Rapace to Star in “Animal Rescue”

Noomi Rapace may be coming to the rescue

Fox Searchlight is reportedly offering the 32-year-old half-Spanish actress the female lead role in Animal Rescue, and is in final talks with Tom Hardy to co-star.

Noomi Rapace

Scripted by Gone Baby Gone author Dennis Lehane from a short story first published in the collection Boston Noir, the drama focuses on a man who wants to shed his criminal past but managed to get mixed up in a bad heist and a killing resulting from a lost and contested pit bull.

Animal Rescue will be directed by Michael R. Roskam, whose breakout film Bullhead was an Academy Award nominee for Best Foreign Language film last year.

Rapace – the original Girl With a Dragon Tattoo in the original Swedish version – most recently starred in Ridley Scott’s Prometheus, and she’ll return for the sequel to the sci-fi film.

She also starred in the Brian DePalma-directed Passion, which made its debut at the New York Film Festival.

Cruz In Negotiations to Star in “Gucci”

She’s donned Gucci on the red carpet, but Penelope Cruz may soon be appearing on the big screen in a film about the Italian family behind the legendary clothing brand.

The 38-year-old Spanish actress and 2013’s Campari calender girl is currently in talks to star in Gucci, according to The Wrap.

Penelope Cruz

Directed by Ridley Scott’s daughter Jordan Scott, the film tells the story of the late Maurizio Gucci, grandson of Gucci’s founder, as he becomes heir to the family empire.

Gucci was shot to death in 1995. His ex-wife, Patrizia Reggiani, was jailed for the killing in 1999.

The project, first announced in 2006, originally had Ridley Scott attached to direct from a script by Andrea Berloff. Several other writers have since been involved in the project.

Angelina Jolie was approached in 2009 to play Reggiani, who was jailed for 29 years for allegedly ordering the killing of her ex-husband, when Ridley was still attached to direct.

Reports of the film’s resurfacing came as Gucci makes a push to re-establish the brand as synonymous with Hollywood glamour, which it has been struggling to do since Tom Ford left the house in 2004.

The company has become increasingly involved in the film world. Gucci has given more than $2 million to Martin Scorsese to help him restore old films, including Federico Fellini‘s La Dolce Vita and Sergio Leone‘s Once Upon a Time in America.

The label also funds film scholarships and supports a weekly film series at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

Details Emerge on Rapace’s “Prometheus” Sequel…

So, the plot thickens for Noomi Rapace’s Prometheus sequel…

The sci-fi film’s director Ridley Scott has offered some insight into the planned sequel to Prometheus, which will see the 32-year-old half-Spanish actress reprise her role as archaeologist Elizabeth Shaw.

Noomi Rapace in Prometheus

In an interview with Metro, Scott talked candidly about his idea on how Rapace’s and Michael Fassbender‘s characters would make their return in the untitled Prometheus sequel.

At the end of the film, which has earned $402 million worldwide, Rapace’s character runs away from the hellish planet while carrying the head of Fassbender’s David, an android that acts as the ship’s butler and maintenance man.

“Prometheus evolved into a whole other universe,” Ridley explained, before hinting that the scene might lead to an important event in the sequel.

“You’ve got a person [Noomi’s Elizabeth] with a head in a bag [Michael’s David] that functions and has an IQ of 350,” he elaborated further. “It can explain to her how to put the head back on the body and she’s gonna think about that long and hard because, once the head is back on his body, he’s dangerous.”

Asked if the sequel would revolve around David and Elizabeth’s story, Scott said, “[Laughs] I wish it was that easy.” He added, “They’re going off to paradise but it could be the most savage, horrible place. Who are the Engineers?”

No word yet on when production of the sequel would begin.

Rapace Returning in “Prometheus” Sequel?

It appears that Noomi Rapace will be heading back to outer space…

20th Century Fox has announced that Ridley Scott’s science fiction thriller Prometheus, which stars the 32-year-old half-Spanish actress, will be getting a sequel.

Noomi Rapace

The studio confirms that the follow-up to the groundbreaking mythology film is expected to be released sometime in 2014 or 2015, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

It’s believed that the director Scott and 20th Century Fox are actively pushing ahead with the untitled Prometheus sequel and have even sealed deals with Rapace, who will appear in Dead Man Down next April, as well as Michael Fassbender to return to the ensemble cast.

But the follow-up film will need to find a new writer since Damon Lindelof will not come back to provide the script.

“Ridley is incredibly excited about the movie, but we have to get it right. We can’t rush it,” Emma Watts, Fox president of production, says of the sequel to the $130 million-costing sci-fi flick, which has grossed a solid $303 million internationally since its release on June 8.

Leguizamo Signs on for Two High-Profile Films

There’s no slowing down for John Leguizamo

The 48-year-old Colombian-born actor/comedian, who can currently be heard in theaters in Ice Age 4: Continental Drift, has signed on to star in two highly anticipated films.

John Leguizamo

Leguizamo will appear in Ridley Scott’s The Counselor and the Jeff Wadlow-scripted Kick-Ass 2, despite a deal to star in the ABC comedy pilot Only Fools and Horses.

In The Counselor, he’ll play a low level drug dealer in the Cormac McCarthy-scripted film that stars Michael Fassbender, Brad Pitt, Penelope Cruz and Cameron Diaz.

Meanwhile, in the Kick-Ass sequel, he’ll play Javier, a bodyguard assigned to protect aspiring evil guy Red Mist, the role to be reprised by Christopher Mintz-Plasse. Aaron Johnson, Chloe Moretz and Nicolas Cage will also be back to star in Kick-Ass 2.

