Cate Blanchett Eyes a Role in Disaster Thriller, 'Cascade'

In a couple of weeks you'll be able to see the always-glamorous Cate Blanchett in full glory as Galadriel in The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies. But the days of getting dolled up for Middle Earth are over, and Blanchett is now eying a role in Cascade, a film based on a 2003 BBC mock documentary, The Day Britain Stopped.

Ridley Scott and Steve Zaillian picked up the rights a couple of years ago, and now they've set Baltasar Kormakur (Contraband) to direct. Written by Kieran Fitzgerald (The Homesman), the story is set after an oil tanker collision in the Persian Gulf sets off an international crisis. Blanchett would play the tanker captain who must convince others she's not a terrorist. [THR]

Read More

David Fincher and Rooney Mara Eye 'Red Sparrow' from 'American Hustle' Scribe

When David Fincher was putting together his remake of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo he fought hard to get Rooney Mara in the Lisbeth Salander role. He knew her well after The Social Network and had had faith she could carry the film, and while there probably won't be any 'Dragon Tattoo' sequels any time soon (or ever), Fincher and Mara may be reteaming on something else.

Deadline reports the duo are eying an adaptation of Jason Matthew's spy novel, Red Sparrow, which 20th Century Fox has picked up the rights to. Steve Zaillian, also of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, will produce the film which would be adapted by American Hustle writer Eric Warren Singer. Fincher would obviously direct while Mara would play Russian intelligence officer Dominika Egorova in the modern day espionage tale, set in the post-Soviet intelligence jungle. Egorova is an operative who becomes a "Sparrow", trained in the art of "sexpionage" using her talents to seduce a young CIA officer, only for them to fall in love and put their lives and respective agencies in danger.

The script still needs to be written and the deals finalized but all parties seem eager to work with one another again, so we'll just have to wait and see if everything comes together.

Read More

Stephen Spielberg May Direct 'Montezuma' Based on Dalton Trumbo Script

While Steven Spielberg's name continued to be mentioned for a number of projects in 2013, for the most part they were projects he was dropping out of. For awhile he was expected to follow-up Lincoln with the big budget sci-fi adaptation, Robopocalypse, before shelving it so the script could be improved. He then came aboard American Sniper, which had a ton of heat behind it until he dropped out of that, as well. So it's still up in the air what he'll actually direct next, but an interesting new contender has emerged.

Deadline reports Spielberg may direct Montezuma, about the 16th century conflict that led to the fall of the Aztec Empire. What's interesting about it is the script would be based on the work of blacklisted writer Dalton Trumbo, which he penned some fifty years ago. Trumbo was one of Hollywood's most prominent screenwriters, penning Spartacus, Roman Holiday, and The Brave One, but was blacklisted for refusing to testify during the House's investigation into Communist activity. He apparently developed Montezuma at the behest of his Spartacus star, Kirk Douglas, but the project never made it into development. Steve Zaillian will produce and give the script a rewrite, and apparently Javier Bardem is interested in the role of Spanish Conquistador Hernán Cortés, and the title may actually change to 'Cortes' since the film is told from his point-of-view.

It was only a couple of years ago that Trumbo was finally given full credit for penning Roman Holiday, and with Bryan Cranston set to play him in an upcoming biopic, it's good to see Trumbo's work being recognized again. At this point it's unclear when Spielberg could fit this project into his schedule. It could be next or further down the line as there's always the possibility he dusts off Robopocalypse first. He's also attached to produce another long-shelved project, Stanley Kubrick's Napoleon, which Baz Luhrmann is directing as a TV miniseries.

Read More

J Blakeson to direct sci-fi film 'Wool' produced by Ridley Scott

It's been a handful of years since J Blakeson emerged with The Disappearance of Alice Creed, but it's only now that he seems to be capitalizing on the success. His name has been getting tossed around a lot lately, as he's attached to direct The Imitation Game(assuming it gets picked back up), and was recently shortlisted for Dawn of the Planet of the Apes. Now he's landed a plum gig directing a potentially very high-profile sci-fi film.

Blakeson will direct Wool, an adaptation of Hugh Howey's self-published series of five novelettes set in a post-apocalyptic future(aren't they all?) where the last remnants of humanity live underground for fear of what lurks on the surface.  Ridley Scott and Steve Zaillian will produce after Fox picked up the rights earlier this year, but it's unclear if Blakeson will take a stab at the screenplay. It's something he's done before, but you'd think they'd want the award-winning Zaillian to give it a shot.

Between this and Fifty Shades of Grey, these self-published books are becoming quite the fad in Hollywood. So if this does well, expect to see plenty more brought to the big screen. 

Read More