Branded: Russell Brand has been cast in Hawkwood, an action comedy written by Jared Stern that follows the “adventures of a real-life swashbuckling figure†named John Hawkwood. Hawkwood was apparently a “morally challenged but gifted swordsman†who was paid to lead various European armies during the Renaissance wars. Yes, that’s right, Russell Brand (not Russell Crowe) portraying a real-life leader of European armies. [Deadline]
Galifianakis Replies: DreamWorks has picked up Reply All, a comedy pitch that will be written as a starring vehicle for Zach Galifianakis. Phil Johnston (Cedar Rapids) will write the script, which tells the story of a guy (Galifianakis) who accidentally clicks “reply all†when sending an important e-mail and has to face the repercussions. Perhaps the sequel could be called “Inadvertent Facebook Poke.†[Deadline]
Worst Vacation Ever: Cillian Murphy and Thandie Netwon will star in The Retreat, a British thriller about a husband and wife who rent a remote island cottage while working to fix their marriage. One day they find … “a biohazard-suited soldier washed up on the beach, who warns them that everybody on the mainland has been killed by an airborne virus.†How lovely. [Deadline]
Giamatti’s Tour: Paul Giamatti is attached to play Nikita Khrushchev in a telepic for HBO. The project is based on Peter Carlson’s book K Blows Top about Khrushchev’s thirteen-day tour of the U.S. in Cold War–era 1959, during which “Khrushchev famously blew up when he was informed that a planned trip to Disneyland had to be tabled because of security concerns.†[Variety]
Bunker Shot: Robert Duvall and Lucas Black are starring in the indie golfing drama Seven Days in Utopia, about a young golfer working to make the pro tour. When he fails, he runs away … only to eventually find himself stranded in Utopia, Texas, where he meets an “eccentric rancher.†Fun trivia fact: Duvall and Black have worked together twice before, on Sling Blade and Get Low. [Variety]
Destination: Vegas: “Chillwave champions†Neon Indian will be heading out on a tour of the U.S. this fall with Prefuse 73 and Miniature Tigers. The engagements begin September 19 in Santa Barbara, and wrap up on October 14 in Vegas. [Pitchfork]
Oh Brother: Steve Coogan has joined the cast of My Idiot Brother, the indie comedy that stars this totally awful group of not-at-all-cool-seeming people: Paul Rudd, Elizabeth Banks, Zooey Deschanel, Emily Mortimer, Rashida Jones, and Adam Scott. [Deadline]