Casting Bits: Alia Shawkat In ‘He Loves Me’ And ‘The Brass Teapot’, Jacki Weaver In ‘Stoker’, David Oyelowo In ‘The Paperboy’
Alia Shawkatmay not be quite as ubiquitous asArrested Developmentco-star Jason Bateman, but she’s been quietly beefing up her film resume over the past few years. Recently, Shawkat added two more projects to her slate:He Loves Me,Jonathan DaytonandValerie Faris' follow-up toLittle Miss Sunshine; andThe Brass Teapot, starringJuno TempleandMichael Angarano.He Loves Merevolves around a lonely young novelist (Paul Dano) who writes a fictional dream girl for himself — and manages to will her into existence. (She’ll be played by Dano’s real-life girlfriendZoe Kazan, who also wrote the script). Shawkat will play a hipster who’s obsessed with one of Dano’s literary creations, and who has a crush on the novelist himself.Annette Bening,Deborah Ann Woll,Steve Coogan,Elliot Gould, andChris Messinaare also set to star.The Brass Teapotmarks the feature film debut of directorRamaa Mosley, known for her work in commercials and music videos. The dark comedy follows “a broke young couple who steal a brass teapot that produces cash whenever someone feels pain.” Shawkat will play the best friend of Temple’s character; I’m assuming Temple and Angarano will play the main couple. [Variety]
After the jump,Animal Kingdomstar Jacki Weaver picks up a new gig, and David Oyelowo signs up for Lee Daniels' new project.
At some point last year,Lee DanielscastDavid Oyelowoas Martin Luther King, Jr. in his civil rights filmSelma. That project has since fallen apart, but happily for Oyelowo, it seems Daniels was determined to work with him one way or another. Oyelowo is now set to star in Daniels’Pete DexteradaptationThe Paperboy, oppositeMatthew McConaughey,Zac Efron,John CusackandNicole Kidman. The film centers around a reporter (McConaughey) and his brother as they investigate a murder that put the suspect (Cusack) on death row. Oyelowo will be playing a character named Yardley who joins forces with the reporter for the investigation.
With or without Daniels, though, Oyelowo’s career seems to be on an upswing. The actor has two films lined up for next month:Rise of the Planet of the Apes, opening August 5, andThe Help, opening August 10. [ThePlaylist]
