So we can cover as many films as possible, rather than writing full stories on some of the smaller film announcements, we thought we’d give you these quick updates.
Helen Mirren and Pete Postlethwaite have joined Rowan Joffe’s adaptation of the Graeme Green classic, Brighton Rock. They join Sam Riley, who’ll play the lead, Pinkie, and Andrea Riseborough as his wife, Rose. The story sees Pinkie marrying Rose, who unwittingly has the eivdence that could destroy Pinkie’s alibi to a murder he committed. Brighton Rock was previously filmed in 1947 with Richard Attenborough and Carol Marsh, although Joffe is planning to move the action to 1964. Mirren will play Ida in the new film, who’s relentlessly trying to bring Pinkie down, while Postlethwaite will take on the role of Phil Corkery. Filming is due to begin in October. (Source: Screen International)
Gossip Girl actress Blake Lively has signed onto Ben Affleck’s second outing as director, The Town. She’ll join Jon Hamm, Rebecca Hall and Jeremy Renner in the film (Chris Cooper is also in talks to star). Lively will play the sister to Renner’s bank robbing character. The main plot revolves about leader of the criminal gang, played by Affleck, who is considering going straight after falling for the manager (Hall) of a bank they held up. However to make things more difficult, the FBI is on his tail (led by Hamm). Filming starts next month. (Source: THR)
Mad Men actress Christina Hendricks has signed on to star alongside Katherine Heigl and Josh Duhamel in the upcoming romantic comedy, Life As We Know It. The slightly depressing sounding film, to be directed by Greg Berlanti, follows two unattached adults (Heigl and Duhamel) whose worlds are turned upside down when their mutual best friends die in an accident and name them as caregivers of their orphaned daughter. There’s no news on exactly what role Hendricks will play (Source: Variety)
Miramax has bought the rights to Ernessa Carter’s yet-to-be-published novel, 32 Candles, with an eye to turning it into a film. It’s an ugly duckling tale about a girl from a small Mississippi town who heads off to LA and reinvents herself as a lounge singer. She then runs into her high school crush, who falls for her, unaware they used to know one another in their younger days. (Source: Variety)
Filming has just begun on Swinging With The Finkels, which stars Martin Freeman and Mandy Moore as a married couple going through turbulent time, who decide they need to spice up their sex life by trying swinging. Jonathan Silverman, Melissa George and Jerry Stiller are also due to star in the film, which is being directed by Jonathan Newman, based on his 2008 short film. (Source: Screen International)
Sam Mendes has set Atonement screenwriter Christopher Hampton to script an adaptation of the book Netherland. The book is about an ex-pat Dutchman who sets up a cricket club with a group of fellow immigrants in the aftermath of the events of September 11. Although initially reluctant, Hampton has now agreed to write the adaptation, with Mendes currently attached to direct, while Oprah Winfrey’s Harpo Films will produce the movie. (Source: The Guardian)