This week a plethora of soon-to-be made films and casting news has surfaced. Everyone, it turns out, has a film in production or soon to be so at the least. Fits the old adage of 'if you're not working, you're not relative', we guess. Among those beginning the long process of negotiations is Oscar winner Sandra Bullock, who is currently in talks for an Annie remake. It's fit to assume she will not be donning a red fro wig and tapping across the screen for our enjoyment however. She is more suited to the orphanage matron, the drunken Miss Hannigan.
Also on the cards is a Tom Hanks film A Hologram for the King. Hanks has reportedly teamed up with his Cloud Atlas co-director Tom Tykwer (Run Lola Run) for a story about an American businessman who, in a final attempt to save enough money for his daughter's tuition, moves to Saudi Arabia where the business is flowing and his debt is far away. The film is yet to secure financing and a studio. Sounds good but it's no Castaway. Gone are the days when you could watch Hanks chatting to a volleyball named Wilson.
It's been floating around that Les Mis star Eddie Redmayne has been cast as Stephen Hawking in Theory of Everything; a biopic based on the physicist and his wife. Playing someone with a disability is no easy feat so hats off to Redmayne for taking the project, which is made will most likely be one of the top hits of the year.
Jurassic Park star Laura Dern has joined the cast of indie flick Strings, which is set to come out next year. The actress, who recently proved her worth in The Master, will play a mother suffering from PTSD after the death of her son. The film will be the directorial debut of prolific Venezuelan music video director Daniel Duran. The art house production is sure to give way to more work for the under appreciated actress.