If the Internet can’t convince Eon Productions to cast Idris Elba as James Bond, perhaps his new role can land him a villain gig in Bond 24. Elba is set to voice Shere Khan in Disney and Jon Favreau‘s take on “The Jungle Book.” Favreau will use live-action and VFX to bring the story to the screen. Expect to see this sooner than later as Disney is neck and neck with Warner Bros. with their own version of Rudyard Kipling’s classic. [Deadline]
Warren Beatty’s old friend Martin Sheen just joined the cast of his secretive Howard Hughes movie. Beatty is set to play Hughes, with the picture led by Alden Ehrenreich and Lily Collins, with Annette Bening and Matthew Broderick already signed up in supporting roles. Brett Ratner’s RatPac Entertainment are co-funding the movie with a bunch of billionaires. [Deadline]
Universal Pictures picked up a pitch inspired by Ellen Shanman‘s novel “Everything Nice.” The story will be written by Karen Croner, and the film is could star Rita Leeds herself, Charlize Theron, as it’s her production company Denver and Delilah Films who are behind this project. We’d wager that will depend how the script turns out about “an advertising exec who gets fired and takes on the only job she can get, teaching life skills to teenage girls at a public school. Lacking in the basic social skills herself, she tries her best to school her pupils in what they’ll need to know in order to survive.” [Deadline]
In November we reported that Jesse Eisenberg and Kristen Stewart were reteaming for “American Ultra,” and now comes word that Uma Thurman is joining the cast. ‘Ultra’ revolves around a stoner and his girlfriend who live in a sleepy town, whose lives are twisted upside down when something from his past comes to light and places him in the government’s crosshairs. Thurman will play a government worker who created a secret government program to develop sleeper warriors. Circle of Confusion, the company behind “The Walking Dead,” is involved in producing the film. [THR]
Renee Zellweger is returning to the screen after a four-year break, joining the Daniel Craig-led “The Whole Truth,” an espionage thriller. That’s about all we know about the film right now, but promisingly, “Frozen River” helmer Courtney Hunt is directing. [Variety]
Thomas Kretschmann, who is set to play baddy Baron von Strucker in “The Avengers: The Age of Ultron,” just signed on to play another bad guy in “Agent 47.” The movie is the sequel to 2007’s “Hitman,” and already has Zachary Quinto attached in another villainous role. Paul Walker was to have played the title character, but that role has since gone to Rupert Friend. [THR]
Lastly, Kim Soo Yun has reportedly been cast in a “substantial supporting role” in “The Avengers: Age Of Ultron.” What’s the part? Ha ha, nice try, no one is saying right now because according to her rep, “it would be a spoiler.” [JoBlo]
