James McAvoy In The Mix For Arthur And Lancelot, Colin Farrell Backs Out
Deadline reports that Colin Farrell (Total Recall, Fright Night) has exited talks with Warner Bros. for the role of Lancelot in Arthur And Lancelot. Gary Oldman had been tapped for the role of Merlin while Marion Cotillard (Inception, Dark Knight Rises) had been linked for Morgana. They also add that actors including James McAvoy (First Class, Wanted) had been in the mix for the title role of Arthur. James is set to return for the sequel to X-Men First Class which could shoot later this year.
Colin Farrell In Talks For Arthur And Lancelot
ShowBlitz reports that the troubled Arthur And Lancelot has new life thanks to Colin Farrell (In Bruges, Total Recall). It’s being reported that Farrell is in talks with Warner Bros. to take one of the two leads. Not too long again the studio put the movie on hold to figure out budgetary issues. This lead to their two leads Kit Harington (Game of Thrones) and Joel Kinnaman (The Killing) to drop out and sign on to other projects. Harington is taking a role in Seventh Son and Joel will be the new Robocop in MGM’s reboot. Marion Cotillard (Inception, Dark Knight Rises) had been previously offered the role of Morgana as well. It’s also mentioned that the studio is aiming for the film to have a tone similar to Braveheart.
Talia al Ghul Confirmed For Dark Knight Rises
Ever since the early days of actresses test screening for roles in The Dark Knight Rises blogs and trades were reporting one of the roles was that of Talia al Ghul. The daughter of Batman Begins villain Ras’ al Ghul played by Liam Neeson. Josh Pence had been cast in the new film as a young Ras’, who eventually becomes the leader of the vigilante cult The League of Shadows which trained Bruce.
When actress Joey King was cast fans begin to speculate what her role was. Some pointed towards a very young Talia. Joey has revealed to MyEntertainmentWorld (via DigitalSpy) that she is indeed playing Talia in the film. This is the first confirmation by anyone with the production that the character is involved. It’s expected King’s scenes would be with Pence explaining the League’s origins and perhaps even Bane’s.
It leads me to believe that in fact Marion Cotillard is playing an older Talia in the film. Considering from the image above Joey looks more similar to Marion than say Anne Hathaway or even Juno Temple. When Marion joined the cast her role seemed the most mysterious of the bunch as Miranda Tate. The Wayne Corp. executive just happened to be caught on set jumping on top of the tumbler and surrounded by what looked to be Bane’s soldiers. Currently this is all speculation as King might be the only version of Talia in Rises.
Marion Cotillard Wanted For Morgana In Arthur And Lancelot
Vulture reports that Warner Bros. has offered French actress Marion Cotillard (Inception, Dark Knight Rises) the role of Morgana in Arthur And Lancelot. She is a villainous sorceress and the half-sister of Arthur. Kit Harington (Game of Thrones) is playing Arthur with Swedish actor Joel Kinnaman (The Killing) as Lancelot, Gary Oldman is also wanted by the studio for Merlin.
Marion Cotillard Joins Rust & Bone
Variety reports that Marion Cotillard (Inception) will star in Jacques Audiard’s follow up to A Prophet. The film titled Rust & Bone is being described as a mix of suspense and love. Marion’s co-stars include Matthias Schoenarts (Bullhead), Celine Sallette (House of Tolerance) and Bouli Lanners (Nothing to Declare).
Joesph Gordon-Levitt & Marion Cotillard Confirmed For Dark Knight Rises
Warner Bros. has finally confirmed both Joesph Gordon-Levitt and Marion Cotillard for The Dark Knight Rises. The press release also gives us their roles in the film. Joe will play John Blake, a Gotham City beat cop assigned to special duty under the command of Commissioner Gordon. Marion will play Miranda Tate a Wayne Enterprises board member.
Josh Pence Joins The Dark Knight Rises
HeatVision reports that Josh Pence who played Tyler Winklevoss (Armie’s face was digital placed on Pence’s body) in The Social Network is set to join the Dark Knight Rises. Josh will play a young Ras’ al Ghul who was played by Liam Neeson in Batman Begins. This is helping fuel previous rumors of Marion Cotillard (Inception) playing his daughter Talia al Ghul. Cotillard confirmed recently she has a summer film set to shoot but couldn’t reveal what it was. Pence joins the thriving new supporting cast of Tom Hardy, Joesph Gordon-Levitt, Anne Hathaway and Juno Temple.
RUMOR: League of Shadows Returning For Dark Knight Rises?
