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

New Black Mass poster, Bryce Dallas Howard talks Marvel and first Hunger Games 4 trailer

The first two instalments of the Hunger Games franchise were genuine phenomenons, the first taking $691 million and Catching Fire receiving $864 million but Mockingjay: Part 1 slipped up with a drop to $752 million. The trailer for the series’ conclusion has been released and is hoping for a return to form.

Francis Lawrence (I am Legend) directs a cast including Jennifer Lawrence (American Hustle), Josh Huthcherson (Epic), Liam Hemsworth (Cut Bank), Jena Malone (Inherent Vice), Sam Claflin (The Riot Club), Donald Sutherland (Ordinary People), Juliianne Moore (Still Alice), Woody Harrelson (True Detective), Elizabeth Banks (The Lego Movie), Stanley Tucci (Margin Call), Toby Jones (Infamous), Gwendoline Christie (Game of Thrones), Jeffrey Wright (Source Code), Mahershala Ali (House of Cards), Willow Shields (Beyond the Blackboard), Elden Henson (Daredevil), Natalie Dormer (Rush) and Philip Seymour Hoffman (The Master).

Bryce Dallas Howard (The Help, 50/50) once worked with Marvel playing Gwen Stacy in 2007’s Spider-Man 3. Whilst promoting the new sci-fi sequel Jurassic World, she was questioned about returning to the studio in a different role, specifically Captain Marvel. Howard seemed immensely in favour of the idea.

“Oh my God, will you write that? Will you write that please? Yes, let’s start a campaign now. That would be rad. Those movies are so fantastic, because talk about just these incredibly drawn characters! That’s the joy of the comics, is that you fall in love with these characters and it’s who they are that carries you from journey to journey to journey… it’s not just about set pieces. It’s really about who these people are, and so, yes, I just would love to be in a Marvel film.”

So far the only serious suggestion for a casting and director are Charlize Theron (Mad Max: Fury Road, Prometheus) and Angelina Jolie (Unbroken) respectively. We do know that the script is penned by Meg LeFauve (Inside Out) and Nicole Perlman (Guardians of the Galaxy) and is heading for a 2018 release.

Johnny Depp’s career is in a particularly horrific phase of his career. The star of Edward Scissorhands, Donnie Brasco and Pirates of the Caribbean hasn’t hit the spot recently besides 2009’s Michael Mann thriller Public Enemies, 2011 animation Rango and cameos in 21 Jump Street and Into the Woods. A varied reception for Alice in Wonderland, The Tourist, The Rum Diary and Dark Shadows plus financial failures The Lone Ranger, Transcendence and Mortdecai. Gangster drama Black Mass might be a return to Oscar contender form. The first proper poster for the film has been released.

Scott Cooper (Crazy Heart, Out of the Furnace) directs a cast including Benedict Cumberbatch (The Imitation Game, Sherlock), Joel Edgerton (Warrior, The Great Gatsby), Juno Temple (Atonement, Maleficent), Corey Stoll (House of Cards, Ant-Man), Dakota Johnson (21 Jump Street, Fifty Shades of Grey), Adam Scott (The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, Parks and Recreation), Jesse Plemons (Breaking Bad, The Homesman), Julianne Nicholson (August: Osage County, Masters of Sex), Peter Sarsgaard (Jarhead, Blue Jasmine) and Kevin Bacon (Apollo 13, Cop Car).

Black Mass – November 13th

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 – November 20th

Captain Marvel – November 2nd 2018

Gosling, Pitt and more confirmed for Big Short and first look at Johnny Depp in Black Mass

Writer director Adam McKay is well renowned for his excellent comedy work with Step Brothers, The Other Guys and the cult classic Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy but he’s moving into a different phase of his career with a Marvel film in the works and now the new political drama The Big Short. It has already assembled one of the finest casts of any upcoming film.

