The cast of Joel and Ethan Coen’s Hail, Caesar! already has an extremely impressive line-up which includes George Clooney, Josh Brolin, Channing Tatum, Tilda Swinton and Ralph Fiennes, but now two more actors are said to be in talks to join them. The Coen Brothers’ latest big screen caper is described as being set in the 1950s and focusing on a “fixer” who worked for the studios to protect the stars of the day.
According to Variety, Her star Scarlett Johansson will play an actress who suddenly becomes pregnant as her film is about to go into production. This mirrors real-life as the actress announced that she was expecting back in March, just weeks before Avengers: Age of Ultron was set to begin shooting.
The Wrap adds that we should also expect a 22 Jump Street reunion as Jonah Hill is in talks to play one of the actors who requires the help of the fixer. At this point, there’s no word on whether or not Hill and Tatum would actually share any scenes, but neither his or Johannson’s roles are expected to be too big.
In other casting news, Deadline reveals that Alex Baldwin (30 Rock) is being lined up to play the head of the CIA in Mission: Impossible 5, the movie which will be directed by Jack Reacher helmer Christopher McQuarrie. His role will apparently be similar to that of Lawrence Fishburne’s in Mission: Impossible III.
While Jessica Chastain had been mentioned to be up for the lead female role in the movie, she has apparently passed on the project, so the studio are still on the hunt for an actress to star in the Drew Pearce and Bruce Geller penned Mission: Impossible 5. Variety reveals that that could be relative unknown Rebecca Ferguson. She will play an assassin of some sort, and will next be seen opposite The Rock in Hercules.
Baldwin is also being eyed to join Will Smith in Peter Landesman’s movie about football concussions and could end up playing a Rob Ford-like Mayor of New York City In a new cable TV series. Ford is the mayor of Toronto and has become infamous for his outlandish behaviour and substance abuse.
