Jay Baruchel Joins David Cronenberg’s ‘Cosmopolis,’ Maggie Grace Will Be ‘Taken’ Again

Casting News Explosion Includes Rob Riggle As Villain In ’21 Jump Street,’ Tim Roth In ‘Arbitrage’ & Much More

Jay Baruchel is joining the cast of David Cronenberg‘s “Cosmopolis.” The rangy young actor will play a “financial whiz kid” in the film, who makes a fortuitous gamble over the course of the film’s single-day narrative. Baruchel is joining a loaded cast, including Robert Pattinson, Samantha Morton, Juliette Binoche, Paul Giamatti, Mathieu Amalric and Sarah Gadon. Baruchel will next be seen in the Michael Dowse-directed “Goon,” which he co-wrote with Evan Goldberg, before lending his voice to the second film in the “How To Train Your Dragon” series. Update: First tipped by C7nema and confirmed by reps for the film, Kevin Durand (“Lost,” “X-Men Origins: Wolverine“), Emily Hampshire (“The Trotsky“) and Patricia McKenzie have also joined the film playing Torval, Jane Melman and Kendra respectively.

Maggie Grace is poised for yet another kidnapping. Grace will return for the sequel to “Taken” (we find it hard to believe they’d go with “Taken 2,” but stranger things have happened). No word on whether her character gets kidnapped again, though, if we were to offer producer Luc Besson and director Oliver Megaton an idea, it would be great if she were tasked with rescuing her father this time (Liam Neeson). Grace is set to be kidnapped yet again in next year’s Besson-produced “Lockout” in addition to appearing in the next two “Twilight” installments.

Beefy former Marine Corps member-turned-comedian Rob Riggle is about to get villainous, strapping in to play the baddie in “21 Jump Street.” Riggle, who is about to front his own lame middlebrow ATM machine of a show on CBS called “Home Game,” is only described as the “main villain” of the film, so it’s possible other casting additions may follow. He’ll be battling against Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill as the mismatched leads in the TV adaptation. Riggle will next be seen in “Larry Crowne” and comedian Matt Walsh‘s directorial debut, “High Road.”

Tim Roth is preparing for a future beyond “Lie To Me.” His semi-hit Fox show is awaiting cancellation news, but in the meantime he’s joining “Arbitrage.” Roth will play a detective investigating a murder who gets involved with a hedge fund magnate dealing with a serious financial crisis. The oddly cast, Nicholas Jarecki-directed film also features Richard Gere, Susan Sarandon and Brit Marling.

Both Carrie-Anne Moss and Malcolm MacDowell are no stranger to direct-to-DVD fare. But their latest, the Michael J. Bassett-directed “Silent Hill: Revelation 3D” might actually bypass that distinction. Moss will be playing a cult leader in the anticipated-by-someone sequel, while MacDowell’s character can only be described as “having alternating airs of leadership one moment and loathsome crazy the next.” Okay then. The duo join a loaded cast that includes Adelaide Clemens, Kit Harington, and, from the first film, Radha Mitchell, Sean Bean and Deborah Kara Unger. Though overly maligned, the original “Silent Hill” earned $97 million worldwide and, by default, might be the best videogame-to-film adaptation yet.