gay Dude” — but it’s certainly the biggest, and it sounds like it could be a good supporting part for an actor we’d like to see work more.
There are also some whispers of two more big names coming on board; It’s On The Grid reports that Tommy Lee Jones and Frances McDormand have both been offered parts, the former as the owner of the airline that Washington works for, the latter as a lawyer who heads up the investigation into the crash. Granted, these are offers so who knows if they’ll sign or not, but it’s a reminder there is more casting to come, and we’re already looking forward to this more than we’d thought was possible for a Robert Zemeckis film. Filming starts soon, and it’ll likely head to theaters in time for the 2012 awards rush.