25 and Under: Vincent Kartheiser, best known for his role as Pete Campbell on Mad Men, has joined the cast of Andrew Niccol’s untitled Justin Timberlake–Amanda Seyfried thriller (previously known as I’m.mortal). Kartheiser will be playing the father of Seyfried’s character in the film, which also stars Cillian Murphy. Considering Kartheiser is only seven years older than Seyfried in real life, one might wonder what’s going on here. The explanation: The story is about a society where no one ages beyond the age of 25, except for those who have enough money to buy time. Okay. But hold on a second … Variety says Kartheiser’s character is “rich,” which would mean he could afford to age normally, which means this casting is back to not really making sense. Hmm. [Variety]
Rock Star: Steve Carell is attached to a feature vehicle based on the 2008 documentary Of All the Things. The film tells the story of songwriter/producer Dennis Lambert, who “achieved rock star status late in life” during a singing tour of the Philippines, and learned “he was to Filipinos what Jerry Lewis is to the French.” Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley (Horrible Bosses) will write the script; Carell is apparently a big fan of their work, as the pair also wrote Burt Wonderstone, Carell’s Vegas magician comedy. [Deadline]
First for Fantasia: Fantasia Barrino has announced she will be heading out on her first headlining tour this fall. The 30-city trek will begin on November 4 in Richmond and conclude with a St. Louis performance on January 1. Eric Benet and Kandi will be special guests on the tour, which Barrino said is going to “be a real special, intimate experience for them and for me.” [Billboard]
Together Again: Paul Haggis is primed to reunite with Russell Crowe on The Equalizer after the two collaborated on the upcoming The Next Three Days. Crowe has been attached to star in Equalizer for some time, and Haggis — who directed Crowe in Days — is negotiating to script the adaptation of the late-eighties TV series. The original CBS show “concerned the exploits of a former secret agent turned vigilante who could be hired to right wrongs.” Haggis is not set to direct right now, though that “remains a possibility.” [HR]
Levine on Lost: Jonathan Levine (The Wackness) will direct Little Girl Lost, a film based on a crime novel by Richard Aleas. Michael Bacall (who worked on 21 Jump Street and Scott Pilgrim vs. the World) will adapt the book, which tells the story of a detective who discovers his high-school girlfriend went on to a become a stripper … and has died. He proceeds to “journey to the seedy side to find the man responsible.” [Heat Vision/HR]
Like Father … : Warner Bros. has acquired an untitled pitch from Jonas Cuaron, who wrote the script for Gravity with his father, director Alfonso Cuaron. This project is described as a “gritty thriller set in Mexico City.” [Heat Vision/HR]
Duo Gets Possessed: The indie thriller Possession has lined up Johnny Lewis and Alexandra Holden to star. The project will be written and directed by Eduardo Sanchez, who co-wrote and co-directed The Blair Witch Project. This film will center on young newlyweds who encounter a demonic spirit. Lewis will play the groom, while Holden will play the bride’s sister and maid of honor. [Heat Vision/HR]
Love for Lizard: Joel Hopkins (Last Chance Harvey) will direct the indie feature film Lizard Music, based on Daniel Manus Pinkwater’s young-adult novel. Hopkins will also adapt the story, which tells the tale of a 11-year-old boy who “exists in a highly imaginative fantasy world of his own creation,” until he comes across a group of lizard musicians who “just might be real.” [Variety]
