RUMOR: Ksenia Solo Reading For Jania Solo In STAR WARS EPISODE VII And Liam McIntyre Looking To Play Jedi?

Here we go again, more possible casting news for Star Wars: Episode VII is making the rounds via CBM. This time it focuses on a pair of television actors. Ksenia Solo (Black Swan, Lost Girl) has read for the daughter of Leia/Han, which will likely be Jedi Knight Jania Solo. Spartacus actor Liam McIntyre is also in the mix to play a Jedi, which makes a ton of sense. Since Liam is a massively successful on his series Spartacus and proves every episode he can handle himself, leading to being able to handle Jedi action sequences. They don't name the role but I wouldn't rule out Ben Skywalker. If they're having Alex Petyer read for that role, they might as well have Liam take a shot as well. Casting is apparently moving to New York from the UK, likely moving to allow American actors to read as well. I have to assume this is legit news, considering J.J. Abrams has a habit of hiring television actors in lead roles. A majority of the cast from Star Trek were unknowns and TV actors, so hiring lesser known actors could be a way to develop the franchise on it's own merit.

Mila Kunis And Channing Tatum Wanted For Wachowskis' Jupiter Ascending

Deadline reports that The Wachowskis/Warner Bros. have offered the two leads for Jupiter Ascending to Mila Kunis (Black Swan, Oz The Great And Powerful) and Channing Tatum (Haywire, 21 Jump Street). Channing recently gained some credibility with his comedic turn in 21 Jump Street and the studio might be betting on the fact he had two number one films so far this year. Tatum had been a candidate for The Man From UNCLE before Soderbergh exited and Guy Ritchie came on as a producer. Not too long ago Natalie Portman was wanted for the female lead so it's not surprising to see her Black Swan co-star also in the running.

Production is expected later this year but details about the film are unknown except that is indeed a science fiction project.  It will be interesting to see how close this movie will be compared to The Matrix or Cloud Atlas which the Wachowskis co-directed with Tom Tykwer. We have to assume that the title suggests a space theme but it could just the name of a lead character.

Chemical Brothers To Score Now You See Me

ThePlaylist is reporting that the British electronic duo The Chemical Brothers will be creating the score for Louis Leterrier's (Incredible Hulk, Clash of The Titans) Now You See Me. The film focuses on a group of illusionists who are playing a game of cat-and-mouse with the FBI as they pull heists during their magic shows. It stars Mark Ruffalo (Avengers), Jesse Eisenberg (Social Network), Morgan Freeman (RED, Dark Knight Rises), Isla Fisher (Wedding Crashers), Melanie Laurent (Inglourious Basterds, Beginners), Woody Harrelson (Zombieland), Dave Franco (21 Jump Street) and Common (American Gangster, Wanted).

Most recently the group provided the song Don't Think for Darren Aronofsky's Black Swan which was used in the club scene. This lead to them getting hired by Joe Wright to create the entire score for Hanna which was a highlight soundtrack of 2011. It will be interesting to see if they're able to recreate the intense ambience they were able to with Hanna.

Russell Crowe In Negotiations To Play Noah

Variety reports that Russell Crowe is now in negotiations with Darren Aronofsky (Black Swan) to take on the lead role in his bibical epic Noah. Crowe had been rumored for the part for weeks along with a unnamed role being eyed for Liam Neeson. The Gladiator has had a few bumps with the last couple of films but I would shocked if Noah doesn't end up getting Russell back in the awards race.

Russell Crowe And Liam Neeson Could Join Noah

Deadline reports that director Darren Aronofsky (Black Swan) and 20th Century Fox is pursuing Russell Crowe for the lead role in his bible epic Noah. The part was expected to go to an actor in his 40-50s and Crowe seems perfect for the role. Having earning an Oscar for his performance in Gladiator a movie I assume will influence Noah. Screenwriter John Logan isn't a stranger to the large budget epics either. Logan's previous scripts include Gladiator, The Last Samurai and the upcoming Bond film Skyfall.

Liam Neeson is also being looked at for another role in the film. It's not revealed what that part would be but it could end up the villain of the picture. Previously it had been teased that a villain would make his/her way onto the Ark.

Mark Heyman Set To Write Age of Rage & Machine Man

HeatVision reports that Black Swan screenwriter Mark Heyman has been set to write Age of Rage for director Marc Webb (500 Days of Summer, Spider-Man). The project is getting comparisons to a mix between Lord of The Files meets Children of Men. It's set in a post-apocalyptic society where all the adults have died and a group of teens sets about trying to establish a new society.

Heyman is also working on adapting Max Berry's novel Machine Man for Darren Aronofsky. A gadget geek and engineer working at a forward-thinking tech firm decides to systematically replace his weaker fleshy parts with high-end titanium performance upgrades of his own design. But he isn’t the only one with plans for his superior parts. It's likely this will be next film for Aronofsky when completes production on The Wolverine.

Suspiria (2010)

Director David Gordon Green (Pineapple Express, Snow Angels) is currently filming the stoner fantasy comedy Your Highness, his next project won't be a comedy. As soon as he finishes the film he'll start work on Suspiria. A remake of the original 1977 film created and directed by Dario Argento. The film centered on an American balleria who travels to a German dance school, which is plauged by evil. Considered to be the most beautifully shot horror film ever made, David Gordon Green has a lot of pressure on him to deliver the visuals.




Along with the look of the original the haunting score by Goblin was also credited for the film's amazing atmosphere. I wonder if artists such Kavinsky will be looked at to score the film. Kavinsky is one of the current artists out there that I can compare to Goblin. It wouldn't such an odd thing with Daft Punk scoring Tron Legacy.





At one point Natalie Portman was rumored for the lead. While she is working with David Gordon Green on Your Highness, the film is too similar to her next film Black Swan. I expect someone more like Kristen Stewart (Adventureland) ending up in the role.