While John Boyega broke out in a big way thanks to his magnetic turn in “Attack the Block,” we haven’t seen much from the actor since. He’s taken small roles in some films that never really took (“Inkheart,” “Half of a Yellow Sun“) and he’s at Sundance this week with “Imperial Dreams.” But he’s about to launch back into some major attention.
Variety reports that Boyega will star as Jesse Owens in the biopic entitled…wait for it…”Race” (double meaning!). This is some bummer news for Anthony Mackie, who has long spoken about playing the American Olympic icon who thoroughly embarrassed Hitler at the 1936 Olympic Games. Stephen Hopkins (“The Life and Death of Peter Sellers”) is directing, the screenplay is by Anna Waterhouse and Joe Shrapnel (who both teamed on the Halle Berry starring “Frankie & Alice“), with production to start this spring in Montreal and Berlin.
Elsewhere: Deadline reveals that Ben Kingsley will take his Oscar-winning talents to “Night At The Museum 3,” where he will play an Egyptian pharaoh, joining Rebel Wilson, Ben Stiller, Robin Williams, Owen Wilson, Steve Coogan and Ricky Gervais in cashing paychecks.
Emile Hirsch is joining Asa Butterfield, Hailee Steinfeld and Ethan Hawke in “Ten Thousand Saints,” says ScreenDaily. Set in the late ’80s punk scene of New York City, it’s a coming of age story following Jude, who is sent to live with his estranged father in Manhattan where he discovers love, music and forges a new connection with dad Les. Bob Pulcini and Shari Berman (“American Splendor“) will direct.
Olivia Williams, Matthew Modine, Antonia Clarke, Adam Thomas Wright and Steve Oram are starring in the horror “Altar,” reports Variety. Written and directed by Nick Willing, “the film centers on the couple and their two children who begin renovation work at a remote English estate, where the owner killed his wife years earlier in a demonic ritual. The wife exacted her revenge by haunting him, driving him to madness and suicide.” The movie is trying to be finished in time for TIFF later this year.
Lastly, JustJared reports that Emma Roberts has joined Sam Worthington in “For The Dogs.” Penned by Oren Moverman (“The Messenger,” “Rampart“) and based on the Kevin Wignall novel, the film follows a reclusive hitman who encounters a bright college girl and agrees to help her track down and kill those responsible for her family’s murder. “Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines” director Jonathan Mostow is at the helm with production getting underway this spring.