Mark Wahlberg Joins 'Mojave'; Kevin Spacey is Winston Churchill; Naomie Harris is 'Our Kind of Traitor'

* Mark Wahlberg recently wrapped shooting on a remake of The Gambler, which features a script by William Monahan. And they must have gotten along pretty well because Wahlberg admitted to having a small role in the Monahan-directed thriller, Mojave. Starring Oscar Isaac and Garrett Hedlund, the film takes place in the desert where a suicidal artist encounters his doppelganger, a brilliant homicidal drifter.  [Collider]

* Kevin Spacey is sticking close to the world of politics, taking on the role of Winston Churchill in Captain of the Gate. Written by Ben Kaplan (Reagan), the film will chronicle the Prime Minister's rise to power and attempts to protect Britain from Adolf Hitler.  Expect to hear the word "appeasement" come up frequently. This one's early on as a director still needs to be found. [THR]

* Filming on Susanna White's John Le Carre adaptation Our Kind of Traitor is underway, and a few more additions have been made to the cast. Naomie Harris (Skyfall), Damian Lewis (Homeland), and Jeremy Northam have joined Ewan McGregor and Stellan Skarsgard in the espionage caper about an English couple on vacation who become the targets of British intelligence after encountering a Russian mob boss.

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Jennifer Aniston Joins 'Cake'; Jack Black Hops 'The D-Train'; Stellan Skarsgard is 'Our Kind of Traitor'

* Fresh off the unexpected $270M success of We're the Millers, Jennifer Aniston is taking on something smaller and far more depressing. She'll join the indie drama, Cake, directed by Daniel Barnz (Beastly), and centering on "an acerbic woman who  becomes fascinated by the suicide of another woman in her chronic pain support group. As she uncovers the details of the suicide, she also grapples with her own personal tragedy." Sounds like a riot. [Variety]

* Jack Black and James Marsden are hopping aboard The D-Train, a new comedy written and directed by Yes Man scribes Jarrad Paul and Andrew Mogel. Black plays a former high school loser who must now do everything in his power to lure the most popular guy in school (Marsden), now a failed actor, to arrive for the event. Mike White (School of Rock) will produce and co-star as Jack's only friend, with Nat Faxon (The Way Way Back) in talks to come aboard. [THR]

* There's been a ton of changes for the latest John le Carre adaptation, Our Kind of Traitor, but it seems to finally be settling in with Susanna White (Generation Kill) directing and Ewan McGregor taking one of the lead roles. Now the espionage thriller may be adding Stellan Skarsgard (Thor) ahead of this summer's start date. Written by Hossein Amini (Drive), the story centers on an American couple who get caught up with a money-laundering Russian mob boss, placing them in the crosshairs of British intelligence. [ScreenDaily]

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1st look at John Le Carré adaptation 'A Most Wanted Man'; Ralph Fiennes and Mads Mikkelsen join 'Our Kind of Traitor'

So you loved Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and are eagerly awaiting the next pot-boiling John Le Carré adaptation? Well lucky you, because there will be plenty to choose from before too long.

First up, we're getting our first look at Philip Seymour Hoffman and Rachel McAdams in A Most Wanted Man, which follows a half-Chechen, half-Russian, tortured half-to-death immigrant turns up in Hamburg’s Islamic community, laying claim to his father’s ill gotten fortune, both German and US security agencies take a close interest. The central mystery surrounds the man's true identity. Is he an oppressed victim or an extremist bent on destruction? The film also stars Willem Dafoe, Robin Wright, and Daniel Bruhl, with Anton Corbijn (The American) directing. Awesome cast and a perfectly set director, so it's a wonder why no U.S. distribution has been secured yet.

Then there's Our Kind of Traitor, which recently cast Ewan McGregor in one of the lead roles and will be directed by Justin Kurzel (The Snowtown Murders). Last fall it was rumored that Mads Mikkelsen, Ralph Fiennes, and Jessica Chastain would join the international thriller, which follows an English couple(McGregor is one) who get mixed up with a Russian money-launderer and are forced to go on the run.  While it appears Chastain is out, Fiennes and Mikkelsen are now confirmed, making this yet another Le Carré adaptation with a stellar roster. Fiennes will play a U.K. "fixer", while Mikkelsen plays the Russian oligarch central to the story.

And as for Smiley's People, the true sequel to 'Tinker Tailor'? Tomas Alfredson and Peter Straughan are indeed coming back to direct and script, and the film may shoot some time in 2014 with the principle cast returning. More reason to celebrate.[THR/Screen Daily]

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