Tom Hiddleston and Scarlett Johansson Land New TV Roles

An actor can't live on Marvel alone...well, actually they probably could, but in the gaps between movies we usually see the studio's biggest stars take on more creatively rewarding projects. And now we're seeing two of them, Tom Hiddleston and Scarlett Johansson, headed to the small screen for interesting new event series.

First up, Hiddleston will star alongside Dr. House...er, Hugh Laurie in The Night Manager, based on the espionage novel by spymaster John Le Carre (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, A Most Wanted Man). The story is penned by David Farr (Hanna) and follows "Jonathan Pine, a British soldier turned luxurious hotel night auditor. Pine crosses paths with a French-Arab woman named Sophie with ties to Richard Onslow Roper, an English black marketer who specializes in weapons. The woman provides Pine with incriminating documents, which he forwards to a friend in British intelligence. After Sophie winds up dead, Pine works with intelligence operatives and goes undercover as part of a sting against Roper to avenge Sophie's death." No network deals are in place for this one yet but expect that to change considering the popularity of the actors involved.

And Scarlett Johansson is about to take on her first major TV role in The Custom of the Country, a limited series from renowned playwright/screenwriter Christopher Hampton (Atonement). Based on Edith Wharton's 1913 novel, the series will have Johansson taking on the role of the ruthless Undine Spragg, a Midwestern woman who unscrupulously climbs New York's high society of nouveau riche. The plan is for the series to land on a premium cable network but no deals are in place yet. [Deadline]

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Review: 'A Most Wanted Man' Starring Philip Seymour Hoffman and Rachel McAdams

NOTE: This is a reprint of my review from the Sundance Film Festival.

Hollywood has never been more enamored with the tradecraft novels of John le Carré than they are right now, having gained in popularity in this post 9/11 society of ours. But for me, I've always had something of a love/hate relationship with his work. While the murky games of spies and dark government assets is one le Carre knows better than anybody, the realism of his writing doesn't always make for the greatest entertainment. Every now and then you wish a car would blow up or somebody would fire a rocket launcher or something. Much like the most recent le Carre adaptation, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, A Most Wanted Man is another pot boiler with a great cast and a story that emphasizes facts, figures, and mood while leaving character in the background.

Philip Seymour Hoffman brings a palpable weariness to the role of Gunther Bachmann, an espionage operative in Hamburg, a country trying to overcome its reputation as a hot bed of terrorist activity. Gunther is part of an organization so secret, so deep in the weeds nobody knows who they report to. They operate on their own, preventing any security threats in a way they see fit. Like many of le Carre's most popular protagonists, Gunther is a shrewd, calculating man who is smarter and tougher than his physical appearance would suggest. He's a man called on to make the hard decisions because he always does.

When a battered and starving half-Chechnyan, half-Russian man emerges out of nowhere seeking political asylum, it catches the attention of not only Gunther's agency, but the CIA (represented by Robin Wright) and other departments in Germany. Gunther's investigation into whether this man is truly who he says, or perhaps a terrorist in disguise, is undermined at every turn by those who claim to be on his side. The ways of spies are often like the mafia; it's your friend with the biggest smile who sticks in the knife. The situation becomes cloudier when a local banker and civil rights advocate (Rachel McAdams) gets involved, along with a shady money man (Willem Dafoe) who is hired to help the refugee gain access to a sizable inheritance.

The second international thriller by Anton Corbijn (he directed George Clooney in The American); the film gets off to a slow start and never gains any momentum. Not that a le Carre story ever aims for big sizzle, the lack of energy is especially burdensome since there is so little interest in developing any of these characters. By contrast, an excellent le Carre adaptation like The Constant Gardener has a central figure with a personal stake in finding a hidden truth. It's no less analytical than A Most Wanted Man or 'Tinker Tailor', but there's an attempt to tell a story, not just go over procedures. And it's a shame because Hoffman really is great as Gunther, a man carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. The entire veteran cast, and yes that includes McAdams wielding a convincing German accent, fit into le Carre's world perfectly. Ultimately, A Most Wanted Man is too stiff and calculating to appeal to anybody but the most die-hard fan of the genre.

 Rating: 2.5 out of 5

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First Trailer for John Le Carre Adaptation 'A Most Wanted Man' Starring Philip Seymour Hoffman

The smooth, understated approach of director Anton Corbijn, seen previously in his Joy Division biopic, Control, and the George Clooney hit man film, The American, would seem a perfect fit for the espionage world of John Le Carre. The ongoing war on terror and the conversation over national security have thrust the author's work back into the Hollywood spotlight, and so we have the first trailer for Corbijn's adaptation of A Most Wanted Man, which brings both of those ideas into focus.

