As we’d expected from some “underground” tracking, Nick Osborne and Trevor Engelson are parting ways. Engelson will stay with the duo’s Underground Films and Management, while Osborne will focus on writing and producing through a new shingle of his own.
Marisa Miller has joined the cast of RIPD, Robert Schwentke‘s upcoming ghost cop movie. Ryan Reynolds stars as a murdered cop recruited to work in a ghostly police department. Marisa will play the human avatar of Reynold’s partner, Jeff Bridges. It’s quite the departure from her previous career as a Victoria’s Secret Angel, but we’ll take it.
Do you hear the people sing, singing the song of Les Mis casting rumors? We do, and it looks like Hugh Jackman isn’t on his own anymore in Oscar winning-director Tom Hooper‘s Les Miserables adaptation for Working Title. We’re hearing that Russell Crowe is in negotiations to play Javert, Geoffrey Rush is negotations to play Thenardier, and Helena Bonham Carter is in negotiations to play Madame Thenardier.
We’re also hearing the production has shown interest in Hayden Panettiere, Miranda Cosgrove, Lucy Hale, and Emma Watson for Eponine and Cosette, as well as Amy Adams and Rebecca Hall for Fantine.
WME agent Lisa Hallerman is leaving the industry to pursue a new career as a drug/alcohol counselor.
Jeb Brody is now the President of Production at Focus Features.
Erin Stam has left Participant Media, where she was SVP.
Kelly Mullen has been promoted to VP at Groundswell.
Any other day, the news that Ben Affleck is in talks to direct, produce, and star in LINE OF SIGHT for Silver Pictures and Warner Brothers would be pretty exciting. The Scott Frazier spec the project’s originally based on sold in February, was reworked by Halo writer Peter O’Brien, and this Affleck news continues to add weight to the project. But there was an earthquake on the east coast. So, trump card?
It’s just a rumor-filled day over here at ItsontheGrid. We’re hearing a ton of juicy stuff, and we figured we’d just keep on sharing it, because that’s what we do best. In addition to our sexy director rumors from earlier this afternoon, we’ve got some casting rumors that are pret-ty interesting.
We’re hearing that Mark Wahlberg has been offered the role of Louis Mulkey in New Line‘s THE GREEN WAVE. Allan Loeb is writing and Mike Tollin is set to direct.
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UPDATE: Hearing Diaz passed.
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It seems Drew Barrymore may be reuniting with her CHARLIE’S ANGELS costar Cameron Diaz, but not on screen. Word on the street is that offers are out to Cameron Diaz and Owen Wilson to star in the Barrymore-helmed HOW TO BE SINGLE for New Line.
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Maybe you thought one Owen Wilson casting rumor a day was enough. You’d be wrong. We’re also hearing that the actor has been offered the lead role in Sidney Kimmel‘s EL DORADO. The Gary Spinelli-penned spec sold earlier this year, and they’re packaging it quickly, aiming to start shooting in the first quarter of 2012.
We’re hearing that Paramount‘s THE SECRET LIVES OF ROAD CREWS has found itself a director in Chris Columbus. Weston and Hal Lieberman are producing the project. Dante Harper is now on board to write.
We’re hearing that Paul Feig is negotiating to direct GARLIC AND SAPPHIRES, the adaptation of legendary food critic Ruth Reichl’s memoir. That’s not all that’s abuzz about the project. Word on the street is that there’s interest for Kristen Wiig to play the fictionalized Reichl (dubbed Lucy Reed for the movie). Should she get offered and accept the role, this film may reunite the BRIDESMAIDS star and director.
Matthew McConaughey is set to join the cast of MAGIC MIKE, the movie loosely based on Channing Tatum‘s pre-acting career as a stripper. Tatum is set to play the title role, a veteran stripper who mentors a newcomer (Alex Pettyfer). McConaughey and his abs are set to play Dallas, a former exotic dancer and owner of the strip club where all the magic happens.
Brad Pitt is in talks to star in New Regency‘s THE GRAY MAN. James Gray will direct the movie, from a 2010 black list script by Adam Cozad.
