Keanu Reeves Replaces Daniel Craig in 'The Whole Truth'

After being attached to the film for some time, Daniel Craig abruptly dropped out of courtroom drama The Whole Truth mere days before production was to begin. Courtney Hunt (Frozen River) was ready to begin rolling with Renee Zellwegger, Gugu Mbatha-Raw (Belle), and Gabriel Basso (The Kings of Summer) co-starring, but in the two months since Craig's departure we've heard nothing on a replacement. But now comes word that Keanu Reeves is stepping in, and with him come some tweaks to the story.

Once set to focus on a Boston-based defense attorney defending his teenaged client accused of murdering his wealthy family, Reeves will instead play a Southern-based lawyer. Reeves' involvement would seem to indicate production on his sci-fi film, Passengers, still isn't close to starting. That film lost co-star Rachel McAdams (after replacing Reese Witherspoon) when she dropped out some weeks ago, and it only just gained a new distributor in Focus Features.

There's a world of difference between Reeves and Craig but at least screenwriter Nicholas Kazan (Bicentennial Man) recognized it enough to change the character around. Filming on The Whole Truth begins in New Orleans next month. [Deadline]

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Daniel Craig Exits 'The Whole Truth'

Coming off a two month stint on Broadway and with the 24th James Bond film on the way, perhaps Daniel Craig is in need of a break? The actor has suddenly dropped out of courtroom drama, The Whole Truth, just days before filming was to begin.

No reason was given for Craig's departure from the Courtney Hunt-directed film, which stars Renee Zellwegger and Gabriel Basso. Nicholas Kazan wrote the script which would have had Craig as a defense attorney fighting to get his teenaged client acquitted of murder.

With Craig out, production has been bumped a few weeks to find a new leading man, but obviously losing his star power is a big blow to an indie film such as this. [THR]

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Gabriel Basso Finds 'The Whole Truth'; Juno Temple Joins 'Black Mass'; 'Southpaw' Adds Forest Whitaker

* The Kings of Summer's Gabriel Basso has taken a lead role in The Whole Truth, a courtroom drama starring Daniel Craig, Renee Zellwegger, and possibly Lupita Nyong'o. Courtney Hunt is directing the Nicholas Kazan script about a defense attorney trying to get his teenaged client (Basso) acquitted of murdering his wealthy father. [Deadline]

* Juno Temple and rising star Jesse Plemons (The Master) have joined Johnny Depp in Black Mass, the Whitey Bulger biopic directed by Scott Cooper. Depp plays the infamous Boston gangster who, with the help of a childhood friend and federal agent played by Joel Edgerton, escaped the feds and went on the run for 16 years, ranking at the top of the FBI's Most Wanted List. Temple will play a prostitute while Plemons is on board as a member of Bulger's inner circle.

* Now that Antoine Fuqua and Jake Gyllenhaal have finally got the boxing drama Southpaw headed to the ring, it's time to fill out the supporting cast. Lacing up the gloves will be Oscar-winner Forest Whitaker, playing Titus "Tick" Willis, a former pro forced to retire after losing an eye, and quit training fighters after his son was killed. Gyllenhaal stars as a left-handed boxer who wins the title early, but suffers a tragedy and loses everything. Now he must fight to regain what was lost, including the love of his daughter.

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Lupita Nyong'o Has Met for 'Star Wars: Episode VII' Role

Not so long ago it looked like Star Wars: Episode VII would largely be focused on a female lead. That has faded into the background a little since JJ Abrams and Lawrence Kasdan took over writing the script. Of all the actors who have reportedly met for a role in the film, only Saoirse Ronan stands out as a prominent female, and she basically turned the gig down. But there's another name we can add to the list: Oscar-winner and Hollywood's new favorite gal, Lupita Nyong'o.

The new first surfaced at Latino Review, who seem all but certain the 12 Years a Slave break-out is close to signing, and then confirmed to certain extent by THR. The latter trade says she met with Abrams recently, possibly for the role of a distant relative of Obi-Wan Kenobi, which a Caucasian actress won't be sought for. So far there are no other actors confirmed although Adam Driver looks like a sure bet as a villain. John Boyega, Jesse Plemons, Ed Speelers, and Matthew James Thomas and Ray Fisher are up for the male lead.

Nyong'o, who followed-up 12 Years a Slave with a tiny role in Non-Stop, is also up for the courtroom thriller, The Whole Truth. The film stars Daniel Craig, Renee Zellwegger, and has Frozen River's Courtney Hunt directing.

Jumping into a major franchise is a pretty good way for Nyong'o to capitalize on her Oscar win and solidify her career. 

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Renee Zellwegger Seeks 'The Whole Truth'; Martin Sheen Joins Howard Hughes Biopic

* While another Bridget Jones film seems a ways off, Renee Zellwegger has found something to fill the time. She'll join Daniel Craig in The Whole Truth, a courtroom thriller from Frozen River director, Courtney Hunt. That's about all we know about the film at this point, but this will be Zellwegger's first big screen role since 2010's My Own Love Song....which nobody saw. [Variety]

* Hard to believe, but Martin Sheen and Warren Beatty will work together fro the first time on the latter's upcoming Howard Hughes biopic. The untitled film, which Beatty wrote, directed, and will star in, also features Annette Bening, Alden Ehrenreich, Lily Collins, and Matthew Broderick in a story centered on Hughes' assistant and his love interest, which may develop into a love triangle. [Deadline]

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Daniel Craig Tells 'The Whole Truth'; Felicity Jones Eyes 'Rosaline'; January Jones Has a 'Good Kill'

* After being rumored for the film earlier this month, Deadline has now confirmed Daniel Craig will star in The Whole Truth, a courtroom drama from Frozen River director Courtney Hunt. Little is known about the story except that it will be written by Nicholas Kazan and that Craig will play a lawyer.

* After Hailee Steinfeld, Allison Williams, Emilia Clarke, and Lily Collins were considered to lead Rosaline, a comedic take on the Romeo & Juliet story, it now appears that Felicity Jones (Like Crazy) is the frontrunner. Directed by first-timer Alex Timbers and written by Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber (The Spectacular Now), the story is based on Rebecca Serles's debut novel, When You Were Mine, and tells the classic story from the perspective of Rosaline, Romeo's first love. [THR]

* Andrew Niccol has found a title and new co-star for the latest pairing with his Gattaca star, Ethan Hawke. Back in October we learned they'd be reteaming on a film centered around the military use of drones, and now we know it will be titled Good Kill, and that Mad Men star January Jones is coming aboard. Hawke plays a drone pilot with a trouble family life who begins to question the ethics of his mission. Jones will play his wife, and there are also roles for Zoe Kravitz and Jake Abel as Hawke's flight crew. Bruce Greenwood co-stars as Hawke's superior officer. [Deadline]

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