The cast of the film will feature Ryan Gosling (The Ides of March, The Notebook, The Place Beyond the Pines, Drive), Brad Pitt (Fight Club, Burn After Reading, Moneyball, Seven), Steve Carell (Foxcatcher, The 40 Year Old Virgin, The Office, Despicable Me), Melissa Leo (Frozen River, Prisoners, Oblivion, The Fighter), Marisa Tomei (The Wrestler, My Cousin Vinny, In the Bedroom, The Lincoln Lawyer), Rafe Spall (Life of Pi, Prometheus, What If, Hot Fuzz) and Christian Bale (The Dark Knight, American Psycho, American Hustle, The Prestige).

Following a chilling turn as The Wolf in Into the Woods, we can now see the latest transformation of Johnny Depp (Pirates of the Caribbean, Finding Neverland, Public Enemies, Edward Scissorhands) as the gangster Whitey Bulger in the new thriller Black Mass. Scott Cooper (Crazy Heart, Out of the Furnace) directs while Benedict Cumberbatch (The Imitation Game), Dakota Johnson (Fifty Shades of Grey), Joel Edgerton (Warrior), Juno Temple (The Dark Knight Rises), Corey Stoll (House of Cards), Adam Scott (The Secret Life of Walter Mitty), Jesse Plemons (Breaking Bad), Julianne Nicholson (August: Osage County), Peter Sarsgaard (An Education) and Kevin Bacon (Apollo 13) also star.

Black Mass – September 25th

The Big Short – 2016

Alice 2 casts Hatter’s father and Maisie Richardson Sellers added to Star Wars rumours

This month, we’re expecting the cast list for Star Wars: Episode VII to drop dramatically soon as the stars a finally revealed. So far, we know that Michael B Jordan, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Soairse Ronan, Gary Oldman, Jesse Plemons, Matt Smith, Sullivan Stapleton, Jack Reynor, Adam Driver, Jack O’Connell, Matthew James Thomas, John Boyega, Ed Speelers, Ray Fisher, Jason Flemyng, Benedict Cumberbatch, Michael Fassbender and Hugo Weaving have been, in some way, rumoured and attached to JJ Abrams’ (Star Trek Into Darkness, Lost, Super 8, Felicity, Alias) reboot alongside the original’s Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Anthony Daniels, Kenny Baker, Warwick Davis, Billy Dee Williams and Peter Mayhew.

It’s at this point that we introduce Maisie Richardson Sellers, an actress who’s only credit is in short film Our First World. The Hollywood Reporter states that she’s being considered for the female lead in the film. Sellers isn’t at all well known so we can expect that she came into Disney’s radar with the numerous auditions that took place all over Britain. Like I said, we genuinely can’t be too far from the official cast announcements so stay on Tuorhoth Movies for any updates.

The Muppets and Flight of the Conchords’ James Bobin takes over directing duties from Tom Burton for Alice in Wonderland’s sequel Through the Looking Glass. We know that Johnny Depp, Mia Wasikowska and Helena Bonham Carter will return, Sacha Baron Cohen has been rumoured for a role and we can expect the first film’s Anne Hathaway, Alan Rickman, Matt Lucas and Crispin Glover to return. We can know confirm that The Other Boleyn Girl’s Mark Rylance has joined the cast as Mad Hatter’s (Depp) father. The original’s reception was varied and it’ll have been six long years since the billion dollar success so it’s quite hard to predict what success the film will find.

Through the Looking Glass – May 27th 2016

Star Wars: Episode VII – December 18th 2015

Ejiofor rumoured as Bond villain, new X-Men posters and Star Wars 7 already shooting

X-Men returns in a big way with Fox’s tentpole release of Days of Future Past and their publicity campaign took a huge step with the unveiling of ten new posters, which you can admire here. Bryan Singer (Valkyrie, The Usual Suspects, X-Men 2) directs the story of our mutants being hunted down by machines and so they plot to send Wolverine back in time to change events and prevent their apocalyptic world from happening. The action sci-fi stars Hugh Jackman, Michael Fassbender, James McAvoy, Jennifer Lawrence, Nicholas Hoult, Shawn Ashmore, Ellen Page, Peter Dinklage, Halle Berry, Daniel Cudmore, Lucas Till, Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen.

