Hemsworth joins Ghostbusters, Ejiofor in talks for Doctor Strange and trailer for The Program

Chris Hemsworth has taken on horror in The Cabin in the Woods, fantasy in Snow White and the Huntsman, drama in Rush and superheroes in the Thor and Avengers films. He’s now set to move into comedy. Whilst he’ll star with Ed Helms, Christina Applegate, Leslie Mann and Chevy Chase in the Vacation reboot, he’s now signing onto a supporting role in the Ghostbusters sequel. The film is directed by Paul Feig (Bridesmaids) and stars Kristen Wiig (The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, The Skeleton Twins), Melissa McCarthy (Spy, The Heat) and Saturday Night Live alumni Kate McKinnon and Leslie Jones.

The supernatural thriller Doctor Strange is one of Marvel’s most anticipated Phase 3 releases (competing with Captain America: Civil War, Captain Marvel and Guardians of the Galaxy 2). Scott Derickson (Sinister) is directing with Benedict Cumberbatch (Stark Trek Into Darkness, The Imitation Game) as former surgeon Stephen Strange who delves into mastering mystic arts while Tilda Swinton (Michael Clayton, We Need to Talk About Kevin) plays the mentor figure of The Ancient One.

Oscar nominee and BAFTA winner Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave, Serenity) was previously mentioned in connection to the film but there’s been some developments. The Brit is now in negotiations for the film. It’s also been announced that he’s in line for the villainous role of Baron Mordo but we’re not ruling out another casting. Al Pacino (The Godfather, Danny Collins) was previously rumoured for the role.

Finally the first trailer for Oscar candidate The Program has been released. Stephen Frears (Philomena) directs a cast including Ben Foster (Lone Survivor, 3:10 to Yuma), Chris O’Dowd (The IT Crowd, Calvary), Lee Pace (Guardians of the Galaxy, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug), Jesse Plemons (Breaking Bad, The Homesman) and Dustin Hoffman (The Graduate, Rain Man).

The Program – September 23rd

Ghostbusters – July 22nd 2016

Doctor Strange – October 28th 2016

Al Pacino confirms discussions with Marvel and first trailer for Zemeckis’ The Walk

Al Pacino is perhaps the greatest actor of the past fifty years. The Oscar winning star of Scarface, Serpico, Heat, Scent of a Woman, Dog Day Afternoon, Insomnia, Carlito’s Way, Donnie Brasco and The Godfather trilogy did, earlier in the year, express interest in a collaboration with Marvel following his viewing and immediate delight in their space-set smash hit Guardians of the Galaxy. He’s now confirmed that he’s met up with Marvel’s studio head Kevin Feige about the possibility of a role in the films.

“I would imagine either there’s something he feels is right for me,” he explained. For different roles the mysterious part of Star Lord’s father is still up for grabs; hopefully he won’t get stuck as a generic villain. Other more venerable actors to take the step into the fray of Marvel’s action packed world include Anthony Hopkins in Thor, Michael Douglas in Ant-Man, Jeff Bridges in Iron Man, Tommy Lee Jones in The First Avenger and Robert Redford in The Winter Soldier. It’s no long stretch to imagine Pacino accepting such a role. The Marvel movies up for casting are Captain America: Civil War, Doctor Strange, Thor: Ragnarok, Guardians of the Galaxy 2, Black Panther, Captain Marvel, Inhumans and The Avengers: Infinity War.

Although the story was comprehensively covered in the Oscar winning documentary Man on Wire, the death defying accomplishment of tightrope walker Philippe Petit, who walked on wire from one Twin Tower to the other, will be seen on screen again in The Walk, the first trailer for which has been released. Robert Zemeckis, director of Back to the Future, Cast Away, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Contact and Forrest Gump, commands the cast of Joseph Gordon Levitt (Looper, Inception, Lincoln), Charlotte Le Bon (Mood Indigo, The Hundred Foot Journey), James Badge Dale (Iron Man 3, World War Z) and Ben Kingsley (Gandhi, Hugo, Shutter Island).

The Walk – October 2nd 2015

Dwayne Johnson confirms Shazam role, Jessica Chastain in talks for Martian and Pacino interested in Marvel

It has been known for some time that Dwayne Johnson (Fast and Furious 5, Doom, The Scorpion King) will take one of two roles in the planned DC adaptation Shazam. The character, who he has been teasing bit by bit, would either be the heroic Shazam or the villainous Black Adam. The former wrestler took to Twitter to announce that he will be playing Black Adam although recent evidence suggests that the film will have no immediate ties to the rest of the Justice League universe, begun by 2013’s Man of Steel. No director has yet been confirmed for the film but Arrow’s Geoff Johns will write it.

Fast approaching the age of 80, Ridley Scott (Alien, Blade Runner, Thelma and Louise, Gladiator, Black Hawk Down, American Gangster, Prometheus) is probably at the most productive point in his career. While finishing post production on biblical epic Exodus: Gods and Kings, the Oscar nominee is busy developing three other projects. He may reunite with Harrison Ford for Blade Runner 2 as well as Prometheus 2 with Noomi Rapace and Michael Fassbender but he’s also attempting to release sci-fi thriller The Martian, starring Matt Damon (The Bourne Identity, Ocean’s Eleven, Saving Private Ryan, The Departed, Good Will Hunting, The Talented Mr Ripley). It’s been reported that Jessica Chastain (Zero Dark Thirty, The Tree of Life) and Kristen Wiig (The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, Bridesmaids) are both in talks to be expanding the cast list.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has drawn in some of the greats of 21st century mainstream film (Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Mark Ruffalo, Bradley Cooper, Zoe Saldana, Vin Diesel, Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Paul Bettany, Natalie Portman, Josh Brolin), hit the reset button on some fledging careers (Robert Downey Jr, Chris Evans, Samuel L Jackson) and turned relative unknowns (Chris Hemsworth, Chris Pratt, Dave Bautista, Tom Hiddleston) into superstar icons. They also seem to have a knack for attracting from greatly renowned venerable actors such as Jeff Bridges, Anthony Hopkins, Tommy Lee Jones, Stellan Skarsgard, Ben Kingsley, Glenn Close, Michael Douglas and Robert Redford. Now, Al Pacino (The Godfather trilogy, Donnie Brasco, Scarface, Heat, Insomnia) has, albeit jokingly, expressed interest in a role.

Pacino is one Empire’s five “Gods Among Us”, flanked by Robert De Niro, Paul Newman, Jack Nicholson and Marlon Brando, and after being thrilled by a screening of Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy. He had this to say “I would do anything that I could understand in terms of how I fit in it. And you know, of course if I could fit in it. Anything’s possible. You know, I did Dick Tracy and I got an Oscar nomination, so come on. I mean, what can I say?” If Pacino had a genuine superhero, or more likely supervillain, I’d be massively excited to see him join the franchises mega-cast.

Guardians of the Galaxy 2 – July 28th 2017

The Martian – 2017?

Shazam – 2017?