Terrence Malick chooses Haley Bennett for his untitled film starring Christian Bale

Whoever it was that lit a fire under usually slow moving director Terrence Malick, I'd like to send them a hearty "Thank You". The director has been moving at a roadrunner-like pace lately, what with three films possibly coming our way in the next couple of years. There's his documentary, Voyage of Time. He's got some sort of romance project called The Burial, which we've already seen an image of with Ben Affleck and Rachel McAdams. And then there's an untitled, typically mysterious film starring Christian Bale. That one has remained under the curtain a little bit, with practically no details available for it. One thing we are sure of is that another has been confirmed for it, and in keeping with the Malick tradition it's a young, relatively untested actress.

Variety reports that Haley Bennett, last seen in the Gregg Araki flick, Kaboom, is Malick's choice.No deal has been struck, and it's possible someone else could move in. She was selected over a couple of higher profile actresses, namely Mia Wasikowska and Rooney Mara, for the role. I'm thinking Malick probably liked the chance to give another young talent a career boost, the way he's done with Jessica Chastain(Tree of Life) and Sissy Spacek(Badlands) in movies past. What Bennett's role will be is anybody's guess.


Bennett is probably best recognized as the title character in The Haunting of Molly Hartley. Not a film I like, but I dug her in Kaboom, so it's good to see her getting this opportunity. Production on whatever this movie is called could kick off next summer.