British star Chiwetel Ejiofor was a highly respected supporting actor in the likes of Children of Men, American Gangster and Serenity but his career took flight with the lead role of Solomon Northup in Oscar Best Picture winner 12 Years a Slave, a film which got him an Oscar nomination and a BAFTA win. He’s now being seriously considered for a villainous role in the next James Bond film.

According to The Wrap, Ejiofor is the studio’s favourite to join the likes of Christopher Walken, Mads Mikkelson, Javier Bardem and Christopher Lee on the prestigious list of Bond villains. He could be joining Daniel Craig, Naomi Harris, Ralph Fiennes, Ben Whishaw and Rory Kinnear as well as director Sam Mendes (Road to Perdition, American Beauty, Revolutionary Road, Skyfall) for the so far untitled 24th instalment of the James Bond series.

It’ll probably be the highest grossing film of 2015 and yet we don’t know one cast member of Star Wars: Episode VII. As well as the original’s Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford there’s Michael B Jordan, Saoirse Ronan, Jason Flemyng, Sullivan Stapleton, Adam Driver, Benedict Cumberbatch, Hugo Weaving, Michael Fassbender, Jack O’Connell, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Jack Reynor, Matt Smith, Jesse Plemons, Ed Speelers, Ray Fisher, John Boyega, Matthew James Thomas and Gary Oldman.

It’s director, JJ Abrams (Super 8, Star Trek Into Darkness, Lost, Felicity), had originally announced that filming would kick off this May but he’s just dropped the bombshell that the film is already shooting. We’re not sure if they were just minor scenes or if the scheduled production date was just a ruse to send the press of the spoiler-scent. Abrams also had this to say about the casting development. “We have a lot of them. We’re just not completely done yet.” Surely then we can only be weeks away from an official casting.

Star Wars: Episode VII – December 18th 2015

Bond 24 – October 23rd 2015

X-Men: Days of Future Past – May 22nd

Star Wars 7 sights Lupita Nyong’o, Sienna Miller targets American Sniper and Marc Webb leaves Amazing Spider-Man 4

There’s a stellar list of actors who’ve discussed or been rumoured for roles in JJ Abrams’ (Star Trek: Into Darkness, Lost, Super 8) Star Wars: Episode VII. There’s been Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Gary Oldman, Sullivan Stapleton, Jack O’Connell, Saoirse Ronan, Benedict Cumberbatch, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Matt Smith, Hugo Weaving, Michael Fassbender, Adam Driver, Jack Reynor, Jesse Plemons, Jason Flemyng, Michael B Jordan and most recently John Boyega, Ed Speelers, Ray Fisher and Matthew James Thomas. However, the only character who’s actually been cast is R2D2.

Continuing the theme of 12 Years a Slave stars (see Fassbender, Cumberbatch and Ejiofor – can we soon expect Paul Giamatti, Paul Dano and Brad Pitt?), the Oscar winning Lupita Nyong’o has been named in connection with the female lead in the film, the same role (presumably) Ronan was rumoured for, while Jesse Plemons and John Boyega are the favourites for the male lead and Adam Driver as the villain. Still, none of the cast have been confirmed but, the closer we get to the shooting, more stars will officially join the cast.

Legendary director Steven Spielberg (ET, Saving Private Ryan, AI, Schindler’s List, Empire of the Sun, The Colour Purple, War Horse, Lincoln, Jurassic Park, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Jaws, Munich, Amistad, War of the Worlds, The Terminal, Catch Me if You Can, Raiders of the Lost Ark) was set to begin pre-production on thriller American Sniper alongside star Bradley Cooper (Silver Linings Playbook, The Hangover, Limitless) but then Spielberg opted out of the project. The whole development seemed to slow until another legend, this time Clint Eastwood (Gran Torino, Unforgiven, Million Dollar Baby, Invictus, Mystic River, Letters From Iwo Jima, Changeling, The Bridges of Madison County, A Perfect World), in fact a five time Oscar winner, joined the production.