There is an interesting and more believable rumor circling online today concerning possible plot points of The Dark Knight Rises. This time BadassDigest says that we will be seeing the return of League of Shadows, the mysterious vigilante group that trained Bruce Wayne in Batman Begins. They go on to reveal that Talia al Ghul (Marion Cotillard?), Bane (Tom Hardy) and whoever Joseph Gordon-Levitt is playing will be leading them.
The League was my favorite part of Begins and bringing them back could make for an excellent ending to the trilogy. This rumor seems a lot more plausible than the previous ones as it sounds in line with Nolan’s more reality based plots and villains. Having the group exact revenge on Gotham and Wayne for their fallen leader/father (Ras’ al Ghul) sounds fitting. Also talk of Nolan globetrotting/scouting locations in Europe, Asia and India could fit with the League of Shadows as they are an international group.
Marion Cotillard In Talks To Join Dark Knight Rises
HollywoodReporter confirms the rumor that actress Marion Cotillard is in talks to join The Dark Knight Rises in a unknown role. Many believe it’s Talia al Ghul the daughter of the villain Ra’s al Ghul. Yet if the film is taking influences from The Long Halloween I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s playing Sofia Falcone the daughter of the Gotham Ctiy mobster Carmine Falcone last scene in Batman Begins.
RUNDOWN OF PREVIOUS CASTING ANNOUNCEMENTS/RUMORS:
It would fit perfectly with the rumor that Joseph Gordon-Levitt (currently also in talks) is playing Alberto Falcone who is also the Holiday Killer. The recent New York pickup shots of a snowy Manhattan suggests that the Holiday Killer is likely involved. Now that Sal Maroni is dead it would seem likely someone else would have to run Falcone’s crime family. Yet I wouldn’t rule out JGL playing Black Mask or Harvey Bullock.
The Falcone family would also fit nicely with Selina Kyle’s story as in the comics she’s the illegitimate daughter of Carmine Falcone and tries to find a place in the crime family. I’d personally rather see Kyle as a power player in the mob instead of a costumed thief. I still think Nolan’s Batman films work because Wayne is the only one in such an elaborate costume.
I’m not sure how Tom Hardy’s Bane would fit into this but would make an excellent partner to whoever Joseph is playing. As the pair were amazing together in Inception. If Talia is indeed involved I wouldn’t rule out Bane being a member of the League of Shadows.
There is also still hope that Robin Williams could take on the role of Hugo Strange. I think it would the right amount of villains compared to the other movies and Nolan is perfectly comfortable with sizable casts/characters in his films. Strange could make an excellent side villain similar to Dr. Crane in Batman Begins.
Keira Knighley Replacing Marion Cotillard In Cronenberg’s Cosmopolis?
ThePlaylist says that Keira Knightley could possibly be taking over the female lead in David Cronenberg’s Cosmopolis. Marion Cotillard originally was set to star but likely had to leave over her recent pregancy. It’s not the first casting shake up on the film as Robert Pattinson took over for Colin Farrell who left to focus on Total Recall. Paul Giamatti has been in talks for a role in the film but nothing has been confirmed. The production starts shooting in May so an announcement should be made soon.
While I’m not a fan of Pattinson’s work I’m curious to see anything made by Cronenberg. It would make sense to see Knighley join the production as the role would be the wife of Robert’s character. The actors are similar in age and make more sense to be paired up. Keria recently worked with Cronenberg on the film A Dangerous Method and could have made an impression with the director. I’m curious if Knighley is still up for a role in The Dark Knight Rises.
RUMOR: Marion Cotillard Is Catwoman Or Talia al Ghul?
Marion Cotillard (Inception) is again rumored for the role of Selina Kyle (Catwoman). The interesting part is that she could also be up for the daughter of Ra’s al Ghul. Of course this seems like nothing but gossip like the majority of previous Batman 3 casting rumors but it would be interesting to see Marion play Talia. Since it could help bookend the series with the daughter of the saga’s first villain.
Wicked City (2010)
Back in 2006 Variety reported that there would be a live-action film directed by Mark A.Z. Dippé (Spawn: The Movie). Since then there has been little to no information, maybe for the best. It may have been killed or sold off to another studio. The original was one of the influential anime films that inspired The Matrix films. Considering the cult status of the original anime film I would expect a bigger studio and director to get involved.
I would have loved to see David Cronenberg replaced as the director. His previous films “Naked Lunch” and “eXistenZ” are perfect examples of the type of movies which are similar to the anime. The sexual themes are very important to the story and mood of the picture and Cronenberg isn’t afraid of using sex in his movies. He would also attract a well known cast.
“My Casting Picks”
-Clive Owen cast as Taki and Marion Cotillard as Makie.
CINEMA INVASION 