Tom Hiddleston Could Star In Winter's Tale

HollywoodReporter says screenwriter Akiva Goldsman (The Client, A Time To Kill, A Beautiful Mind) is going to direct his first film based on the novel Winter's Tale by Mark Helprin. A slew of high-profiled actors are testing for the film which include Tom Hiddleston, (Thor, War Horse, Avengers) and Ben Walker (Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter) for the male lead. Bella Heathcote (Cogan's Trade, Dark Shadows), Elizabeth Olsen, Gabriele Wilde and Sarah Gadon for the female lead. Russell Crowe is attached for the role of the villain.

Joel Kinnaman Cast As Lancelot In Arthur & Lancelot

HeatVision reports that Joel Kinnaman has landed the role of Lancelot in Warner Bros' Arthur & Lancelot. It had been reported that Joel and Kit Harrington (Game of Thrones) were the front-runners of the film. The studio will now have Joel do chemistry reads with other candidates that include Kit Harrington, Sam Claflin (On Stranger Tides, Snow White & The Huntsman), Dominic Cooper (Captain America, Devil's Double), Hans Matheson (Sherlock Holmes), Jim Sturgess, Ben Walker (Abe Lincoln Vampire Hunter, Paradise Lost) and Liam Hemsworth (Expendables 2). This very well means that Joel is now out of the running for Steven Soderbergh's The Man From UNCLE.

Joel Kinnaman & Kit Harington Front-Runners For Arthur & Lancelot

It was surprising when Warner Bros. axed potential remakes of Excalibur from both Bryan Singer (X-Men 1-2, Jack The Giant Killer, Usual Suspects) and Guy Ritchie (Sherlock Holmes 1-2, Snatch) to more forward with Arthur & Lancelot. A new "grounded" take on the classical tale from Wedding Crashers director David Dobkin was chosen instead with a budget around $90 million. It seemed a bit brash considering the talent behind the Excalibur projects but you never know with these things. I never thought comedy director Ruben Fleischer would end up making Gangster Squad. Since Ruben's credits only include Zombieland and 30 Minutes Or Less but it seems like the studio is giving chances to let directors branch out.

There is finally some interesting news casting-wise as ThePlaylist reports that Joel Kinnaman (Snabba Cash, The Killing) and Kit Harington (Game of Thrones) have come out as front-runners for the leads. It's unknown who is expected in what part but there is also a list of other candidates that includes names like Sam Claflin (Pirates 4, Snow White & The Huntsman, Dominic Cooper (Devil's Double, Captain America), Hans Matheson (Sherlock Holmes, Clash of The Titans), Jim Sturgess (50 Dead Men Walking, Cloud Atlas), Ben Walker (Paradise Lost, Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter) and Liam Hemsworth (Hunger Games, Expendables 2). Joel Kinnaman was recently toted as Steven Soderbergh's choice for the second lead in The Man From UNCLE which is being produced by David Dobkin. I expect Kit's rather large international following from Game of Thrones doesn't hurt his chances either.

Ben Walker Cast As Lead In Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter

HeatVision reports theater actor Ben Walker has been cast as a young Abe in Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter. Walker had been previously in the running for the role of Hank McCoy (Beast) in Matthew Vaughn's X-Men First Class.

Based on the novel by Seth Grahme-Smith (Pride & Prejudice & Zombies) fictionalizes the President as a vampire hunter. President Lincoln's mother is killed by a supernatural creature, which fuels his passion to crush vampires and their slave-owning helpers. It will be directed by Timur Bekmambetov (Wanted) and is being produced by Tim Burton with a release date set for June 22nd 2012. 

UPDATE: Ben Walker Playing Beast In First Class

ShowBiz411 has confirmed the previous rumor from CBM that Ben Walker will play a young Hank McCoy (Beast). In the original comics and even X-Men First Class comics Hank McCoy had yet to have his blue fur. Yet he did have his animal-based powers and strength.

RUMOR: Ben Walker Joining X-Men First Class?

CBM through various sources has come up with the possibility that theater actor Ben Walker (Flags of Our Fathers) could be up for a role in Matthew Vaughn's X-Men First Class. The roles could be Hank McCoy (Beast) or Sean Cassidy (Banshee), he looks perfect for the role of a pre-blue furred McCoy.