There’s been a major development in American Sniper with the word that Sienna Miller will be portraying the film’s female lead alongside Cooper. Miller is likely better known for Stardust, Factory Girl and GI Joe and picked up high praise plus BAFTA and Golden Globe nominations for her lead role in TV movie The Girl. The Wrap’s report states that Miller was selected over other considered stars such as Evangeline Lilly (The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug), Kate Mara (127 Hours) and Jaimie Alexander (Thor: The Dark World) for the role and has entered negotiations. At least we know that, should this proposed deal fall through, there are some fine acting talents for plan b.

You may have picked up on our report that Marc Webb was to direct The Amazing Spider-Man 3. However, the man behind 500 Days of Summer will not call the shots on the fourth instalment, although he states that he’d like to become a “consultant” on the sequel. For the idea of a heir, the most popular suggestion is Drew Goddard, director of The Cabin in the Woods and the upcoming spinoff Venom.

The Amazing Spider-Man 4 – May 2018

Star Wars: Episode VII – December 18th 2015

American Sniper – 2016

John Boyega part of Star Wars rumour, Helena Bonham Carter for Alice 2 and Rooney Mara is Pan’s Tiger Lily

So far, only Mia Wasikowska, Johnny Depp and (potentially) Sacha Baron Cohen have been added by director James Bobin (Flight of the Concords, The Muppets), who replaces Tim Burton, to Alice in Wonderland 2, or Through the Looking Glass. It’s now confirmed, by Variety, that Helena Bonham Carter is returning for the sequel.

The two time Oscar nominee and star of Fight Club, Sweeney Todd and The King’s Speech will reprise her role as the villainous Red Queen who was last seen being banished into the woods with Crispin Glover’s Spader. We can expect her to be on a vengeful quest on both Alice and the White Queen (Anne Hathaway) but neither Glover or Hathaway have spoken about returning yet.

Joining Benedict Cumberbatch, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Gary Oldman, Saoirse Ronan, Michael B Jordan, Michael Fassbender, Adam Driver, Hugo Weaving, Matt Smith, Sullivan Stapleton, Jack Reynor, Jack O’Connell, Jason Flemyng andJesse Plemons as well as original stars Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill on the extensive list of Star Wars: Episode VII rumoured actors is four fresh faces. Attack the Block and Imperial Dream’s star John Boyega leads the way in a new casting net for JJ Abrams’ reboot alongside Downton Abbey and Eragon’s Ed Speelers, Billy Elliot and The Lost Prince’s Matthew James Thomas and theatre actor Ray Fisher, who could be challenging Plemons for the role of an unspecified Jedi.

Atonement and Hanna director Joe Wright is set to be bringing us a new reimagining of Peter Pan in 2015. Hugh Jackman (X-Men, Les Miserables) was cast as Blackbeard, captain to the young private Hook (Garrett Hedlund – Tron: Legacy, Inside Llewyn Davis) but now Oscar nominee Rooney Mara (Side Effects, Her, The Social Network, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo) has been cast as Tiger Lily, although this does confirm that they’ll be replacing genuine Native American acting with a prosthetic similar to Johnny Depp’s Tonto in The Lone Ranger. Perhaps this can lead to further speculation as to who could be playing Peter Pan, Tinker Bell or The Lost Boys.

Pan – July 17th 2015

Alice in Wonderland 2/Through the Looking Glass – May 27th 2016

Star Wars: Episode VII – December 18th 2015

Adam Driver rumoured as Star Wars’ villain and Adam McKay shuts down Anchorman 3

You’ve probably heard a massive variety of rumours for the stars of JJ Abrams’ Star Wars: Episode VII. Series oldies such as Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, Anthony Daniels and Dee Bradley Baker have been a main part of the speculation as well as Gary Oldman, Sullivan Stapleton, Benedict Cumberbatch, Saorise Ronan, Chiwtel Ejiofor, Michael B Jordan, Hugo Weaving, Jack O’Connell, Jesse Plemons, Jason Flemyng and Michael Fassbender. Sadly, it’s all just suggestion but, with the script finished and shooting starting soon, someone’s got to be cast sooner or later – and we’re still waiting for a characters, plot details or a title!

