Movie Casting News

Ian McKellenCast In: 'The Hobbit'About the Role: The 68-year-old actor, who earned an Oscar nomination for his turn as true-hearted wizard Gandalf in the 'Lord of the Rings' trilogy, will reprise the part in director Guillermo del Toro's 'The Hobbit,' playing a younger version of himself who helps Bilbo Baggins (Frodo's uncle) slay a dragon.

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Mel GibsonCast In: 'Edge of Darkness'About the Role: This thriller, based on a BBC miniseries, marks Gibson's first starring turn since 2002's 'Signs.' He'll play a straitlaced cop investigating the death of his activist daughter.

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Brad PittCast In: 'Chad Schmidt'About the Role: Pitt will play the eponymous Chad Schmidt, a wannabe actor whose career is hurt by his uncanny resemblance to Brad Pitt (also played by -- you guessed it -- Brad Pitt).

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Emma WatsonCast In: 'Napoleon and Betsy'About the Role: The 'Harry Potter' star will play an impetuous young noblewoman who falls for diminuitive French dictator Napoleon whilst he's in exile on the British Isle of Helena.

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Shia LaBeoufCast In: 'New York, I Love You' & 'The Dark Fields'About the Roles: After shooting the Anthony Minghella-scripted portion of the anthology film 'New York,' "The Beef" will play a slacker dude who ingests a top-secret drug to make him smarter -- but begins to experience seriously trippy side effects -- in the psychological thriller 'Dark Fields.'

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Natalie PortmanCast In: 'Wuthering Heights'About the Role: She'll play Heathcliff's star-crossed lover Catherine Earnshaw in the latest adaptation of Emily Bronte's classic novel.

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Elizabeth BanksCast In: 'W.'About the Role: The 'Definitely, Maybe' star will play First Lady Laura Bush to Josh Brolin's George W. in Oliver Stone's (supposedly) fair biopic.

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Leonardo DiCaprioCast In: 'Shutter Island,' 'Rise of Theodore Roosevelt,' 'Low Dweller'About the Roles: He'll reteam with Martin Scorsese for the first two, playing a U.S. Marshal and a young Teddy Roosevelt, respectively. And he'll star as an ex-con in Ridley Scott's 'Dweller.'

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Ben AffleckCast In: 'State of Play'About the Role: He'll star opposite Russell Crowe in the murder mystery thriller 'Play' -- and he could also be on tap to reprise his role as CIA analyst Jack Ryan in Sam Raimi's franchise reboot.

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Adam SandlerCast In: Untitled Judd Apatow ComedyAbout the Role: Apatow is keeping a lid on the plot to his 'Knocked Up' follow-up. He and former roommate Sandler last worked together writing the script for this summer's 'You Don't Mess With the Zohan.'

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