The biggest casting news of the week was obviously the growing ensemble of Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery. Josh O’Connor, Caliee Spaeny, Andrew Scott, Kerry Washington, Glenn Close, Jeremy Renner, and Mila Kunis have all joined Rian Johnson’s new film; most recently, Daryl McCormack (Good Luck To You, Leo Grande) joined the already-buzzy cast. These folks may have overshadowed the week’s other casting announcements, but there are plenty of new projects to look forward to, including exciting news from Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Chris Hemsworth, Mahershala Ali, Barry Keoghan, and more.
2 / 22
Da’Vine Joy Randolph will look for love for Eternity
Da’Vine Joy Randolph will look for love for Eternity
First bit of good news: The Holdovers standout Da’Vine Joy Randolph is starring in a rom-com from A24. Second bit of good news: it sounds a little bit sci-fi (or at least speculative fiction) inspired, which is always fun. The film, titled Eternity, reportedly sees its characters forced to decide who they will spend eternity with, which seems a bit more Black Mirror than Bridget Jones, but Variety does say its a romantic comedy, so we’ll see. The film, directed by David Freyne, also stars Miles Teller, Elizabeth Olsen, and Callum Turner. [Emma Keates]
3 / 22
Adria Arjona joins Criminal for Prime Video
Adria Arjona joins Criminal for Prime Video
Adria Arjona is boarding her next crime-focused title. The Hit Man and Andor star has been cast in Criminal, an upcoming Prime Video series based on the graphic novel series created by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips. The show, which also stars Richard Jenkins, has been described as an “interweaving saga of several generations of families tied together by the crimes and murders of the past.” Arjona will play Greta, an accomplished car thief looking for a way out of the biz for herself and her daughter, Angie.
Kadeem Hardison (A Different World) has also joined as a series regular. He’ll play Gnarly, “an old friend of Leo and Ivan. Gnarly was his nickname as a boxer back in the 1970s and it’s all anyone calls him,” per Deadline. “He walks with a limp, an old one. Gnarly’s a local legend, and he can go from warm to fierce in a heartbeat. He commands respect, partly because he can inflict massive physical damage, even at his advanced age—and partly because he has the authority and gravitas to stop other men in their tracks.”
This week, it was also announced that Charlie Hunnam (Sons of Anarchy, Rebel Moon) would be playing the show’s protagonist, Leo. According to Deadline, the character is “a brilliant master thief who sees all the angles, and specializes in plans with no guns and no violence. Like a chess player, Leo thinks three moves ahead. Other crooks think he’s a coward, especially compared to his father Tommy, who went to jail for murdering the most feared man in the city, Teeg Lawless.” [Emma Keates]
4 / 22
Theo James and Aaron Taylor-Johnson are getting their heist on
Theo James and Aaron Taylor-Johnson are getting their heist on
Theo James and Aaron Taylor-Johnson are set to lead David Mackenzie’s Fuze, a heist thriller that may teach Taylor-Johnson a thing or two about his rumored role as the next James Bond. According to Deadline, the film “opens on the discovery of an unexploded World War II bomb in a London construction site sparking a mass evacuation… the perfect cover for a heist.” Filming is set to begin this July. [Emma Keates]
5 / 22
Camila Morrone joins Tom Hiddleston in season two of The Night Manager
Camila Morrone joins Tom Hiddleston in season two of The Night Manager
