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Kevin Macdonald's State of Play already has three stars attached: Brad Pitt, Edward Norton, and Jason Bateman. Now the conspiracy/political thriller is adding Rachel McAdams (The Notebook), Helen Mirren (The Queen), and Robin Wright Penn (Breaking and Entering) to its cast. In a maneuvre that should surprise fans of the miniseries, the newspaper editor played by the incomparable Bill Nighy in the original "State of Play" has been rewritten as a female character, to be portrayed by Mirren. Short of bringing back Nighy, I think this is a brilliant way to go, and I'm happy that they've chosen to stick with a "character actor of a certain age". This is also the kind of role - tough, sexy, a leader of men - that Mirren excels at (see Prime Suspect, Elizabeth, etc.).
The lovely McAdams will play "the youngest reporter at Washington Globe, who gets caught up in a murder conspiracy" involving the mistress of an ambitious young congressman (Edward Norton). Assuming that this is the film's version of Dan Foster, the editor's son (played by James McAvoy in the miniseries), I appreciate that kind of symmetry - from a father disapproving of his son to an equally demanding mother - and I look forward to seeing what kind of dynamic exists between Mirren/McAdams. Robin Wright Penn takes over Polly Walker's role as the congressman's ex-wife, who Brad Pitt's journalist is in love with. A great, great cast so far. Let's just hope they won't waste all that talent. (Hollywood Reporter) [imdb]
David Yates, director of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (not to mention the miniseries "State of Play") talks about his next film, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, in an audio interview.
Photos from the set of The Time Traveler's Wife, starring Rachel McAdams and Eric Bana, and directed by Robert Schwentke. The film is based on the bestselling novel by Audrey Niffenegger. (JustJared) [imdb]
More casting news involving former Deadwood actors! Sarah Paulson (Miss Isringhausen) has joined the cast of Frank Miller's superhero adaptation The Spirit (aka Will Eisner's The Spirit), as Dr. Ellen Dolan, the police commissioner's daughter and the hero's true love. Gabriel Macht (The Good Shepherd) stars as Denny Colt, a rookie cop who returns from the dead to fight crime as the Spirit. Samuel L. Jackson is the villain, the Octopus, and Scarlett Johansson and Eva Mendes are the femme fatales, Silken Floss and Sand Saref. (Hollywood Reporter) [imdb]