Casting Bits: Alice Eve And Luke Evans Join John Cusack In ‘The Raven’; Philip Baker Hall Joins ‘Mr. Popper’s Penguins’
John Cusackwill have company inThe Raven,V For VendettadirectorJames McTeigue’s fictionalized account of the final five “mysterious” days of Edgar Allan Poe’s life, but Jeremy Rennerwon’t be taking part. His schedule wouldn’t allow it, sadly, as he’s going to be off shooting the fourthMission: Impossible. Stepping in for Renner isLuke Evans, a British actor who will fill the role of “a detective who partners with Poe (Cusack) to search for a serial killer who has kidnapped the author’s fiance and has gone on a murders spree that mimics the author’s work”.
Evans is a newcomer to Hollywood, but he’s had no trouble finding work. In a single year, he’s been cast as one of the titular musketeers in Paul W.S. Anderson’s3D action-adventure adaptationofThe Three Musketeers, asthe thunder god Zeusin Tarsem’sImmortals, and alongside Jason Statham in theLondon-set serial killer thrillerBlitz. Best case scenario: he’s an acting talent to be reckoned with, and filmmakers can’t resist his talent. Worst case scenario: the studios have found their next Sam Worthington.
After the break, Edgar Allan Poe gets a fiance, andJim Carreygets some financial support.
Playing Poe’s kidnapped fiance will be the lovely Alice Eve, who recently signed on toBuriedscreenwriter Chris Sparling’s follow-up effortATMafter losing out on roles inX-Men: First ClassandCaptain America: The First Avenger. Good to see she’s landing on her feet. [Heat Vision]
A loose adaptation ofMr. Popper’s Penguinsis in the works, and the cast is starting to come together. As you may recall, Jim Carreyis starringas Mr. Popper, and more recently,Carla Guginojoinedas his wife. Now comes word that the supremely talented, underusedPhilip Baker Hallhas been added to the cast, playing “a deep-pocketed, no-nonsense investor who agrees to finance the title character’s wacky schemes”.
Hall is best known for his work in the films of Paul Thomas Anderson, having taken prominent roles inMagnolia,Boogie NightsandHard Eight. Adding him and Gugino to the cast doesn’t guarantee a quality film, but it’s at least a step in the right direction.
Mark Waters(Mean Girls) is directing this update of the story, which sees a high-powered New York businessman suddenly inheriting six penguins, causing his upscale life to be turned upside down. [The Wrap]
