Brad Pitt Joins Steve McQueen's 12 Years A Slave

ScreenDaily reports that Brad Pitt will have a role in Steve McQueen's (Hunger, Shame) 12 Years A Slave. Pitt's Plan B is producing the project that already stars Chiwetel Ejiofor and McQueen's golden boy Michael Fassbender.

Brad is currently having a great wave of projects that he's been choosing by director. I've been anticipating his upcoming projects World War Z, Cogan's Trade and 12 Years A Slave is no exception. This will also be his fourth straight project based on a novel. While his role in the film is unknown he previously worked alongside Fassbender in Quentin Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds.

Tom Cruise In Talks For All You Need Is Kill?

HollywoodReporter states that director Doug Liman (Bourne Identity) is now in talks with Tom Cruise for the lead in the adaptation of All You Need Is Kill for Warner Bros. Now apparently given the new terrible title We Mortals Are which I assume will get yet another title change soon. Originally when Doug Liman was hired, Ryan Gosling had been mentioned as a choice for the lead. Gosling would eventually pass and end up with Logan's Run another Warner Bros. sci-fi project with director Nicolas Winding Refn. Not too long ago Brad Pitt had been mentioned and seemed likely as Liman worked with him on Mr. & Mrs. Smith.

Cruise is grinding out a number of action films likely to make hay while he can still do them. He's also doing Joseph Kosinski's (Tron Legacy) Horizons (Oblivion) starring alongside Jessica Chastain which is another massive science fiction action film. I'm not sure how interesting this manga adaptation will be considering how Warner Bros. has handled Akira another project that has had casting issues and is currently in limbo.

Matthew Fox & Ed Harris Could Join World War Z

Deadline reports that Matthew Fox (Lost) and Ed Harris (History of Violence, Gone Baby Gone) are in talks to join World War Z. The film directed by Marc Forster (Kite Runner, Quantum of Solace) stars Brad Pitt, Mirielle Enos (The Killing) and James Badge Dale (Pacific, Departed). It looks like the role Anthony Mackie was being considered for went to James.

James Badge Dale Circling Role In World War Z

ShowBlitz reports that James Badge Dale (The Departed, The Pacific) is up for a role in Marc Forster's (Quantum of Solace) World War Z. Brad Pitt is already set for the lead with Anthony Mackie (Hurt Locker) and Mireille Enos (The Killing) expected to take roles as well.

Robert Richardson Will Shoot Word War Z

BleedingCool reports that director of photography Robert Richardson (Shutter Island, Kill Bill, Inglourious Basterds) has joined Marc Forster's World War Z. They say that Richardson is currently prepping the film with a planned June production start. The film was recently saved by Paramount who put together funding for the film which stars Brad Pitt.

World War Z In Trouble If Paramount Can't Get Money To Make It

You would think that a large scale zombie action film like World War Z starring Brad Pitt and directed by Marc Forster (Quantum of Solace) would be an easy sell to Paramount. It's not the case as Vulture reports the studio isn't willing to risk the $125 million price tag on the PG-13 zombie film. They're looking for a financial partner to come in to back the production budget. If they can't find someone to help pay for it they will pull the plug. Paramount's only big film currently slated in development is Star Trek 2 and you'd expect they would be dying to get movement on this.

Brad Pitt Offered Lead In Akira? Steve Cloves Hired To Fix Script

There is talk from Vulture that Warner Bros. has reached out to Brad Pitt to headline their adaption of Akira. It seems unlikely Pitt would take the role as he's way too old to play any of the main characters from the manga. Unless he's been offered the role of the Colonel. Previous rumors include Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Morgan Freeman along with offers also out to James Franco and Mila Kunis.

It doesn't sound good for the project that such high profile actors are turning it down. It's even more embarrassing when the studio starts to look for big names that they'll never get. It's going to be an expensive production and a massive gamble for the studio. It's been hammered for over a year by fans of the original material because the studio had been changing major elements of the story. First of all setting the story in Manhattan and not Toyko allowing to recast the expected Asian cast with white folks.

