Johnny Depp To Co-Star In JK Rowling’s ‘Fantastic Beasts’ Sequel
The actor, who has a cameo in the first film, will take a prominent role alongside Eddie Redmayne in the second in JK Rowling’s Potterverse franchise. (GUAR)
Sony Pictures Entertainment Launches China Writers Initiative
The budding talent will meet with established Hollywood film, television executives and screenwriters to exchange and collaborate on ideas both for Hollywood films as well as Hollywood Chinese co-productions. (WRAP)
Critics’ Choice Announcement Sparks More Resignations
Six more journalists have resigned from the executive committee of the Broadcast Television Journalists Association following the news that TV nominations for the next Critics’ Choice Awards will be announced exclusively on EW.com and the People/Entertainment Weekly Network. (DH)
AFM: Matt Dillon To Star In Lars Von Trier’s Serial Killer Drama ‘The House That Jack Built’
Matt Dillon and Bruno Ganz will star in The House That Jack Built. Lars von Trier is directing the drama. Originally planned as a TV series, the movie will be shot from the perspective of Jack, played by Dillon. (THR)
Ava DuVernay’s ‘A Wrinkle in Time’ Finalizes Cast As Filming Begins This Week
Leading the charge in an inspired bit of casting is newcomer Storm Reed as Meg Murry, but DuVernay’s ensemble is also filled out by plenty of familiar faces. (COLL)
Martin Sheen & J.K. Simmons Will Voice ‘The Boxcar Children: Surprise Island’
Martin Sheen and J.K. Simmons have boarded the animated feature The Boxcar Children: Surprise Island as voice cast for Legacy Classics and Shout! Factory. (DH)
Paramount Scoops Up ‘Cascade’ Pitch From James Coyne
Treasure Island scribe James Coyne has sold sci-fi pitch Cascade to Paramount Pictures. Details of the plot are being kept under wraps. (TB)
Oscar Isaac To Star In ‘Life Itself,’ A Multigenerational Romance
Oscar Isaac will star in Life Itself. Dan Fogelman will write and direct the project, which is a co-production between FilmNation and Temple Hill. (IW)
Holliday Grainger To Star In J.K. Rowling’s ‘Cormoran Strike’ TV Series
British actress Holliday Grainger has been cast in the BBC’s The Strike Series, which is based on J.K. Rowling’s bestselling crime novels written under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith. (VAR)