Philip Seymour Hoffman, in one of his final performances, plays a German agent in an off the books anti-terrorism unit, who must sort out the truth behind a half-Chechen, half-Russian man who escapes into Hamburg asking for political asylum. Rachel McAdams plays a civil rights advocate who believes the man is innocent and not the Muslim spy multiple government agencies think him to be. Despite a wonderful cast that includes Daniel Bruhl, Willem Dafoe, and Robin Wright, the film left me cold at Sundance, and was one of the bigger disappointments of the festival.

A Most Wanted Man opens July 25th.

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Sundance Review: 'A Most Wanted Man' Starring Philip Seymour Hoffman and Rachel McAdams

Hollywood has never been more enamored with the tradecraft novels of John le Carré than they are right now, having gained in popularity in this post 9/11 society of ours. But for me, I've always had something of a love/hate relationship with his work. While the murky games of spies and dark government assets is one le Carre knows better than anybody, the realism of his writing doesn't always make for the greatest entertainment. Every now and then you wish a car would blow up or somebody would fire a rocket launcher or something. Much like the most recent le Carre adaptation, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, A Most Wanted Man is another pot boiler with a great cast and a story that emphasizes facts, figures, and mood while leaving character in the background.

Philip Seymour Hoffman brings a palpable weariness to the role of Gunther Bachmann, an espionage operative in Hamburg, a country trying to overcome its reputation as a hot bed of terrorist activity. Gunther is part of an organization so secret, so deep in the weeds nobody knows who they report to. They operate on their own, preventing any security threats in a way they see fit. Like many of le Carre's most popular protagonists, Gunther is a shrewd, calculating man who is smarter and tougher than his physical appearance would suggest. He's a man called on to make the hard decisions because he always does.

When a battered and starving half-Chechyan, half-Russian man emerges out of nowhere seeking political asylum, it catches the attention of not only Gunther's agency, but the CIA (represented by Robin Wright) and other departments in Germany. Gunther's investigation into whether this man is truly who he says, or perhaps a terrorist in disguise, is undermined at every turn by those who claim to be on his side. The ways of spies are often like the mafia; it's your friend with the biggest smile who sticks in the knife. The situation becomes cloudier when a local banker and civil rights advocate (Rachel McAdams) gets involved, along with a shady money man (Willem Dafoe) who is hired to help the refugee gain access to a sizable inheritance.

The second international thriller by Anton Corbijn (he directed George Clooney in The American), the film gets off to a slow start and never gains any momentum. Not that a le Carre story ever aims for big sizzle, the lack of energy is especially burdensome since there is so little interest in developing any of these characters. By contrast, an excellent le Carre adaptation like The Constant Gardener has a central figure with a personal stake in finding a hidden truth. It's no less analytical than A Most Wanted Man or 'Tinker Tailor', but there's an attempt to tell a story, not just go over procedures. And it's a shame because Hoffman really is great as Gunther, a man carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. The entire veteran cast, and yes that includes McAdams wielding a convincing German accent, fit into le Carre's world perfectly. Ultimately, A Most Wanted Man is too stiff and calculating to appeal to anybody but the most die-hard fan of the genre.

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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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Mads Mikkelsen, Jessica Chastain, and Ralph Fiennes may star in John Le Carre's 'Our Kind of Traitor'

Finally Mads Mikkelsen is starting to gain some attention outside of his native Denmark. The Dutch actor has been one of the best for a very long time, getting his biggest breaks in Nicolas Winding Refn's Pusher and in After the Wedding. Lately he's been everywhere, winning Best Actor at Cannes for The Hunt and starring in A Royal Affair, Denmark's entry for the foreign Oscar. To most he's still just the bad guy from Casino Royale, but that will likely change once they see him in NBC's Hannibal series. Phew!

That's not even the half of it, though, and Mikkelsen is striking the iron while it's hot. The Wrap reports he's being targeted for an adaptation of Our Kind of Traitor, an espionage novel from the great John Le Carre(Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy). Not only that, but Jessica Chastain and Ralph Fiennes may be in the running as well. Directed by Justin Kurzel and written by Drive's Hossein Amini, the story follows a young English couple who become acquainted with a Russian businessman, not realizing he's a money launderer with plans to defect before his rivals kill him. They get caught up in his schemes which lead to a deadly chase spanning Marrakesh, London, France, and the Swiss Alps.

Now, no deals are in place for any of them just yet, and Chastain's reps have made it clear she hasn't even seen an offer. So in other words this may or may not happen. It'd be awesome if it does, though!