Daisy Jones And The Six star Camila Morrone is checking in for season two of Prime Video’s The Night Manager. The spy thriller, based on the best-selling novel by John le Carré, stars Tom Hiddleston as Jonathan Prine, who works as the manager of a luxury hotel after leaving the army. Season two will reportedly pick up eight years after the events of season one, and sees the assumed departure of previous stars like Elizabeth Debicki. Details of Morrone’s role have not been released as of this writing. Per Variety, she’ll be joined by Indira Varma (Game Of Thrones), Paul Chahidi (The Death Of Stalin), and Hayley Squires (Beau Is Afraid), in addition to Babylon’s Diego Calva. [Emma Keates]
6 / 22
Nicholas Galitzine is He-Man
Nicholas Galitzine is He-Man
Nicholas Galitzine is continuing his quest for Hollywood domination by becoming the literal master of the universe. By that we mean he’s been cast as infamous muscle dude He-Man in Amazon’s Masters Of The Universe movie, per The Hollywood Reporter. Whether he’ll actually put on the muscle is still up for debate (this isn’t a knock on Galitzine—no one actually looks like That), but we’ll see as production ramps up ahead of the film’s planned June 2026 release. [Emma Keates]
7 / 22
Jack Reynor lands two new roles
Jack Reynor lands two new roles
It’s been a great week for Midsommar’s Jack Reynor, who landed two new major roles. The first is in season two of Prime Video’s Citadel, in which he’ll star in an undisclosed role opposite returning leads Richard Madden, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, and Stanley Tucci, per Variety. The Irish actor is also reuniting once again with John Carney for his upcoming musical comedy Power Ballad, which also stars Paul Rudd and Nick Jonas. This film will mark the fourth time Reynor has collaborated with the Once director; he previously appeared in Sing Street (2016), Flora And Son (2023), and Prime Video series Modern Love. [Emma Keates]
8 / 22
We have our Young Sherlock
We have our Young Sherlock
Guy Ritchie is returning to 221B Baker Street. Nearly 15 years since he played A Game Of Shadows, Ritchie is set to direct and executive produce a new Young Sherlock Holmes series for Prime Video, per Variety. The eight-episode series, based on Andy Lane’s novels, will star Hero Fiennes Tiffin as the socially awkward master detective. [Matt Schimkowitz]
9 / 22
Sandra Hüller to star opposite Ryan Gosling in Project Hail Mary
Sandra Hüller to star opposite Ryan Gosling in Project Hail Mary
Is Ryan Gosling Kenenough for Sandra Hüller? It’s the question that has plagued Hollywood since Oscar nominations dropped earlier this year. Now, we’ll have an answer. Gosling and Hüller will star in Project Hail Mary, per Deadline. Directed by Spider-Verse weavers Phil Lord and Chris Miller, written by Drew Goddard, who is adapting an Andy Weir novel for the second time, is, like The Martian, about a lonely astronaut. Gosling plays a science teacher who wakes up on a spaceship with no clue how he got there, Charged with saving Earth from disaster, he meets a mysterious alien who went through a similar thing on his planet. Sounds weird, but if Hüller plays the alien, we might have something. [Matt Schimkowitz]
10 / 22
Isla Fisher and more board Bridget Jones 4
Isla Fisher and more board Bridget Jones 4
Renée Zellweger is scribbling some new names and some old favorites into Bridget Jones’ latest Diary: Mad About The Boy. Joining the fourth movie fun is Isla Fisher, Josette Simon, Nico Parker, and Leila Farzad. Meanwhile, nine others are returning for another entry, including Sarah Solemani, Sally Phillips, Shirley Henderson, James Callis, Celia Imrie, Neil Pearson, and Joanna Scanlan, per Deadline. Most importantly, Gemma Jones and Jim Broadbent are back as Bridget’s parents. [Matt Schimkowitz]
11 / 22
Mariana Treviño joins Owen Wilson golf comedy
Mariana Treviño joins Owen Wilson golf comedy
A Man Called Otto star Mariana Treviño will be teeing off with Owen Wilson in AppleTV+’s upcoming golf comedy series. The show remains untitled but Marc Maron will appear, according to Deadline. Treviño plays the mother of a teen golf prodigy, played by Peter Dager. Per the outlet, Jamie Neumann (The Deuce, Lovecraft Country) has alaso been cast as the ex-wife of Wilson’s character Pryce Cahill. Pryce is an aging ex-pro-golfer whose promising career fell apart before it started. After the rest of his life crumbles, he bets it all on training the promising upstart. [Matt Schimkowitz]
