CASTING NEWS: Kate Winslet, Harrison Ford, Mel Gibson, Meryl Streep, Ronda Rousey and Hugh Grant

Kate Winslet has signed on to star in "The Dressmaker", a film based on the book by Rosalie Ham about a talented couturier (Winslet) who, after living many years in Europe, returns to her small Australian outback hometown from which she fled as a child after being accused of murder. Here she attempts to make amends with her eccentric mother, who will be played by Judy Davis and unravel the secrets of her past. The film is written and directed by Jocelyn Moorhouse ("Proof") and has been described as "Unforgiven with a sewing machine". Production will begin next year in Australia.

Harrison Ford, Mel Gibson and Antonio Banderas have joined the cast of "The Expendables 3". It has also been announced that Bruce Willis is out of the film. It is unknown what characters Ford and Banderas will play, but Gibson will star as the film's villain. In fact, Gibson's involvement had been rumored for some time, but no official confirmation was given, until now. "The Expendables 3" is directed by Patrick Hughes ("Red Hill") and will also star Jackie Chan, Nicolas Cage, Wesley Snipes, Kellan Lutz and Milla Jovovoich, in addition to the cast of the previous films which includes Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Terry Crews and Arnold Schwarzenegger. The release date has been set for August 15, 2014.

Meryl Streep will star in two new films. The first is an adaptation of Lois Lowry's "The Giver", a novel about a 12 year-old boy growing up in a utopian comunity, without war, pain and suffering. The boy is chosen to become the community's Receiver of Memories under the guidance of an elder called The Giver. During his training, he will learn about real pain and suffering, thus realising that his community is fake. Streep will star as "the chief elder, the authoritarian charged with keeping order in a society that seems utopian.". The film also stars Jeff Bridges and Brenton Thwaites, with Alexander Skarsgard and Cameron Monaghan rumored to be in talks to join the cast.

The second film Meryl Streep will star in is a "darkly comic drama" titled "The Good House", an adaptation of Ann Leary's bestselling novel of the same name. She will star as Hildy Good, a New England realtor and alcoholic who strikes up a relationship with an old flame (Robert De Niro). The screenplay will be penned by Michael Cunningham ("The Hours"). Here is the film's official synopsis:

"The Good House is a wickedly funny look at denial, told through the eyes of Hildy Good (Streep), a New England realtor and not-so-recovering alcoholic whose perfectly compartmentalized life starts to come apart at the seams when she forms a new friendship with Rebecca McCallister. As Rebecca becomes the subject of town gossip, Hildy rekindles an old flame with Frank Getchell (De Niro), a tell it like it is Yankee, who tries to uncomplicate her complicated life in this darkly comic and strikingly authentic tale."

UFC/Strikeforce champion Ronda Rousey is in talks to join the cast of director James Wan's "Fast & Furious 7". No other casting announcements have been made for FF7 and no plot details have been released, but it is expected that most of the franchise's cast members will return, including Vin Diesel and Paul Walker. Ronda Rousey has also been cast in "The Expendables 3" and she will shoot both films back to back in order to finish in time to meet the time needed to focus on training for her next fight, a championship rematch on December 28th with Mischa Tate.

The big-screen adaptation of "The Man From U.N.C.L.E." has been undergoing some serious casting operations. After Tom Cruise dropped out of the film, he was replaced by Henry Cavill ("Man of Steel"). Hugh Grant and Elizabeth Debicki ("The Great Gatsby") have also joined the cast recently. The film centers on two agents, Napoleon Solo (Cavill) and Illya Kullyakin (Armie Hammer), who work for the United Network Command for Law Enforcement (U.N.C.L.E.). Together they fight against evil forces determined to dominate the world, specifically the terrorist organization known as THRUSH. Grant will play the head of British Naval Intelligence and Debicki will star as a dangerous femme fatale. Alicia Vikander is set to play the female lead, "a British agent with a thing for cars". The film is directed by Guy Ritchie ("Sherlock Holmes").

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Sunday, August 11, 2013

CASTING NEWS: Kate Winslet, Harrison Ford, Mel Gibson, Meryl Streep, Ronda Rousey and Hugh Grant

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