With the exception of the FX comedy “Wilfred,” Elijah Wood has kept a low profile since the “Lord Of The Rings” trilogy ended, sticking to indies and genre fare, and he continues in that latter vein, joining the horror movie “Cooties.” Written by “Glee” co-creator Ian Brennan and “Insidious” scribe Leigh Whannell, the film stars Wood as “an unlikely hero [who] must lead a motley band of teachers in the fight of their lives" against elementary school students who have been transformed “into a feral swarm of mindless savages” after a mysterious virus hits. Commercial and music video director Ace Norton will be making his feature-length directorial debut. [Deadline]
“Weeds,” “Think Like A Man” and "40 Year Old Virgin" actor Romany Malco will appear in what was undoubtedly pitched as the old-man version of “The Hangover,” the Dan Fogleman (“Crazy Stupid Love”) penned “Last Vegas.” Malco will appear alongside Robert De Niro, Michael Douglas, Morgan Freeman and Kevin Kline. Malco will play MGM concierge Lonny at the hotel where all the dudes are staying. Set around the legendary actors’ reunion for a bachelor party in Las Vegas, the film will unfortunately be helmed by Jon Turteltaub. “Last Vegas” opens next Christmas. [Deadline]
Since the integration of sound with cinema, many musicians have attempted to cross over into movies, with mixed results. The latest transplant is U2 drummer Larry Mullen Jr. who, after appearing last year in the “Man on the Train” remake, will have a role in the Erik Poppe-helmed “A Thousand Times Good Night.” Loosely based on the Norwegian director’s experiences as a war photographer during the eighties, the film will follow Juliette Binoche as “a woman divided between her passion for her dangerous work and her love for her family.” There’s no word on Mullen’s role yet. [Indiewire]
Haley Bennett’s most high-profile role to date, as Christian Bale’s love interest in Terrence Malick’s Austin music scene-set film, probably won’t be seen until a few years from now, but that isn’t stopping her from getting a bit of a career boost. She’s set to lead “Kristy,” a “‘Rosemary’s Baby’ type thriller” that follows Bennett as a student “alone on campus over the Thanksgiving break when a random encounter with a gang of violent outcasts leads them to target her as their next victim. To survive she must conquer her deepest fears to outwit them and fight back.” It seems like starring in a small horror film is becoming a rite of passage for rising actresses, with both Jennifer Lawrence and Elizabeth Olsen appearing in cheap horror films earlier in the year, and Bennett’s fellow Malick graduate Jessica Chastain going goth for next year’s “Mama.” “Donkey Punch” helmer Olive Blackburn will direct the film with a script by Anthony Jaswinski. [Variety]