12 / 22
Ty Burrell comedy builds ensemble
Ty Burrell comedy builds ensemble
Ty Burrell’s new comedy pilot for ABC is rounding out a cast. The pilot, entitled Forgive & Forget, sees Burrell as a hard-partying father who attempts to reconnect with his straight-laced son after a medical diagnosis scares the shit out of him. Burell plays Hank, and Sean Rodriguez Marquette from The Goldbergs is his son, with support from Dead To Me’s Diana Maria Riva and Abbott Elementary’s Kimia Behpoornia, per Deadline. [Matt Schimkowitz]
13 / 22
Shirley Chen, Mckenna Grace, and Maitreyi Ramakrishnan board Slanted
Shirley Chen, Mckenna Grace, and Maitreyi Ramakrishnan board Slanted
Slanted, a satirical drama from Amy Wang (The Birch, The Brothers Sun), has set its teen cast, per Deadline. The movie will star Shirley Chen (Dìdi), Mckenna Grace (Young Sheldon), Maitreyi Ramakrishnan (Never Have I Ever), Amelie Zilber (Grown-ish), as well as Vivian Wu (The Afterparty) and Fang Du (The Haves and the Have Nots). Slanted “centers on Joan Huang (Chen), a desperate to fit in, insecure Chinese American teenager who undergoes experimental trans-racial surgery to become white and secure her chances of being named Prom Queen and winning the acceptance of her peers.” [Mary Kate Carr]
14 / 22
We Were Liars adaptation finds its Liars
We Were Liars adaptation finds its Liars
We Were Liars, Prime Video’s upcoming drama series based on E. Lockhart’s bestselling YA novel, has secured its teen cast, per Deadline. Emily Alyn Lind (Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire) plays Cadence, newcomer Shubham Maheshwari plays Gat, Esther McGregor (Baby Girl) plays Mirren, and Joseph Zada (Total Control) plays Johnny, all part of the tight-knit group known as “The Liars.” They join the previously announced cast of Mamie Gummer, Caitlin Fitzgerald, Candice King, and David Morse. We Were Liars “centers on the wealthy, seemingly perfect Sinclair family, who spend every summer on their private island.” The series will follow Cadence as she attempts to regain her memories of a previous summer after suffering from a traumatic brain injury. [Mary Kate Carr]
15 / 22
Jay Ellis to play ball in Running Point
Jay Ellis to play ball in Running Point
Insecure star Jay Ellis has joined the already-stacked cast of Running Point, Mindy Kaling’s new basketball sitcom over at Netflix, per Deadline. The series follows Isla Gordon (Kate Hudson), who is appointed president of the Los Angeles Waves basketball team after a scandal forces her brother to resign. Ellis will play Jay Brown, a former player and current head coach of the Waves “whose zen-like approach has led the team to multiple championships,” per Deadline. Ellis joins previously announced cast Brenda Song, Drew Tarver, Scott MacArthur, Fabrizio Guido, Toby Sandeman, Chet Hanks, Max Greenfield, Keyla Monterroso Mejia, Roberto Sanchez, Uche Agada and Dane DiLiegro. [Mary Kate Carr]
16 / 22
Judy Greer and Sophia Lillis lead Knight’s Camp
Judy Greer and Sophia Lillis lead Knight’s Camp
Judy Greer (Arrested Development) and Sophia Lillis (Dungeons And Dragons: Honor Among Thieves) will star in the upcoming dark comedy Knight’s Camp, per Deadline. The movie “follows four bubble-wrapped teens at a medieval-themed summer camp. On the eve of the camp’s famous Battle of Twin Bridge re-enactment, the teens ignite an old legend and are accidentally transported to the real battle in 1297 A.D., where they are tasked with saving one of their ancestors to preserve the future of their family lineage. Set in Scotland, the pic explores the juxtaposition between the lives of modern-day teenagers and the brutal reality of bygone medieval times.” Kyle Rideout and Josh Epstein (Adventures in Public School) wrote the script, with Rideout set to direct. [Mary Kate Carr]