Emmy nominated Adam Driver, star of Girls, Frances Ha, Inside Llewyn Davis and Lincoln, is the face of a report from Variety which pins him as the new villain. There’s yet to be any comment from Disney or Lucasfilm. Hopefully, there will be more announcements like this coming soon before shooting begins in April.

The sequel to comedy cult classic Anchorman launched in December to half decent reviews and its extended cut, Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues…Continued *with 763 new jokes, will be released tomorrow but director/writer Adam McKay has confirmed that there’s no chance of Ron Burgandy (Will Ferrell), Brick Tamland (Steve Carrell), Champ Kind (David Koechner) and Brian Fantana (Paul Rudd) will not return of a third outing, despite the new film’s huge box office takings.

McKay told Empire that “It’s done. I think that’s it. It was great to do it and it was so fun to work with those guys again, but I think that’s it for Ron Burgundy. No, that’s the last sequel we’re gonna do,” he adds, “There’s nothing more fun to me than new characters and a new world. And now we’re releasing this alt version, we’re totally satisfied. No Anchorman 3.”

Star Wars: Episode VII – December 18th 2015

Golden Globes winners plus Fassbender, Weaving and more for Star Wars 7

It’s over a month it’ll we reach what I consider to be the main events of the award season, the Oscars, Academy Awards, and BAFTA, British Academy of Film and Television Awards, but the Golden Globes possibly give the most accurate early insight into who’s leading the way to bringing home Best Picture. The show, hosted by Amy Poehler and Tina Fey, was held on Sunday and heralded these results.

Best Motion Picture – Drama:

