George Clooney Cameos in 'Downton Abbey', Morgan Freeman Joins 'Ben-Hur', Chris Cooper Boards 'Demolition'

Downton Abbey probably doesn't need the boost, but they've just secured a sure ratings win this Christmas when George Clooney makes a cameo appearance on the show. Clooney will play "an American character who is a guest at a wedding in the country estate". Clooney, who is reportedly a huge fan of the show, is doing all of this as part of a charity fundraiser Text Santa for ITV. Will this make me want to watch the period drama for the first time ever? No, but others probably will. [The Guardian]

Morgan Freeman has joined Timur Bekmambetov's upcoming Ben-Hur remake which has Tom Hiddleston eying the lead role. Unsurprisingly, Freeman is set to play Ben-Hur's mentor/trainer, Ildarin, who helps the wrongfully enslaved nobleman rise up against his captors and get revenge on his former best friend. Freeman can be seen in theaters now in Dolphin Tale 2, and recently signed on for Ted 2. Ben-Hur is set to open February 26th 2016.

Jean-Marc Vallee (Dallas Buyers Club, Wild) is putting together the pieces to his next film, Demolition, and has just added a terrific supporting actor in Chris Cooper. The August: Osage County star joins Jake Gyllenhaal and Naomi Watts in the story of  "a young investment banker struggling to understand his emotional unraveling after the tragic death of his wife, when, suddenly a woman he meets in a chance encounter changes his life forever."[Deadline]

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Naomi Watts Joins 'Demolition'; Amy Ryan Boards Steven Spielberg's Cold War Film

A pair of lovely and extremely talented actresses have joined the latest projects by two of today's top filmmakers.  First up, Naomi Watts has joined Jake Gyllenhaal in Demolition, from Dallas Buyers Club director Jean-Marc Vallee. Written by Brian Stipe, the film "follows a young investment banker (Gyllenhaal) struggling to understand his emotional disconnect following the tragic death of his wife in an auto accident. As he tears apart his life in a distraught effort to see where he went wrong, he becomes obsessed with destruction and develops a unique relationship with a pot-smoking single mother (Watts) who rescues him." Watts' character is in a relationship with her boss but begins to fall for Gyllenhaal after she learns of the pain and loss he's endured. [TheWrap]

Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks' untitled Cold War spy film is gathering a solid cast. Joining Hanks and the previously cast Mark Rylance are Amy Ryan (Win Win), Alan Alda, Billy Magnussen (Boardwalk Empire), and Eve Hewson. Penned by the Coen Brothers, the film tells the true story of CIA attorney James Donovan who is sent into Russia to negotiate the release of a captured U-2 spy plane pilot. The film is due to open next year on October 16th.

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Jake Gyllenhaal to Star in 'Demolition' from 'Dallas Buyers Club' Director Jean-Marc Vallee

Now that he's helped Matthew McConaughey earn his first Oscar with Dallas Buyers Club, director Jean-Marc Vallee can pretty much do whatever he wants. And what he's chosen to do is continue his string of working with top flight leads. His breakout film featured Emily Blunt in period drama The Young Victoria, and his next film, Wild, will star Reese Witherspoon in what some are targeting as an awards contender. And after that, Vallee may work with another big name in Jake Gyllenhaal.

Gyllenhaal is in talks to star in Demolition, which Vallee will direct from a script by Bryan Sipe. If Gyllenhaal signs on he'll play an investment banker struggling after the death of his wife. Trying to understand his emotional disconnect from the tragic loss, he begins tearing his own life apart until he's saved by a chance encounter with a woman.

This is an interesting creative period for Gyllenhaal who is coming off arguably his two most complex performances in Prisoners and Enemy. He's currently getting ready to step in the ring for Southpaw, the boxing drama directed by Antoine Fuqua. [Variety]

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