Cruz to Star in “The Counselor” and “Los Amantes Pasajeros” in 2012

It looks like Penelope Cruz will be having an incredibly busy remainder of the year…

The 38-year-old Spanish actress has reportedly joined the stellar cast of Ridley Scott’s next big project The Counselor, as previously predicted.

Penelope Cruz

Cruz—who will soon be appearing on the big screen in Woody Allen’s To Rome With Love—will appear as Michael Fassbender’s love interest in the dramatic film that’s been called No Country For Old Men on steroids.

Along with Cruz and Fassbender, The Counselor will star Brad Pitt, Javier Bardem and Cameron Diaz.

In addition, Cruz could be teaming up again with noted Spanish director Pedro Almodovar this summer on his latest project, Los Amantes Pasajeros, according to Deadline.com.

The Almodovar-penned comedy, which will star 36-year-old Spanish actress Paz Vega, follows a group of travelers who are placed in life-threatening situation aboard a plane flying to Mexico City. The passengers are defenseless in the face of danger, which provokes colorful confessionals that are their way to put out of mind the possibility they might be about to die.

Los Amantes Pasajeros will begin shooting this summer in Madrid.

Rapace the Focus of Attention in Latest “Prometheus” Trailer

Noomi Rapace rose to acclaim in the original Girl with a Dragon Tattoo movies; and she successfully crossed over into English-language films with Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows… And if the latest clip for Prometheus is any indication, she will be riveting audiences in her next blockbuster.

20th Century Fox and Verizon unleashed a brand new clip called “Quiet Eye,” which focuses on the 32-year-old half-Spanish actress’ character Dr. Elizabeth Shaw. It shows her sending a message to Guy Pearce‘s Peter Weyland of Weyland Industries.

Noomi Rapace in Prometheus Clip

As Shaw is imploring Weyland to help finance her research in uncovering humanity’s origins, the fictional company from the Alien series monitors her call. It can also be seen how the company’s software is analyzing the scientist’s face as she delivers her heartfelt plea.

Prior to the release of Rapace’s viral video, two other viral videos have been put out earlier as part of the movie’s ad campaign. One features the introduction of Michael Fassbender‘s David 8 android, while the other one shows Peter Weyland promoting a world change through his company during a TED Conference in 2023.

Directed by Ridley Scott, Prometheus follows a team of explorers as they discover a clue to the origins of mankind on Earth that leads them on a thrilling journey to the darkest corners of the universe. There, they find out that they must fight a terrifying battle to save the future of the human race.

In addition to Rapace, Pearce and Fassbender, this sci-fi thriller stars Charlize Theron, Idris Elba and Logan Marshall-Green among the cast ensemble.

Prometheus is slated to open in theaters on June 8.

Diaz Set to Star in “The Counselor”

Cameron Diaz could be the latest Hollywood superstar to seek The Counselor

The 39-year-old half-Cuban American actress is reportedly in final negotiations to star in director Ridley Scott’s The Counselor.

Cameron Diaz

Should Diaz sign on the dotted line, she will join an all-star cast that includes Michael Fassbender, Brad Pitt, Javier Bardem and Penelope Cruz.

Based on the original script by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Cormac McCarthy, the film centers on a respected lawyer (Fassbender) who thinks he can dip a toe into the drug business without getting sucked down, which proves to be a life-threatening decision.

In what’s considered a strong supporting role, Diaz would play Malkina.

Diaz—who shined bright at Monday night’s Met Ball—most recently starred in Bad Teacher, and will appear in the upcoming ensemble comedy What To Expect When You’re Expecting.

Cruz May Reunite with Her Husband on “The Counselor”

Penelope Cruz’s latest project with Woody Allen hasn’t even hit theaters yet… But she may already be lining up her next project, which could reunite her with her husband.

The 37-year-old Spanish actress is reportedly in talks to appear opposite Javier Bardem in The Counselor, the drug drama from Cormac McCarthy and Ridley Scott.

Penelope Cruz

The film is one of Hollywood’s hottest projects, due to the speed at which it seems to be coming together, as well as the star power associated with it.

Scott then decided to make it his next project, bringing with him Michael Fassbender, with whom he’d just finished Prometheus. Brad Pitt and Bardem then quickly came on board.

The story is set along the Mexican border and centers on Fassbender’s character, an attorney and good man in need of money who decides to dabble in the cocaine trade. He teams up with a rich acquaintance (Bardem) for the new business that also brings in a shady type (Pitt). Things quickly go awry in what is being described as a dialogue-heavy, violent and racy script.

Cruz, who would play Fassbender’s love interest, doesn’t have an offer yet. But talks have taken place and an offer is reportedly expected soon.

Cruz has worked with Bardem several times, dating back to 1992’s Jamon Jamon, with the last time being 2008’s Vicky Cristina Barcelona, which resulted in her Oscar win.

Bardem In Talks to Star in “The Counselor”

Javier Bardem could be spending time with the counselor this summer…

The 43-year-old Oscar-winning Spanish actor—who will be playing the villain in the highly anticipated James Bond movie, Skyfall—is in talks to join the cast of The Counselor, a film about a lawyer played by Michael Fassbender who gets in way too deep after flirting with the illegal drug trade.

Rumors are swirling that the thriller, to be directed by Ridley Scott, could also star Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie.

Production on The Counselor is expected to start production in late June.