I've never really had issues with ethnicity when casting fictional characters. Yet this one is hard to swallow because it's identity is Japanese. There are links to the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki which is beyond important to the country's psyche. It's not like with Nick Fury, Hemidall (Thor) and Goku (Drangon Ball) where the background of the actors didn't really matter because it wasn't important to the story or setting. I have to admit I've been an avid fan of the anime for years and I believe focusing on the manga source material should be priority number one. It's also possible it's a way for the studio to save money as shooting in Japan is a very expensive process. There is now word from Variety, Steve Cloves (Harry Potter Films) has been hired to "polish" the script. I really hope they listen to the fan-base that would support this film and bring back the original elements.

James Gandolfini Joining Cogan's Trade?

Deadline has confirmed previous rumors that James Gandolfini(Sopranos, The Mexican, Loop) could join Andrew Dominik's (Assassination of Jesse James) Cogan's Trade. James would play a washed-up alcoholic hitman in the film. It stars Brad Pitt, Sam Rockwell, Casey Affleck and Bella Heathcote. Jackie Cogan, a professional enforcer who investigates a heist that takes place during a high stakes poker game held under the protection of the mob.

Sam Rockwell Joins Cogan's Trade

Deadline reports that Sam Rockwell has joined Brad Pitt in Cogan's Trade. The two worked together on The Assassination of Jesse James with director Andrew Dominik. The site also disputes previous reports of Casey Affleck being confirmed for the film. Jackie Cogan (Pitt), a professional enforcer who investigates a heist that takes place during a high stakes poker game held under the protection of the mob.

Pitt & Casey Affleck Confirmed For Cogan's Trade

Scene Louisiana via (CinemaBlend) confirms that Brad Pitt and Casey Affleck will re-team with Assassination of Jesse James director Andrew Dominik for Cogan's Trade. The story centers on Jackie Cogan, a professional enforcer who investigates a heist that takes place during a high stakes poker game under protection of the mob. Others who are rumored to be interested in roles include Sam Rockwell, Josh Brolin, Javier Bardem, Bill Murray, Mark Ruffalo and Zoe Saldana. Australian actress Bella Heathcote (Now) is the only actress who has been cast in the film so far.

Bella Heathcote Joins Brad Pitt In Cogan’s Trade

Deadline says that Australian actress Bella Heathcote has signed on for a supporting role in Cogan’s Trade. This would knock the actress out of the running for the lead role in Snow White & The Huntsman. Bella is currently filming Andrew Niccol's Now which stars Justin Timberlake, Amanda Seyfried, Cillian Murphy, Alex Pettyfer and Olivia Wilde.

HeatVision first reported on the project which has Brad Pitt attached in the lead role of Jackie Cogan. The film is based on the novel by George V. Higgins and will be directed by Andrew Dominik. The story centers on Jackie Cogan, a professional enforcer who investigates a heist that takes place during a high stakes poker game under protection of the mob.

Brad Pitt teamed up with director Andrew Dominik previously on excellent western drama The Assassination of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford. Other names that had been attached or interested include Sam Rockwell, Casey Affleck, Mark Ruffalo and Javier Bardem.

 

Pitt & Depp To Star In Nemesis?

Nemesis focuses on the villain rather than the hero of the story. Instead of fighting superheroes he goes up against regular cops with an endless supply of killing skills and weapons. The comic hasn't even fully been released but Tony Scott (Man on Fire, Top Gun) has signed on to direct with the help of 20th Century Fox who will supply the film's budget. Millar offered up to Empire who he'd like to see cast in the film. Mark would like to see Johnny Depp as Nemesis and Brad Pitt as Chief Blake Marrow. Now there is word from Millar that director Tony Scott is actually reaching out to the actors for the roles.


While some might scoff at the idea of getting these two heavy weights together. Pitt's Plan B produced Kick-Ass he's also worked with Tony Scott on True Romance and Spy Games. Depp worked with Angelina Jolie on The Tourist and most likely has been in contact with Pitt. I wouldn't be surprised to see Pitt take the producer's chair again and help sway Depp into joining the film.