Role Call: It’s Good To Be Bad!

This week’s edition of Casting News finds an abundance of roles for the actors that we love to hate (or really love despite their faults, in some cases!). Take a look at what’s next for Ralph Fiennes, David Bradley, Alan Rickman, and more!

Earlier this month it was announced that the voice of Paddington, Colin Firth, had left the film after realizing that he was not the right fit for the character. The film, produced by David Heyman, has now found the new voice for the cuddly bear in Ben Whishaw, according to The Daily Mail. Whishaw’s name may sound familiar to the HP crowd – he starred alongside alum Rupert Grint in the stage production of Mojo.

David Bradley may still be on board for the FX television series The Strain, but he’s already talking about a potential return to the HBO series Game of Thrones. According to an interview Bradley gave to IGN, the actor ran into producer and screenwriter David Benioff who indicated that fans may still see the return of Walder Frey.

I bumped into David Benioff and a few of the Starks that I, um, got rid of at Comic Con in San Diego last year, and we all had a meal and a drink. And they said, “Oh, we’ll be seeing you again soon.” Obviously not in the fourth season, but I’m sure there’s some kind of retribution waiting for me somewhere down the line.”

Rumor patrol! According to the site India Glitz, Ralph Fiennes could potentially star and direct in a film version of William Dalrymple’s The White Mughals, which is a  true love story that took place in early nineteenth century Hyderabad between James Achilles Kirkpatrick and Khair-un-Nissa Begum. The film is rumored to be titled after the female protagonist Khair-un-Nisaa. Let’s hope we hear more on this interesting film with Fiennes as a romantic lead!

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Emma Thompson‘s film Chef has undergone a name change. The film, starring Uma Thurman and Bradley Cooper, has been changed to Adam Jones and is currently filming in New Orleans before moving production to London.

Adding yet another voice credit to his resume, Stephen Fry has taken on the voice of a series about the laws of the game Cricket. The company behind the videos, MCC, take the actor’s participation in the series just as seriously as they do the game.  Says John Stephenson, MCC Head of Cricket:

As the Guardians of the Laws and Spirit of the game, MCC believes it is vital to teach children and adults of all nationalities how to play the game hard but fair, and these animations are the perfect way to do that. Of course having such a recognisable voice as Stephen Fry’s describing the Laws complete the package, and I’m sure they will prove very popular.”

You can view the series below!

We finally have our first look at Pixels, directed by Chris Columbus. The photo was released last week via Entertainment Weekly in anticipation of this week’s San Diego Comic-Con: International. Take a look at the still below, featuring Adam Sandler and Peter Dinklage:

Columbus appears to be having a great time directing the film, telling EW:

I feel very fortunate to be able to do a movie that feels extraordinarily original and unique. It’s a little bit of an homage to Ghostbusters and all those great Amblin movies of the eighties—not only the movies that I was involved in like The Goonies and Gremlins—but the movies I loved when I was working there like Back to the Future.”

Helen McCrory is back on the London stage in a new production of Medea. McCrory plays the titular character, who gets revenge on her spouse by murdering their children. The play recently had its press opening on Monday at Britain’s National Theatre. You can learn more about the production or purchase tickets here. The production will also join Bill Nighy’s Skylight in being broadcast to cinemas – the show is set for a worldwide cinematic debut on September 4. You can find out where you can view the production in your local area here.

Dig, starring Jason Isaacs, has now been moved from filming in Jerusalem to filming in the United States due to the conflict in the region. Plans to take a small hiatus had already been in effect, but the news that the production had moved was announced earlier this week.  Executives for the show said in a statement:

Given the current situation and after careful consideration, we are relocating the production of Dig partly to Albuquerque and are continuing to explore other locations. “Our experience filming in Israel was very positive and we are grateful to have had the opportunity to capture such an authentic landscape that will be threaded throughout the series.”

Mr. Turner, the film starring Timothy Spall that garnered great acclaim at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, finally has a movie poster! The poster was released only a few days ago, showing a broad paint stroke and behind it, the artist himself, as portrayed by Spall. The film is the biopic of JMW Turner, an British artist renowned for his work in oil and watercolor mediums. Take a look at the poster below!

While we still have not seen a full trailer for the movie, we have more news to report on the live-action version of Kenneth Branagh‘s Cinderella, also starring Helena Bonham Carter. According to Hallels, the story will give us a different account of the classic rags-to-riches lovestory. Traditional versions have been from the point of view of the titular character, but the latest version reportedly tells the story from the viewpoint of Prince Charming! The male lead is being played by Game of Thrones heartthrob Richard Madden (Rob Stark). The film is scheduled for a March 13, 2015 release date.

News from PBS regarding Downton Abbey and the sequels to the Worricker Chronicles have perked up our extendable ears! The fifth season of Downton Abbey, starring Dame Maggie Smith, is slated for a January 4, 2015 premiere date in the US! We’ve seen a few photos from the new season, but with the news of the Emmy nods for the series fourth season, we can’t wait to see what the new season will bring. In addition, PBS will bring the sequels to Page Eight, which aired this year in the UK, to viewers in the US! The sequels in the Worricker series, Turks and Caicos and Salting the Battlefield, star not only Bill Nighy but also Ralph Fiennes! Make sure to check your PBS station for the November 9 and 16 air times in your region.

Finally, news that made our hearts flutter a bit – Alan Rickman‘s film A Little Chaos will close the Toronto International Film Festival this year on September 14. The film stars Kate Winslet, Helen McCrory, and of course, Alan Rickman as King Louis XIV. Here is the synopsis for the film as we eagerly await a film trailer:

A female landscape-gardener is awarded the esteemed assignment to construct the grand gardens at Versaillers, a gilt-edged position which thrusts her to the very centre of the court of King Louis XIV.

Which project are you most excited for? Are you dying to see Prince Charming in action, or perhaps Alan Rickman as royalty? Tell us what you think of the latest casting news by posting your thoughts and comments below!