Tuesday, November 17

• Hannibal Lecter to Play a Dwarf in The Hobbit?

  AICN's Australian correspondent reports that Brian Cox, the Scottish actor who originated the role of Hannibal Lecter in 1986's Manhunter and tried to take down Wolverine in X2: X-Men United as William Stryker, may play one of the dwarves in The Hobbit, Guillermo Del Toro's upcoming prequel to The Lord of the Rings triology.

  With John Rhys-Davies saying he would not return as the father of his Lord of the Rings character Gimli, clearly the search for actors to play the 13 dwarf characters is ongoing. However, Cox's casting is only a rumor at this point.

  Empire speculates that Cox could play Thorin, the meatiest dwarf role in the original novel, but really, Cox could be playing any of the dwarves or none at all. In any case, we have to admit that we hope they're right.

  The Hobbit will start shooting in March.

  
  

  Posted 11/17/2009 by Ryan

  Related: Brian Cox | Guillermo del Toro | The Hobbit

Friday, November 13

• The Cast of Red Expands

  Red, the comic book adaptation starring Bruce Willis as a retired black ops agent on the run from assassins who want to kill him, has arranged an impressive cast.

  THR reports that Julian McMahon, Ernest Borgnine, Brian Cox, and Richard Dreyfuss have signed on to join the movie's cast, which already includes Morgan Freeman, Helen Mirren, John C. Reilly, and Mary-Louise Parker.

  McMahon will play a corrupt Vice President at the heart of the conspiracy, while the 92-year-old Borgnine will play the keeper of the CIA's dark records. Dreyfuss will play a man whose wealth was gained from lucrative government contracts and Cox will play a former spy and nemesis of Willis.

  Red begins shooting in January with direction from Robert Schwentke from a script by Erich and Jon Hoeber (Whiteout). Red is scheduled to open on November 19, 2010.

  
  

  Posted 11/13/2009 by Ryan

  Related: Brian Cox | Bruce Willis | Ernest Borgnine | Richard Dreyfuss | Julian McMahon

Wednesday, December 24

• Liev Schreiber Not First Choice for Sabretooth

  Sabretooth, one of Wolverine's main foes, has already graced screens in X-Men and will appear again in X-Men Origins: Wolverine with Liev Schreiber in the role. However, Schreiber says he was initially supposed to play William Stryker, the role Brian Cox played in X-Men 2. "Initially I'd been asked to play Stryker and I said, 'Is there any chance that I might be able to play this Victor Creed guy?'" Schreiber told told the National Post.

  How did Schreiber know about Creed/Sabretooth and what did he have to offer? "I read the comics before I got offered the part. I mean, I knew the character really well. But what I hadn't seen in some of the earlier stuff that I was curious to pursue is figuring out what drives the guy and what are the qualities that developed because of that. It's like rather than just say that Sabretooth's a violent brute, I wanted to find out what makes the brute tick. Hopefully people will like it."

  
  
  Next Showing: X-Men Origins: Wolverine opens May 1, 2009

  Posted 12/24/2008 by reelz

  Related: Brian Cox | Liev Schreiber | X-Men Origins: Wolverine