Frances McDormand and Alden Ehrenreich Join the Coen Brothers' 'Hail Caesar'

Whenever the Coen Brothers need to add a little comedy punch to one of their films, they know to call on Frances McDormand to deliver it. And she tends to always be available, considering she's Joel Coen's wife. With the duo moving forward on their Hollywood comedy, Hail Caesar, and building their typically powerhouse cast, McDormand is coming aboard along with talented young actor Alden Ehrenreich.

With George Clooney set to rejoin the Coens, playing a 1950s Hollywood fixer, the rest of the cast is equally impressive. Channing Tatum, Scarlett Johansson, Tilda Swinton, Ralph Fiennes, Jonah Hill, and Josh Brolin co-star in the film. McDormand's presence is kind of expected, but this is another notch on Ehrenreich's belt. His breakthrough role was in Francis Ford Coppola's Tetro, and he recently appeared in Woody Allen's Blue Jasmine.

Hail Caesar should hit theaters next year.

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Warren Beatty's Howard Hughes Film Underway; Alden Ehrenreich, Lily Collins Join Cast

For years, Hollywood royalty Warren Beatty has been trying to put together a biopic on Howard Hughes and not having much in the way of good luck. At one point the film looked to be coming together with Beatty writing, directing, and starring as the reclusive billionaire, but as he struggled to secure financing the project vanished into limbo. A few days ago, word started to leak that it may be back on, and now we know it's actually begun shooting. That sneaky Beatty!

Deadline reports that the film is now underway, with Alden Ehrenreich (Beautiful Creatures) and Lily Collins (Mirror Mirror) coming aboard to star. Collins replaces Felicity Jones, who was attached some time ago. Beatty's wife Annette Bening and Matthew Broderick are expected to appear, and there's some hope that Jack Nicholson can be lured in for a role.

The story doesn't seem to have a lot to do with Hughes, though. Instead, it focuses on Hughes' assistant (Ehrenreich) and his love interest, played by Collins. In the past we've also heard the plot could unfold mostly in flashback as Hughes recounts the love affair he had with a younger woman, presumably Collins' character. So we could be looking at a love triangle here, which would instantly set it apart from 2004's The Aviator.

Brett Ratner (!!!) is producing, along with New Regency who picked up the film a couple of years back. Beatty has already shot some footage but there's no word on when this is expected to be completed or hit theaters. Chances are Beatty will be keeping it close to the vest.

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Brady Corbet, Dane DeHaan, and Alden Ehrenreich eyed for Harry Osborne role in 'The Amazing Spider-Man 2'

Although production doesn't kick off officially until February, Sony and Marc Webb have already hit the ground running on casting The Amazing Spider-Man sequel. Let's be fair, even if you had issues with the first film, Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, and the supporting cast were spectacular, and it only looks to be getting better. With Shailene Woodley and Jamie Foxx already on board, three names have surfaced for the role of Peter Parker's friend/foe Harry Osborne, and they're all pretty great.

Alden Ehrenreich, Brady Corbet, and Dane DeHaan are apparently being targeted for the role, which had been set for a more athletic actor, but has since been reworked for someone dark and edgy. I think all three qualify. Ehrenreich is red hot right now, after starring in Francis Ford Coppola's Tetro, and with turns in Stoker and Beautiful Creatures on the way. Corbet has mostly stuck to the indie route, surfacing in Funny Games, Martha Marcy May Marlene, and Melancholia. DeHaan certainly went "dark and edgy" in Chronicle earlier this year, then showed his softer side in Lawless.

I'm a big fan of Ehrenreich and think he's a future star, but I think DeHaan is the best fit. If the character stays as he was written, there needs to be an ominous side to Osborne lurking beneath his outgoing nature. Then again, the role is apparently still "evolving" so things could change.

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 swings into theaters on May 2nd 2014.[THR]

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Felicity Jones to star in Warren Beatty's Howard Hughes biopic

Of the latest crop of leading ladies that have emerged in the last year or so, my favorite right now is Felicity Jones. I think her performance in Like Crazy trumps Elizabeth Olsen's breakout, and she has more range than Brit Marling. She has a hell of a future ahead of her, and it looks like people are starting to take notice.

Jones has locked up the female lead in Warren Beatty's upcoming biopic, which he'll produce, direct, and star in. But don't look at this as just another version of The Aviator. Beatty's version will deal with an affair Hughes had with a young woman while in the later years of his life. It's expected that Jones will play this lover of his. The question is who is going to be Hughes as a young man?

That's the cool part. Justin Timberlake and the suddenly popular Alden Ehrenreich(Tetro) are being looked at the for the role. Owen Wilson, Alec Baldwin, Jack Nicholson, and Annette Bening(of course) are also circling parts. Biopics have been boring the crap out of me lately, but this one looks like it may have some juice.

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Garrett Hedlund confirmed for Akira; Keira Knightley, Ezra Miller, Alden Ehrenreich circle roles

A lot happened while I was away, not the least of which is confirmation that Garrett Hedlund has been confirmed for the lead role of hip, rebellious biker Kaneda in Warner Brothers' remake of Akira. A solid, if uninspiring choice. Hedlund was good playing second fiddle to a bunch of flashing lights and Jeff Bridges' Yoda routine in Tron: Legacy, but outside of that he hasn't been all that impressive. At least the film is moving forward, after a horrific casting process that saw every actor under the sun reject the role, and original director Albert Hughes stepping down.  With Jaume Collet-Serra(Orphan) now at the helm, the film is speeding right along whether we like it or not, but at least it seems no expense is being spared in casting this thing up.

Last week, Gary Oldman and Helena Bonham Carter were offered roles as the evil Colonel and Lady Miyako in the film, and while no deal has been struck yet, a few new names have entered the picture. THR reports that Keira Knightley has been mentioned for an unspecified role as well. I'm assuming she'd be playing the Americanized version of Kei, an anti-government resistance fighter who becomes an integral piece in the fight against Tetsuo and his exploding psychokinetic powers. It seems unlikely Knightley would play Tetsuo's girlfriend, Kaori, since it's kindof a minor part. Nor does she seem like a fit for one of The Espers, the blue-skinned super powered experiments who join the fight as well.

With Kaneda's part filled, that still leaves Tetsuo, and the names Alden Ehrenreich and Ezra Miller are being mentioned as possibilities. Ehrenreich was fantastic in Francis Ford Coppola's black and white familial squabble flick, Tetro. He was also one of the final contenders for Marc Webb's Spider-Man, which ultimately went to Andrew Garfield.  Miller's big breakout will likely come next month for his starring turn opposite Tilda Swinton in We Need to Talk About Kevin, although he was pretty good in City Island a couple of years ago. [THR]

Ehrenreich has the most upside, and he's an actor who could take a part like this and really run with it. Then again whoever wins the role will be a huge gelatinous mass of skin and boils for most of the film, so maybe it doesn't matter.

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