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Casting Tidbits: Paul Rudd, Billy Bob Thornton and Joshua Jackson

by Ethan Anderton
April 19, 2011

Okay, so it's not a plan. Look, I'm not good with plans. And I'm not good with Casting Tidbits. What I am good with is kicking ass and ripping throats. First up, Deadline has word on a couple more cast members joining Logan Lerman and Emma Watson in the adaptation of The Perks of Being a Wallflower. The fantastic Paul Rudd and "Vampire Diaries" star Nina Dobrev have both joined the cast. Though Rudd's role is unclear at this point, Dobrev will be taking the role of Candace. The coming-of-age story follows a shy and unpopular teenager who describes his life by writing a series of letters to an anonymous person.

Second, The Wrap is reporting that Billy Bob Thornton (Bad Santa) and Eva Longoria ("Desperate Housewives") will lead a new comedy The Baytown Disco. The story follows the foibles of three redneck brothers who get more than they bargained for after agreeing to help a woman get her son back from his seemingly abusive father. Presumably Thornton is one of the brothers, but the film also stars Serinda Swan (Tron Legacy), Clayne Crawford (A Walk to Remember) Thomas Sangster (Love Actually) and Megan Good (Brick). Barry Battles is directing the film, which starts shooting in Louisiana next month.

Next, Variety reports that Joshua Jackson ("Fringe") has joined Stephen Frears' adaptation of Lay the Favorite, the story of a professional gambler named Beth Raymer who started off as a cocktail waitress in Las Vegas but soon rose to become one of the world's best gamblers. After falling in love, Raymer soon begins to re-evaluate her life and the profession she has chosen. Rebecca Hall leads the film with Bruce Willis playing another professional gambler.

Finally, Deadline reports James Franco and Winona Ryder will both star in The Stare, a new indie film which will be the first project from Waterstone Entertainment. The drama follows a playwright (Ryder) who finds her mind beginning to warp as she struggles to launch her next production. She's plagued by dreams and visions of being watched, but can't decide if she's at the center of a manipulative plot or simply losing her grip on reality. Franco plays one of the performers in the playwright's production. Shooting begins next month with Jay Anania sitting in the director's chair.

That's all for this edition of Casting Tidbits. Be sure to stay tuned for even more casting news on the way.

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