It appears the personal and professional will soon combine for Sean Penn: just yesterday we found out he’s prepping a new directorial effort entitled “The Last Space”—reportedly set within the refugee camps of Sudan, Liberia—and also that “Blue is The Warmest Color” actress Adèle Exarchapoulos snagged a small role. It’s only gaining steam however, as Penn has chosen a fellow humanitarian for the lead in the secretive project.
The Wrap reports Charlize Theron is in talks to join the Penn-directed film when it shoots this summer, a return to the screen for the star after taking much of 2013 off from acting (her next film is Seth MacFarlane’s “A Million Ways To Die In The West” in May, and has “Dark Places” coming too). Theron’s role is being touted as the lead, but whether she’s part of a large ensemble or “The Last Space” is solely focused on her character remains to be seen. The start of production is coming up quick though, so expect official details to follow shortly.
Elsewhere, a surprise shift has hit the courtroom film “The Whole Truth” which lost lead Daniel Craig only days before it was set to begin filming in Boston on April 14th. Craig, who was to play a district attorney alongside co-stars Renee Zellweger and Gabriel Basso in the film, reportedly left on Sunday (via THR), and has set the production back three weeks to find a replacement—as well as clear up the deals of other actors circling the film, like Danny Huston.
A clear reason for Craig’s departure has yet to be uncovered (maybe he was called back for Bond duty?), but in the meantime we’ll see how the film’s director, Courtney Hunt (“Frozen River”), and her team tackle this major setback as it nears its new start date.