Need a quick recap of the past week in movie news? Here are the highlights:
Christopher Nolan goes atomic: Tenet and The Dark Knight filmmaker Christopher Nolan is developing his next movie, and like Dunkirk, this one will also involve World War II. According to Deadline, the writer/director will depict the story of scientist J. Robert Oppenheimer and the atom bomb. Nolan regular Cillian Murphy (since debuting as The Scarecrow in Batman Begins) is rumored to be involved, possibly as Oppenheimer, but the project is still in early stages. Currently, Nolan is talking with all the major studios in Hollywood, including Sony, Universal, Paramount and his usual production home of Warner Bros. about making it.
Juno Temple climbs onto Everest: Speaking of biographical movies from action movie directors, Doug Liman’s Everest has cast its female lead. Variety reports that Ted Lasso star Juno Temple has joined the movie in the role of Ruth Mallory, the wife of famed mountaineer George Mallory, opposite Ewan McGregor. Ruth stayed in England, tasked with running things at home, while George made his attempts to scale the titular Himalayan peak. Liman, who has made other biopics (Fair Game, American Made) in addition to hits like The Bourne Identity is helming this one from a script by Oscar-nominee Sheldon Turner (Up in the Air).
Talia Ryder is Joika: And here’s news about another biopic. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Never Rarely Sometimes Always breakout Talia Ryder will star as the lead in Joika, portraying real-life prima ballerina Joy “Joika” Womack. The American dancer was the first woman from the U.S. to study at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy and only the second to sign a contract to perform with the company. Diane Kruger (Inglorious Basterds) has also been cast in the movie. She will play Womack’s mentor, a former ballet dancer who leads the training academy. James Napier Robertson (The Dark Horse) wrote and is directing the feature.
Owen Wilson enters Haunted Mansion: While Disney’s Jungle Cruise continues its successful release, the studio is building its next big attraction based on a theme park ride. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Owen Wilson has joined the ensemble cast of Haunted Mansion, which previously cast LaKeith Stanfield and Tiffany Haddish. The spooky adventure family film is expected to be about a family who moves into the titular abode. None of the actors’ roles are known as of yet. Later in the week, Deadline revealed that Rosario Dawson will also co-star in the movie, which will be the second screen adaptation of the Disney park favorite.
Andy Garcia is one of The Expendables: Andy Garcia does well with large ensemble casts, if the Ocean’s Eleven franchise is any indication. Now, according to The Hollywood Reporter, the Oscar-nominated actor will further verify his collaborative spirit with The Expendables 4. Garcia won’t be the villain in this one, though. He is playing a CIA agent accompanying the central team of mercenaries including returning stars Jason Statham, Sylvester Stallone, Randy Couture and Dolph Lundgren. Need for Speed helmer Scott Waugh is directing the sequel, which also co-stars Megan Fox, 50 Cent and Tony Jaa.
Nicolas Cage goes The Old Way: You may be surprised to learn that Nicolas Cage has never starred in a legitimate Western film. But that’s about to change, as Deadline reports that the Oscar-winning actor has just been cast in The Old Way. Cage will play a former gunslinger turned shopkeeper who returns to the violent life when outlaws murder his wife in cold blood. His companion on his vengeful journey is their 12-year-old daughter (Black Widow’s Ryan Kiera Armstrong). Brett Donowho, director of the 2018 Bruce Willis actioner Acts of Violence, will helm the Western from a script by Carl W. Lucas (The Wave).
Sniff unites Pacino, Mirren, Freeman and DeVito: Speaking of classic film genres, Taylor Hackford (Ray) is working on a modern film noir, and he’s just compiled an all-star cast. According to Deadline, Oscar-winners Al Pacino, Helen Mirren and Morgan Freeman (the latter two co-stars in Red) and Oscar-nominee Danny DeVito will star in Sniff, a neo-noir set in a luxury retirement community. Freeman plays a former detective who returns to his profession when two members of the community are murdered. DeVito plays Freeman’s old partner, Pacino is a kingpin in the community’s criminal underworld, and Mirren is a femme fatale. Hackford, who is married to Mirren, says he was inspired by the success of Knives Out in wanting to do a detective movie.
