Casting Corner: Cloris Leachman, Jack Black, Sly Stallone and More

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Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, Columbia Pictures, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Drama, Period, Romance, Comedy, Thrillers, Celeb News, Rumors, Upcoming Releases

Here’s a quick look at some of the casting announcements made recently:

Cloris Leachman: She may not have won a mirror-ball trophy, but she was able to snag something even bigger. Oscar-winner Cloris Leachman was recently added to Quentin Tarantino’s Inglourious Basterds (formerly spelled Inglorious Bastards) cast. The 82-year-old will cameo as Mrs. Himmelstein, an elderly Jewish woman who inspires Eli Roth’s character to seek vengeance. The WWII movie already has Brad Pitt, Mike Myers, Diane Kruger and B.J. Novak in its lineup.

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Jack Black: The Kung Fu Panda will be taking on another large character for his next flick. In March, Black will begin filming the lead role in a big screen adaptation of Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels. Jack will play Lemuel Gulliver, the man who finds himself shipwrecked on Lilliput, a land full of humans one-twelfth his size. Rob Letterman (Shark Tale) will direct.

Charlize Theron: The Battle in Seattle actress is in talks to join The Tourist, a film already starring Tom Cruise. In the movie, Theron would play an Interpol agent who uses an American tourist in an attempt to flush out an elusive criminal with whom she once had an affair. The film - a remake of a 2005 French film (Anthony Zimmer) - begins production in March.

Sylvester Stallone: The Rambo star will be hooking up with some younger guns for his next action flick. In The Expendables, Sly - with the help of Jason Statham and possibly Jet Li - will try and take down a South American dictator. The film, which the Oscar-winner wrote, will also be directed by Stallone. Production is set to begin next February.

Hugh Grant: The Notting Hill actor is looking to add one more leading lady to his romantic comedy belt. Grant and Sarah Jessica Parker are currently negotiating to star in a yet untitled pic for Columbia Pictures. Two would star as an estranged New York city couple who are forced to live in Wyoming after witnessing a murder. Marc Lawrence, the same man behind Grant’s Music and Lyrics and Two Weeks Notice, will also be helming this project.

Gary Oldman: The Dark Knight star will be leaving his city of caped crusaders and villains to venture into Allen and Albert Hughes’ post-apocalyptic world. In Book of Eli, Denzel Washington will play a lone warrior in America’s wasteland who tries to bring society the knowledge it needs for its own redemption. Oldman has been cast as the man who will try to and take away a book in Denzel’s possession. The film is scheduled for release on January 15, 2010.