Kate Beckinsale Joins 'Absolutely Anything'; Haley Bennett Boards 'Fathers and Daughters'

* Kate Beckinsale has come aboard the long-developing comedy, Absolutely Anything, directed by Terry Jones and featuring Monty Python in voice roles. Beckinsale will star opposite Simon Pegg, with Robin Williams, Eddie Izzard, Joanna Lumley, and Sanjeev Bhaskar also appearing in the film about a "disillusioned school teacher (Pegg) who suddenly finds he has the ability to do anything he wishes, a challenge bestowed upon him by a group of power-crazed aliens watching from space." The Monty Python troupe will voice the aliens, with Williams as Pegg's canine companion. At some point, after a string of mishaps, Pegg's character will be forced to choose between the dog or his favorite gal, played by Beckinsale. Seems like an easy choice, doesn't it? Filming begins in London next month. [Deadline]

* While we wait to see how much of Haley Bennett's performance remains in Terence Malick's upcoming film (hasn't everybody been cut out of it, basically?), and how she fares in The Equalizer with Denzel Washington, she's landed another film with a star-studded cast. Bennett has joined Fathers and Daughters, the multi-generational drama from Seven Pounds director, Gabriele Muccino. She joins Russell Crowe, Amanda Seyfried, Aaron Paul, Octavie Spencer, Quvenzhane Wallis, and Diane Kruger in the story of a mentally ill novelist trying to raise his 5-year-old daughter Katie in 1980s New York City. Twenty-five years later, his daughter is still struggling with the pains of her troubled childhood. Bennett will play a college student who watches over the young Katie. [Deadline]

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Octavia Spencer, Quvenzhane Wallis, and Diane Kruger Join 'Fathers and Daughters'

Seven Pounds and The Pursuit of Happyness director Gabriele Muccino is putting together Fathers and Daughters, the generations-spanning drama he hopes will make you forget about Playing For Keeps (it won't). And to do it, he's already lined up one Oscar-winning star in Russell Crowe, plus Amanda Seyfried and Aaron Paul. But now he's adding a few more big names with awards experience.

Best Supporting Actress winner and current nominee Octavia Spencer (The Help, Fruitvale Station), the youngest Best Actress nominee ever Quvenzhane Wallis (Beasts of the Southern Wild), and Diane Kruger (Inglourious Basterds) have joined the impressive line-up of stars. Crowe, who is also exec-producing, will play a mentally ill writer trying to raise his 5-year-old daughter in 1988 NYC. Seyfried will play the older version of his daughter who, 25 years later, is still coping with her troubled childhood. Spencer will play the head of a psychiatric clinic where Seyfried works, with Wallis as a patient who hasn't said a word since her mother was murdered. Paul plays Seyfried's boyfriend while Kruger is Crowe's sister-in-law who blames him for the death of her sister.

Look for this one to make a big impact when it arrives some time in 2015. Fathers and Daughters is in pre-production now in Pittsburgh.  [Variety]

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Aaron Paul Joins Russell Crowe and Amanda Seyfried in 'Fathers and Daughters'

As we've said many times before, the time is right now for Aaron Paul. Breaking Bad is firmly in the rear view, and he's moving forward with his first big franchise in Need for Speed. But as he moves beyond that into becoming a proven leading man, he's set to re-team with someone from one of his first regular gigs.

Paul will reunite with Big Love co-star Amanda Seyfriend for Fathers and Daughters, and much like in the HBO series he will play her love interest. Starring Russell Crowe, the film centers on a famous novelist living in New York City and struggling to raise his 5-year-old daughter while dealing with mental illness. Seyfried plays his daughter 25 years later as she battles the aftermath of a troubled childhood. Gabriele Muccino is directing and the script by Brad Desch was acclaimed enough to turn up on the Black List.

Another big move for Paul, who is currently filming Ridley Scott's Biblical epic, Exodus.

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Amanda Seyfried Joins 'Fathers and Daughters' Opposite Russell Crowe

As I noted a few days ago when it was revealed Russell Crowe would be starring in the drama Fathers and Daughters, his presence alone is enough to attract considerable attention. And now we see the effect of his signing as the film has quickly landed a big name co-star in Amanda Seyfried.

The two Les Misérables stars will reunite for the film directed by Gabriele Muccino (Seven Pounds), with Crowe as a renowned New York City novelist struggling to raise his 5-year-old daughter while dealing with his mental illness. Seyfried will play the daughter 25 years later as she tries to cope with her troubled upbringing. 

No word on when this will lens but it's shaping up fast enough that we can probably expect to see it later in 2014.

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Russell Crowe to Star in 'Fathers and Daughters' for 'Seven Pounds' Director

Italian director Gabriele Muccino made his biggest move into Hollywood directing a pair of Will Smith weepers The Pursuit of Happyness and Seven Pounds, the former of which is pretty good while the latter is a melodramatic train wreck. Last year he tried something a little different, and the results were the terrible soccer rom-com Playing for Keeps with Gerard Butler. Having learned his lesson, Muccino has is going back to the type of family drama he knows best, and with an A-lister star in the lead.

Muccino will direct Russell Crowe in Fathers and Daughters, based on a Black List script by Brad Desch. The heart-tugging film centers on a famous New York City novelist suffering from mental illness as he struggles to raise his 5-year-old daughter. The story then picks up 25 years later as the daughter, now an adult, copes with the aftermath of her troubled childhood.

In other words, keep a box of Kleenex handy. No word on when filming will begin as it will be shopped at the American Film Market next month. With Crowe on board it should have no problem finding a buyer. [Variety]

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