17 / 22
Mahershala Ali eyes Jurassic World 4
Mahershala Ali eyes Jurassic World 4
The new Jurassic World movie is getting some serious Oscar-caliber star power with the addition of Mahershala Ali, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Ali is in talks to join previously announced cast members Jonathan Bailey, Rupert Friend, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, and Scarlett Johansson (an Oscar nominee, but not a winner like Ali). Luna Blaise (Manifest) also joined the cast this week, per Deadline. Gareth Edwards is directing the film, which is both a continuation of the franchise and a soft reboot with a brand new cast (replacing previous stars Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard). Plot details are under wraps, but the script is penned by David Koepp, wgo wrote the original screenplay for Jurassic Park (1993) and The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997). No word as to what this might mean for the long-delayed Blade. [Mary Kate Carr]
18 / 22
Chris Hemsworth circling Transformers/G.I. Joe crossover
Chris Hemsworth circling Transformers/G.I. Joe crossover
The year is 1986. You’re in your parents’ TV room. Footy pajamas on. Action figures at your side. Bowl of Lucky Charms swimming in a bowl of milk. Transformers on TV. G.I. Joe is up next. You don’t know it now, but this is about as good as life is going to get... To anyone who daydreams at work about such a childhood bacchanal of pleasure and luxury, your day has come. The guy who played Thor, Tyler Rake, and Dementus is in talks to lead a Transformers-G.I. Joe crossover film. Per Deadline, Chris Hemsworth is building on his relationship with the toy company Hasbro. Hemsworth recently starred in Paramount’s Transformers One, an animated Transformers adventure that’s reportedly tested through the roof. [Matt Schimkowitz]
19 / 22
Marvel stars joined by additional Marvel star in new drama
Marvel stars joined by additional Marvel star in new drama
Speaking of Hemsworth, it looks like Barry Keoghan will co-star with him and Mark Ruffalo in Crime 101, making it one big MCU reunion. (Keoghan played Druig in Eternals, as you may recall.) Bart Layton will write and direct the movie based on Don Winslow’s novella of the same name. Per Deadline, his story “follows high-level jewel thefts that are taking place up and down the Pacific Coast, which police have linked to Colombian cartels. Detective Lou Lubesnick has other ideas, and he zeroes in on one perp, a thief looking for a final score.” [Mary Kate Carr]
20 / 22
Susan Sarandon, William H. Macy, and Marcia Cross to co-star in cancer indie
Susan Sarandon, William H. Macy, and Marcia Cross to co-star in cancer indie
Susan Sarandon will lead the indie film Exit Right, the narrative debut of documentary filmmaker Thomas A. Morgan (Soufra). Per Deadline, “the film centers on Jan Randall (Sarandon), whose brain—affected with inoperable cancer —makes her deeply afraid of being trapped inside. Refusing to take medications that would reduce her final days to a hospital bed, she moves into a tent in her backyard. Determined to give her one last gift, her husband John courageously takes her on a trip around the world—on foot, in their own hometown, for what is truly the trip of a lifetime.” William H. Macy will play Jan’s wife John, while Marcia Cross will play her estranged sister Monica. [Mary Kate Carr]
21 / 22
Kevin James will play golfer John Daly in a new bioseries
Kevin James will play golfer John Daly in a new bioseries
John Daly, an iconic pro golfer with 19 professional tournament wins, including five PGA Tour titles and two majors, is getting the biopic treatment. Daly, who is famous for coining the phrase, “I just grip it and rip it,” will be played by Kevin James. The limited series will be executive produced by Village Roadshow and Gary Valentine, who previously collaborated with James on The King Of Queens. [Emma Keates]