Casting Bits: John Lithgow In ‘Dog Fight;’ Rachel Weisz In ‘The Railway Man;’ Luke Wilson And Kevin Connolly In ‘Elvis & Nixon’
Dog Fightis going to be one of the more visible political satires to hit just before the 2012 Presidential election; the movie will be from directorJay Roach, featuringZach GalifianakisandWill Ferrellas North Carolina politicians who are running opposite one another for a congressional seat in a district election.Brian Coxrecently joined the cast, whichalso includesJason Sudeikis,Dylan McDermott,Sarah BakerandKatherine LaNasa. NowJohn Lightgowhas signed on to play an unspecified role. The film is shooting in New Orleans, and already has an June 06, 2025 release date. [Variety]
After the break, Rachel Weisz joins Colin Firth in a real-life drama about POWs forced to build a railroad, and there are new actors forElvis & NixonandA White Trash Christmas.
Colin Firthhas already been set to star inThe Railway Man, a film thatJonathan Teplitzkywill direct based onEric Lomax’s autobiography that tells of “his capture and torture by the Japanese in World War II, when he was sent to work on Burma’s notorious “death railway,” and his struggle for the next 30 years to come to terms with the trauma.”
Colin Firth will play the elder Lomax, and nowRachel Weiszis set to play his wife Patti, who helped Lomax seek a sort of reconciliation with his captors.Jeremy Irvine(War Horse) will play the younger version of Lomax in scenes set in WWII. [Variety]
Not too long ago we passed on the announcement ofElvis & Nixon, the film about the real-life meeting between the title personalities that will starEric Banaas the hip-shaking king (in his later years) andDanny Hustonas Nixon, under the direction ofCary Elwes. NowLuke Wilsonis in talks to play Sonny, one of the ‘Memphis mafia’ that forms the Elvis entourage, whileKevin Connollyhas signed to play a limo drive named Ronnie.
This will be Elwes' first feature as a director; he also co-wrote withJoey SagalandHanala Sagal. It sounds like the sort of film that results from years of carrying around one idea about what would make a good movie — a passion project, I guess, about a very strange moment in time. But maybe the writing trio has some insight beyond the obvious into why the clash of cultures between Elvis, Nixon and their respective crews was a specifically interesting moment in time. [THR]
Finally,Douglas Owenshas been added to the cast ofA White Trash Christmas, which is about “the tribulations of of a trashy, whiskey-soaked, unemployed hairdresser and mother who is visited by three ghosts who attempt to show her a path to a brighter future.“Ron Carlsonis directing and co-wrote withTerri Kaufman.
Taryn Manningplays the mother, and Owens will be a guy who genuinely likes her, but whom she uses as “a meal ticket.” [Deadline]
