From a Luc Besson action flick getting a veteran to Armie Hammer getting swapped for a hot rising actor, a few casting bits and bobs to keep you ahead of the game….
First up, Morgan Freeman has joined Luc Besson’s upcoming actioner “Lucy.” Scarlett Johansson leads the movie playing a woman who is forced to become a drug mule but finds the substances have entered her body instead turning her into some kind of ass-kicking badass. Uh, okay. Scratch that — she basically becomes all the X-Men combined as “her new abilities allow her to see into the future, move objects with her mind and disregard pain and other emotions.” Lord. Freeman will play a science dude who can explain all this, who Lucy attempts to find before she dies or something. This sounds pretty dumb. [The Wrap]
“Mad Men” star Christina Hendricks will star in the ’70s drama “Measure Of A Man.” Directed by Terry Loane and penned by David Scearce, the coming-of-age tale will follow “a bullied teen (Riley Griffiths) negotiating the challenging path to manhood under the guidance of a reclusive Wall Street executive who gives him a summer job.” Hendricks will play the kid’s mom. [Deadline]
Rising star Haley Bennett (“Marley & Me,” “Kaboom” and who we’ll eventually see in the Terrence Malick movie that isn’t “Knight Of Cups“) has come aboard “The Equalizer” with Denzel Washington, Chloe Moretz and Melissa Leo. No word yet on her role. [Deadline]
“Deadwood” dude Jim Beaver posted on Facebook that he’s also going to be in Guillermo Del Toro‘s “Crimson Peak.” The plot details are still vague but it’s a gothic horror story centering a young woman who finds out her husband isn’t all he’s supposed to be. Charlie Hunnam, Jessica Chastain, Benedict Cumberbatch and probably Mia Wasikowska (replacing Emma Stone) are set to star, with production to begin in early 2014. [ONTD]
Lastly, Liam Hemsworth has replaced Armie Hammer on “Cut Bank” which also features John Malkovich, Billy Bob Thornton, Teresa Palmer, Bruce Dern, Oliver Platt and Michael Stuhlbarg (Michael Sheen and Ben Kingsley also seem to have disappeared off the initial casting announcement). Anyway, the 2009 Black List script by Roberto Patino is set in Cut Bank, Montana, and tells the story of Dwayne McLaren (Hemsworth), a young auto mechanic and former high school football star who wants to get the hell out of this tiny frozen-in-time town. His attempt to do so sets in motion a series of events that will change his life, and Cut Bank, forever. Production is underway. [Deadline]