Deadline is reporting that Nicolas Winding Refn (Drive, The Pusher Trilogy) has found his second leading lady for his female-led horror flick The Neon Demon. Actress Abbey Lee will take role opposite Elle Fanning in the film which is said to take place within the world of young models and is set in Los Angeles.
The Australian model turned actress has already lined-up roles in large epics like George Miller's Mad Max: Fury Road and Alex Poryas' Gods of Egypt.
Refn recently confirmed in November that Cliff Martinez (Solaris, Traffic, Contagion) and Philippe Le Sourd (The Grand Master) would be teaming-up to score the film. Cliff previously worked with the director on both Drive and Only God Forgives.
I assume it'll be a mix of Tony Scott's The Hunger meets Only God Forgives.
The Hollywood Reporter has revealed that Tom Hardy has essentially dropped out of David Ayer's Suicide Squad vacating the role of Rick Flagg.
Hardy originally signed onto the role alongside Will Smith as Deadshot, Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn, Jared Leto as The Jocker, Jai Courtney as Captain Boomerang and more recently Viola Davis as Amanda Waller. It's expected we could even more DC Comics rogues in the film including Jesse Eisnberg's Lex Luthor.
Jake got ripped for Soutpaw.
Apparently, scheduling has become a bit of an issue as the shoot will conflict with his other project The Revenant.
Along with his promotional press tour for Mad Max Fury Road that would be happening at the same time as the film would be shooting in Toronto.
That is seemingly a bigger priority as it's being directed by Birdman's Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu and would see Hardy reunite with his Inception co-star Leonardo DiCaprio. Birdman just earned nine Academy Award nominations so any project coming from Inarritu is going to have major heat. I guess you can't blame Hardy for chasing an awards-level movie like Revenant.
The studio has sent out an offer to actor Jake Gyllenhaal and they are interested in him taking over the role of Rick Flagg but it's unknown at this point if he'll take it.
Considering his fan-favorite performance in last year's Nightcrawler and his upcoming boxing pic Southpaw, I'm sure fans would embrace this recasting. Jake also previously worked with Ayer on the L.A. cop drama End of Watch.
Jake also played a convincing serial killer in The Shoes' music video for Time To Dance.
Hidden in the recent Doctor Strange casting report by TheWrap. Jeff mentions that while Tom Hardy was in the mix to play Strange, he's considering parts in both Suicide Squad and X-Men Apocalypse. It sounds good for Suicide Squad since Hardy's strong working relationship with Warner Bros. Making big blockbuster movies for the studio such as Mad Max Fury Road, Dark Knight Returns and Inception.
It seems that Tom might be looked at for a villain role in the film. The ancient Egyptian mutant villain Apocalypse is the first thought everyone has had, and Jeff hints that's who the role is. While it could be great to see Hardy play another iconic comic book villain, there are other mutants he could be playing.
In my opinion he is better suited for Nathan Summers better known as Cable. Since we've already seen Bishop time-travel it wouldn't be hard to imagine seeing another time-traveller join the franchise. In the comics mutant engineer Forge builds a time-machine (no need for Kitty Pryde's powers) and Bishop is sent back to prevent an assassination. Instead of preventing an assassination, Bishop get's confused and attempts to assassinate Charles Xavier.
We have already been teased this altered timeline might give us an even worse future for mutant and humankind. Could they be hinting to an alternate future timeline of Age of Apocalypse which included Cable travelling back in time? I wouldn't be surprised if Bryan Singer and Simon Kinberg decide to use this element, but switch-out Bishop for X-Force leader Cable. Making him a major villain of the film as well.
The studio is aiming to give Cable his own film and it's been somewhat confirmed that he'll be apart of the Jeff Wadlow (Kick-Ass 2) scripted X-Force film. Producer Lauren Shuler Donner has already mentioned a desire to give that character his own film in previous interviews. Lauren is pursuing Channing Tatum for the Gambit spin-off, trying to sign Hardy for a Cable/X-Force movie isn't hard to imagine.
Tom Hardy being interested in a role in Suicide Squad, might be echoing a villain-turned-hero take on Cable in Apocalypse. I could also see Hardy in the role after taking-on another hard-nosed apocalyptic character like Mad Max. Nothing says Hardy will choose either role, but it's great time for Hardy to be considering three major roles in massive comic book films.
Do you think Tom Hardy is wanted for Apocalypse or Cable?
It was recently confirmed that Scott Derrickson (Sinister) would be directing Doctor Strange for Marvel. While the casting was currently a bit of mystery on it's own. The likes of Johnny Depp, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Jon Hamm, and Jared Leto were rumored to be in the mix or at least considered. New names are being added that group, and one being a major fan favorite.
According to Deadline, Marvel has others also in mind for the casting of Doctor Strange. They report that Benedict Cumberbatch (Sherlock, Hobbit, Star Trek Into Darkness, War Horse, ) and Tom Hardy (Inception, Dark Knight Rises, Bronson) could take roles in the film, and are on a studio casting wish-list. It's unknown if both are wanted for the same role, or are being paired together for the feature. Ben and Tom have a bit of a history together, working in television and even on film projects like Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.
Benedict Cumberbatch has been a fan favorite for the role of Stephen Strange for years now, and there was even rumors he had previously met with Marvel about a role. While he's on a "list" nothing is too solid, but it does sound like he turned down a Star Wars role for something bigger.
Unlike Cumberbatch, Hardy has a lot more on his plate. He's already signed-up for the lead in Dough Liman's Splinter Cell movie and could have another franchise on his hands with Mad Max: Fury Road coming out next summer. I think it's less likely we'll see Hardy chosen, but the actor is a workaholic and loves taking-on genre work.
