Daily Casting Report – 12/2/2004

Kevin Spacey (American Beauty, LA Confidential, The Usual Suspects) has leaked that he is “seriously considering playing,” Lex Luthor in the remake of “Superman,” with Bryan Singer (Xmen series, The Usual Suspects) at the helm. [Ed note: This is the role he was born to play].

Rupert Wainwright (Stigmata, The Sadness of Sex, Blank Check) will direct the remake “The Fog,” with a script adapated by Cooper Layne (The Core) from the original screenplay. Wainwright is currently helming “Blood and Chocolate,” but he is expected to leave that project for this classic remake.

Al Pacino (The Devil’s Advocate, The Scent of a Woman, Carlito’s Way) is negotiating to join the remake of “Witness for the Prosecution,” a script adapted by David E. Kelley (TV’s “Boston Legal”, TV’s “Ally McBeal”, Mystery, Alaska).

Dennis Quaid (The Day After Tomorrow, Frequency, Wyatt Earp) will write, direct and star in “Shame on You,” with costar Katie Holmes (Pieces of April, Phone Booth, Go).

Singer Usher is in final negotiations to star in the drama “Dying for Dolly,” with costars Emmanuelle Chriqui (100 Girls, Detroit Rock City) and Chazz Palmintieri (Mulholland Falls, The Usual Suspects), a film directed by Ron Underwood (Stealing Sinatra, Mighty Joe Young, City Slickers).

Ving Rhames (Pulp Fiction) will produce and star in “Animal,” a script penned by David C. Johnson (Woo) with costars Terrence Dashon Howard (Ray), Chazz Palminteri (The Usual Suspects), Jim Brown (Any Given Sunday), Wes Studi (Undisputed), Beverly Todd (TV’s “Ali: An American Hero”), Faizon Love (Torque), and Paula Jai Parker (My Baby’s Daddy).

Paul Giamatti (Sideways, Paycheck) is set to star in “Paper Man,” with writer / director team scribes Michele and Kieran Mulroney.

Richard Roxburgh (Van Helsing, Moulin Rouge!) and Tom Sturridge (Being Julia, Vanity Fair) have joined Toni Collette (Connie and Carla, The Sixth Sense) and Eddie Redmayne in “Like Minds,”