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Daniel Bruhl joins 'A Most Wanted Man' as production begins

With production beginning on Anton Corbijn's adaptation of John Le Carre's A Most Wanted Man, a number of new additions and an official synopsis have helped clear up some confusion about the cast. A new press release has revealed that Inglourious Basterds star Daniel Bruhl has come aboard along with a number of other lesser known German actors to round out the final roster. The film has long starred Philip Seymour Hoffman and Rachel McAdams, but reports last month had them replaced by Willem Dafoe and Robin Wright. Turns out that wasn't the case.

Hoffman and McAdams are still leading the film, with Dafoe and Wright staying on. That's an awesome foursome, and working alongside the talented Corbijn who has scored with both Control and The American, it should make for an intense spy thriller. Check out the newly released plot synopsis below.....

When 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: as the clock ticks down and the stakes rise, the race is on to establish this most wanted man’s true identity - oppressed victim or destruction-bent extremist?
 
Poignant, compassionate and thrilling, A MOST WANTED MAN prickles with tension right through to its last heart-stopping scene. It is a cerebral tale of intrigue that is both contemporary and deeply human, touching on love, rivalry, politics and the world we live in.

After Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Le Carre films are red hot right now, so look for A Most Wanted Man to make some serious waves next year.

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Willem Dafoe replaces Philip Seymour Hoffman in 'A Most Wanted Man'

It looks like Anton Corbijn's adaptation of A Most Wanted Man is basically starting over from scratch. Earlier this year, the film looked to be moving forward with Philip Seymour Hoffman and Rachel McAdams as the two leads, but yesterday McAdams was replaced by Robin Wright. And now, it looks as if Hoffman is out, and in will be stepping Willem Dafoe.

Based on the John Le Carre novel, the story follows a Chechen/Russian Muslim who illegally immigrates to Hamburg, Germany. There he falls under the care of an idealistic lawyer and a banker, sweeping them both up in the international war on terror.  The book is being adapted by Andrew Bovell(Lantana).

So they're really aging up the cast here, which should give the film a totally different texture. Not sure what happened to Hoffman and McAdams, and to be honest the changes don't excite me all that much. Corbijn makes for a perfect fit for Le Carre's weighty material, though, so that's reason alone to keep this film firmly on the radar. [Variety]

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Robin Wright signs on to John Le Carre adaptation, 'A Most Wanted Man'

Adaptations of John Le Carre's novels have become big business all of a sudden, which is definitely a good thing. The Constant Gardener is a particular favorite of mine, and last year's Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy was the rare espionage thriller that valued character and mood over excessive action. Anton Corbijn(The American) has been putting together the pieces for A Most Wanted Man, and with Philip Seymour Hoffman in place for the male lead, there's just been a major change for his female co-star.

Variety reports that the always excellent Robin Wright has joined the film, which follows a Russian-Chechen man who is illegally smuggled into Hamburg with a ton of cash and spinning an intriguing tale that lands him in the care of an idealistic German lawyer and a British banker. The story has echoes of our current "war on terror", and is loosely based on the story of Murat Kurnaz, who was held as an enemy combatant.

It's not explicitly stated in the Variety piece, but it looks as if Wright will be replacing the previously cast Rachel McAdams. The two are vastly different actresses, in terms of look, style, and age, so this is a pretty big shift. Wright was most recently seen opposite Woody Harrelson in the cop drama, Rampart.

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Anton Corbijn casts Philip Seymour Hoffman in 'A Most Wanted Man'

The name John Le Carre has a whole new relevance thanks to the recent adaptation of his acclaimed novel, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, and the promise of more subdued, Cold War era films to come. The 80 year old writer is still active, however, and continues to produce thrilling espionage novels every few years. One of his most recent efforts, A Most Wanted Man, is now headed to the big screen directed by Anton Corbijn(The American), and has found one it's principle stars.

Philip Seymour Hoffman will take on one of the film's lead roles, although if you're expecting this to be another slow burn paranoia fest like Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, you might be disappointed. The contemporary story deals in some extent to the current "war on terror", specifically the extreme policies put in play by the Bush Administration. A starved, destitute Russian man is smuggled into Hamburg under the cover of night, carrying an insane amount of cash and telling an intriguing tale that may or may not be true. He comes under the care of an idealistic young German lawyer and a British banker who attempt to save him from extraordinary rendition.

Anyone who saw the contemplative yet thrilling assassin flick, The American, recognizes that Corbijn is a perfect fit for Le Carre's style, and with Hoffman playing a role I can't wait to see how the rest shapes up.  No word on when filming will begin but hopefully we'll see it some time in 2013. [Screen Daily]

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