Nighy Lends Voice to Dawn Treader: Bill Nighy revealed to David Frost he will be replacing Eddie Izzard as the voice of Reepicheep in The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. Izzard Reepicheep is the large talking mouse that was seen slitting throats throughout the PG-rated Prince Caspian. Video is provided to the right. [Narnia Web]
Cassel Set for Monk: Vincent Cassel (Eastern Promises) will star in the suspense feature The Monk for French-German director Dominik Moll. Set in the 18th century, the film is based on Matthew Lewis’ novel depicting the rise and tragic downfall of Capucin Ambrosio, a respected Spanish monk. Cassel joins Deborah Francois (The First Day of the Rest of Your Life), Sergi Lopez (Leaving) and Geraldine Chaplin (The Orphanage). Filming will begin in April for 12 weeks. Cassel will next be seen in Darren Aronofsky’s Black Swan and Andrew Niccol’s The Cross. [Variety]
Affleck to Make The Trade: Word has it Ben Affleck is interested in directing The Trade at Warner Bros., a film following New York Yankees pitchers Fritz Peterson and Mike Kekich, who stunned the country when they disclosed in spring training 1973 they were trading wives. Peterson had fallen in love with Susanne Kekich and his teammate fell in love with Marilyn Peterson. Fritz and Susanne remain a couple till this day, while Mike and Marilyn drifted apart. Apparently Affleck not only wants to direct, but is interested in working on a rewrite with original screenwriter Dave Mandel whose screenplay made the 2009 Black List. On top of that, Affleck is eying the role of Peterson and Matt Damon is reportedly considering playing Kekich. This news comes on the heels of yesterday’s announcement of Affleck and Damon’s expected production deal at WB. [Deadline]
Owen Wilson Attached to Woody’s Next: Owen Wilson has signed on to star in Woody Allen’s next film which will shoot this summer with the likelihood France’s first lady, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, will also take a role in the untitled film of which no story details are available. Additionally, Allen’s You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger starring Antonio Banderas, Josh Brolin, Anthony Hopkins, Naomi Watts, Gemma Jones, Freida Pinto and Lucy Punch is expected to hit theaters this September. [THR]
Sony Classics Cages Animal Kingdom: Sundance favorite, David Michod’s Animal Kingdom has found its way to Sony Pictures Classics for release later this year. The film, which stars Ben Mendelsohn, Joel Edgerton, Guy Pearce, Luke Ford and Sullivan Stapleton is a tale of survival and revenge, following a seventeen year-old boy who is thrust precariously between an explosive criminal family and a detective who thinks he can save him. I have included the teaser trailer to the right and you can get a peek at four images from the film right here. [IndieWire]
McMahon Joins the Crowd: Julian McMahon’s feature film career outside of “nip/tuck” isn’t exactly impressive and I don’t get the impression the thriller Faces in the Crowd opposite Milla Jovovich will be the one to push him over the edge. The film, to be directed by Julien Magnat is said to revolve around a woman who, after witnessing a murder, falls off a bridge and wakes up with “face blindness,” in which everyone looks like a complete stranger. Of course this could also be the plotline for The Hangover 2 or at least a punchline in the sequel. [Variety]
Hawke Finds Thomas In the Fifth: Ethan Hawke is set to star opposite Kristin Scott Thomas in the indie thriller The Woman in the Fifth for Polish helmer Pawel Pawlikowski. The film is an adaptation of Douglas Kennedy novel revolving around an American who has fled to Paris in the wake of a scandal that cost him his job as a film lecturer at a small university. He takes up with a widow who might be involved in a series of murders. Filming begins in March in Paris. [Variety]