12 Years a Slave

Captain Phillips

Gravity

Philomena

Rush

Best Actress – Drama

Cate Blanchett – Blue Jasmine

Sandra Bullock – Gravity

Judi Dench – Philomena

Emma Thompson – Saving Mr Banks

Kate Winslet – Labor Day

Best Actor – Drama

Matthew MacConaughey – Dallas Buyers Club

Chiwetel Ejiofor – 12 Years a Slave

Idris Elba – Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom

Tom Hanks – Captain Phillips

Robert Redford – All is Lost

Best Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical

American Hustle

Her

Inside Llewyn Davis

Nebraska

The Wolf of Wall Street

Best Actor – Comedy or Musical

Leonardo Di Caprio – The Wolf of Wall Street

Christian Bale – American Hustle

Bruce Dern – Nebraska

Oscar Isaac – Inside Llewyn Davis

Joaquin Phoenix – Her

Best Actress – Comedy or Musical

Amy Adams – American Hustle

Julie Delpy – Before Midnight

Greta Gerwig – Frances Ha

Julia Louis Dreyfus – Enough Said

Meryl Streep – August: Osage County

Best Supporting Actor

Jared Leto – Dallas Buyers Club

Barkhad Abdi – Captain Phillips

Daniel Bruhl – Rush

Bradley Cooper – American Hustle

Michael Fassbender – 12 Years a Slave

Best Supporting Actress

Jennifer Lawrence – American Hustle

Sally Hawkins – Blue Jasmine

Lupita Nyong’o – 12 Years a Slave

Julia Roberts – August: Osage County

June Squibb – Nebraska

Best Screenplay

Spike Jonze – Her

Bob Nelson – Nebraska

Jeff Pope, Steve Coogan – Philomena

John Ridley – 12 Years a Slave

Eric Warren Singer, David O’Russell – American Hustle

Best Director

Alfonso Cuaron – Gravity

Paul Greengrass – Captain Phillips

Steve McQueen – 12 Years a Slave

Alexander Payne – Nebraska

David O’Russell – American Hustle

Best Animated Feature

Frozen

The Croods

Despicable Me 2

Best Foreign Language Film

The Great Beauty

Blue is the Warmest Colour

The Hunt

The Wind Rises

Best Original Score

All is Lost

Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom

Gravity

The Book Thief

12 Years a Slave

Best Original Song

“Ordinary Love” – Mandela Long Walk to Freedom

“Atlas” – The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

“Let it Go” – Frozen

“Please Mr Kennedy” – Inside Llewyn Davis

“Sweeter Than Fiction” – One Chance

American Hustle leads the way with three wins but it’s Dallas Buyers Club, Gravity and 12 Years a Slave that’ll be remembered for last night’s success. The victories Alfonso Cuaron, Jennifer Lawrence, Cate Blanchett, Leonardo Di Caprio and Matthew MacConaughey were expected but there’s some real surprises with Spike Jonze, Amy Adams and Jared Leto picking up Globes.

I’ll give a quick review on the TV results. As expected, the final season of Breaking Bad won Best Drama and Best Actor, for Bryan Cranston, while Robin Wright won the Globe for Best Actress with Netflix’s House of Cards. In comedy, brand new cop show Brooklyn Nine-Nine caused an upset for the bookies as it starred taking Best Comedy and Best Actor (Adam Sandberg) in a Comedy from favourites such as The Big Bang Theory, Arrested Development, Girls and Modern Family. Steven Soderbergh’s Behind the Candelabra won both Best Mini-Series or TV Movie and Best Actor in a Mini-Series for Michael Douglas while Elizabeth Moss (Top of the Lake) won the corresponding Best Actress award. Jacqueline Bisset (Dancing on the Edge) and Jon Voight (Ray Donovan) respectively won Best Supporting Actress and Actor.

Star Wars: Episode VII, as you know, is an upcoming sci-fi reboot of George Lucas’ classic ’77 – ’83 trilogy that gained an poor name thanks to Lucas’ failed prequel ’99 – ’05 trilogy. JJ Abrams (Star Trek Into Darkness, Super 8, Lost, Felicity) will direct the new instalment that’s seen a number of intriguing cast rumours.

Benedict Cumberbatch, Daniel Day Lewis, and Chiwetel Ejiofor have gone round the rumour mill while Soarise Ronan, Jack O’Connell, Michael B Jordan and Sullivan Stapleton are confirmed to have had auditions. The Episode VII producers took a tour of Britain with open auditions across about five or six cities to find fresh face and old Star Wars favourites Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Billy Dee Williams, Peter Mayhew, Kenny Baker, Warwick Davis, Samuel L Jackson and Anthony Daniels are rumoured to reprise their roles.

Now, four fresh entrants to the series are in contention but, before you accuse this as a wild guess, consider that the closer we get to the film’s release, the more accurate the rumours’ll be. The latest batch of potential Star Warriors are Michael Fassbender, Hugo Weaving, Jesse Plemons and Adam Driver.

The Irish/Germanic Fassbender is probably the most known of the four. He’s equally spread between mainstream and award worthy performances after leading box-office success with Prometheus, Inglorious, X-Men: First Class and 300 and winning the critics in the more art-house Shame, Hunger and 12 Years a Slave, for which he’s tipped for Oscar success. I’m not sure if Fassbender will sign on as he’s already doing X-Men: Days of Future Past, Frank, Untitled Terrence Malick project, Assassin’s Creed, MacBeth and Prometheus 2 already lined up.

The other three are much more likely candidates. Hugo Weaving (The Matrix’s Mr Smith, The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit’s Elrond, Captain America’s Red Skull, V for Vendetta, Cloud Atlas’ Mrs Noakes), Adam Driver (Frances Ha, Lincoln, Inside Llewyn Davis and Girls’ Adam Sackler) and Jesse Plemons (Breaking Bad’s Todd, Friday Night Lights, Battleship, Paul) are the other three stars rumoured for Star Wars. Casting venerable stars such as Weaving is fine as long as they don’t waste them on pointless politician roles, see Terence Stamp as Chancellor Valorum. There was a rumour that a casting call went out for the role of Obi-Wan Kenobi’s daughter or granddaughter but that may just be fiction.

Star Wars: Episode VII – December 18th 2015