Pitt, Carrey & more have new roles
The following is a list of actors who recently signed up for new movie roles:
–Jim Carrey and Ewan McGregor will star in “I Love You Phillip Morris.” It’s based on the true story of Steven Russell, a husband who goes to prison after a few cons go wrong. While there, he falls in love with his cellmate, Phillip Morris. His love for Morris motivates him to escape from prison four times.
–Peter Jackson and New Line Cinema finally put their differences aside so he can produce “The Hobbit” and its sequel. Look for 2010 and 2011 releases.
–Vince Vaughn and John Favreau are teaming up again, first time since “Swingers.” They will partner in “Four Christmases,” where Favreau and Vaughn are brothers. Tim McGraw will play a third brother. It is a romantic comedy starring Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon about a couple who try to spend the holidays with each of the other’s divorced parents.
–Okay, this is getting ridiculous! First Brad Pitt, now Ed Norton. I’m talking about the cast of “State of Play” that no one seems to want to be in anymore. After Pitt backed out, Russell Crowe stepped into the vacant spot. Now Norton is leaving, so Ben Affleck is in talks to take over his part. Norton is leaving due to a scheduling conflict, while Pitt left due to creative differences. Production begins in January.
–Jon Hamm of “Mad Men” will star opposite Keanu Reeves and Jennifer Connelly in a sci-fi remake “The Day the Earth Stood Still.” It is an update of Robert Wise’s 1951 classic.
–Queen Latifah, Jennifer Hudson and Sophie Okonedo have signed on for “The Secret Life of Bees,” based on the Sue Monk Kidd novel. Dakota Fanning is in negotiations to star as the 14-year-old girl who flees her home and is taken in by an eccentric trio of beekeeping sisters.
–Brad Pitt will replace Heath Ledger in “Tree of Life,” a drama. There’s no word yet on what the movie will be about.