I also wouldn't be shocked if Marvel is looking to pair the two together in the film, casting one as the villain and the other Stephen Strange. It's hard to say which one could be the hero/villain, as they have plenty experience playing both kinds of characters.
ThePlaylist has caught wind that Tom Holkenborg better known as Junkie XL has been hired to score George Miller's Mad Max: Fury Road. The film has been delayed for years and will finally get released in 2014. It stars Tom Hardy as the new Max, along with Charlize Theron and Patrick Stewart taking key roles. Tom isn't new to the film scoring scene collaborating with Hanz Zimmer on the scores for Man of Steel, Inception and The Dark Knight Rises. He also recently composed the score for 300: Rise of An Empire. It's an interesting turn around seeing respected musicians take turns in their careers to score full length films, so I'll be interested to hear what he comes up with.
NYDailyNews is reporting that actors Tom Hardy (Max Mad, Dark Knight Rises) and Jason Statham (Hummingbird, Expendables) are currently in the mix for the role of Snake in Escape From New York. A reboot of the classic cult film which is being produced Joel Silver and is expected to reveal the origins of Snake.
Hardy is currently shooting Animal Rescue and is expected to shoot the thriller Child 44 next. He also recently wrapped on Mad Max: Fury Road and lined up a starring role in Splinter Cell. Jason Statham may have a role in Fast And Furious 7 and is expected to reprise a supporting role in Expendables 3. Tom is easily the go to actor since he was previously in the mix for the film when it was still with producer Neal Mortiz. Considering he's already been apart of the reboot of Mad Max the studio could believe he could do the same for Snake. Statham hasn't really had a franchise role since The Transporter and Crank.
Variety reports that Tom Hardy (Lawless, Dark Knight Rises, Inception, Mad Max Fury Road) who is quickly attaching himself to every possible film project has signed on for the role of Sam Fisher in Ubisoft's Splinter Cell. The film is based on the game franchise focuses on a black-ops operation Echelon. Eric Warren Singer (The International, American Bullshit) will write the film's script while a major studio has yet to pick-up the project. This is the second massive casting announcement for the company after landing Michael Fassbender for the lead in their Assassin's Creed movie.
Deadline also says that Paramount is pursuing Tom Hardy (Inception, Lawless, Dark Knight Rises) for their Jack Ryan spinoff Without Remorse. Hardy is about to begin production on George Miller's Mad Max: Fury Road alongside Charlize Theron for Warner Bros. Hardy is likely getting lots of franchise offers so we'll see if this one pans out. Kevin Costner is also wanted for a part in the film.
Deadline reports that British model turned actress Rosie Huntington-Whiteley (Transformers 3) will join the growing cast of Mad Max: Fury Road. George Miller's reboot (possible new trilogy) of his beloved Mad Max franchise has Tom Hardy (Dark Knight Rises, Inception) in the lead with Charlize Theron, Patrick Stewart (X-Men 1-3), Nicholas Hoult (Giant Killer, X-Men First Class 1-2), Isabel Lucas (Red Dawn) and Abby Lee Kershaw in supporting roles.
TheDailyMail (via BleedingCool) was able to get quotes from Tom Hardy (Dark Knight Rises, Bronson, Inception) on his prep for his role in Cicero. The film would focus on the rise to power of notorious gangster Al Capone. Capone's famous life and the Chicago mafia was the inspiration for Scarface, Untouchables, St. Valentine's Day Massacre , Boardwalk Empire and many others. Back in March, Deadline reported that Harry Potter director David Yates would be directing the project with an old unused script from Walon Green (Wild Bunch, Terminator 2) that was written back in the 70's for a television series.
"I’ve been working with Warner Bros, watching their gangster films —
the ones with James Cagney, Humphrey Bogart and Edward G. Robinson.
It’s interesting to get them, and a bit of Capone, into the bloodstream.
You look at pugnacious James Cagney in The Public Enemy and see how this guy rises up to become a kingpin in Chicago."
"Hardy told me he will play the Depression-era Chicago crime tsar
sometime next year and well into 2014, once he has completed work on a
series of movies."
I love to hear that Tom is watching the classic gangster films since a majority of the contemporary films in the genre don't seem to match the quality. Tom's quotes could give the impression that the aim is that Cicero would be the first film in a possible trilogy. WB
seems to be resurrecting the gangster period genre with Gangster Squad
on the horizon that features L.A. hood Mickey Cohen (Sean Penn).
Hardy is about to start production on Mad Max: Fury Road for Warner Bros. and director George Miller which could push back Cicero's start until 2013. Fury has been rumored as the beginning of a new slew of films that could lead to sequels and spin-offs. However, there was talk that Charlize Theron's character could continue the franchise. There has also been talk after the success of Tinker, Tailor, Solider, Spy the studio behind it is pushing for sequels. I'm not sure how Hardy's character fits in the books but they'd be smart to bring him back.
Director George Miller has reached out to the DailyTelegraph giving an update on Mad Max: Fury Road. The sequel/reboot of his successful Mad Max franchise which he directed the previous three films with Mel Gibson in the lead role.
Tom Hardy will star as the new Max along with Charlize Theron, Patrick Stewart (X-Men 1-3) , Nicholas Hoult (Jack The Giant Killer, X-Men First Class), Teressa Palmer, Zoe Kravitz (X-Men First Class) and Adelaide Clemens.
“We will restart pre-production later this year and begin early next year—weather permitting,” Miller said acknowledging the year-long delay he and Warner Bros. had agreed on. “We’ve built the vehicles. We’ve designed the movie. The principal cast is locked in. The film is funded. It’s all ready to go. We just wait,”
