An actor proven to be versatile and eclectic with his role choices, there seems to be only one constant in Ethan Hawke's career: directors. The actor has re-teamed with several helmers over the years, including fellow Texan Richard Linklater, Antoine Fuqua ("Training Day," "Brooklyn's Finest") and Andrew Niccol ("Gattaca," "Lord Of War"), and has a reunion with "The Woman In The Fifth" director Pawel Pawlikowski in the works. Hawke is now set to get together with "Daybreakers" directors Peter and Michael Spierig once more.
Described as a "riveting adventure through time [that's] insane, bloody and vile," the film is being sold at the upcoming Cannes Film Market with the plot to center on two detectives from a secret government time-travelling agency designed to prevent future killers and terrorists from committing their crimes. Sounds fairly generic, which unfortunately was the same criticism of the Spierigs' last film — our review noted that it "doesn't make a lick of sense," "seems to [have] simply abandoned all originality" and was simply "boring." No word on when this project could get underway, but the Spierigs will be eager to start as soon as possible considering their planned 'Dark Crystal' sequel fell apart earlier this year. [FilmInk]
Following in the footsteps of her on-screen sister Shailene Woodley, "Secret Life Of An American Teeenager" starlet India Eisley is heading for the silver screen, having been cast as a young Angelina Jolie in Robert Stromberg's upcoming Sleeping Beauty spin-off "Maleficent." Scripted by Linda Woolverton ("Alice In Wonderland"), the project had been planned as a Tim Burton vehicle, but veteran production designer Stromberg soon took over for the origin tale of the titular evil queen and what led her to curse Princess Aurora in Disney's animated classic.
Jolie will, of course, take the lead role along with Eisley, with Elle Fanning as the princess, Sharlto Copley as King Stefan, Imelda Staunton and Lesley Manville as two pixies, Miranda Richardson as Maleficent's aunt, Kenneth Cranham as a human king and Sam Riley as Maleficent's right hand man/raven who can shift into human form. Lensing begins in June for a March 14, 2014 release. [Variety]