There’s a lot of breaking news in Hollywood happening every minute. In the age of the blockbuster, it’s easy for some smaller movie and television news to slip through the crack. Last Week in Hollywood is our new weekly series highlighting all the interesting news from the last week that we thought didn’t warrant its own post, but was still worth mentioning. It’s less personal opinions and more a hearty roundup of what you might have missed.
Jaafar Jackson to Play Uncle Michael Jackson in Biopic
Jaafar Jackson, the 26-year-old nephew of Michael Jackson, will play the iconic singer in Michael, an upcoming biopic set to be directed by Antoine Fuqua. Jaafar Jackson is the son of Jermaine Jackson, who is the brother of Michael and a former member of The Jackson 5.
John Logan (Skyfall, The Aviator) penned the script for Michael. The film is being produced by Graham King (Bohemian Rhapsody). | Source: Deadline
Jennifer Aniston & Julia Roberts to Star in Body Swap Comedy
Amazon Studios has won a heated auction for an untitled body swap comedy that will star Julia Roberts and Jennifer Aniston. Max Barbakow (Palm Springs) will write and direct the film, with Margot Robbie‘s LuckyChap Entertainment producing alongside Roberts and her Red Om Films banner, Aniston’s Echo Films, and Barbakow. | Source: Deadline
Sydney Sweeney & Glen Powell to Headline R-Rated Rom-Com
Will Gluck is set to direct an untitled R-rated romantic comedy for Sony Pictures. Sydney Sweeney (Euphoria) and Glen Powell (Top Gun: Maverick) are set to star as the leads and love interests.
While the plot is being kept under wraps, the project is based on Ilana Wolpert’s script, which Gluck is rewriting. Joe Roth, Jeff Kirschenbaum, and Gluck are producing, with Sweeney exec producing for Fifty-Fifty Films. Natalie Sellers and Alyssa Altman are exec producing for RK Films. | Source: Deadline
Danielle Pinnock Lands Role in Candy Cane Lane
Danielle Pinnock, best known for her role in CBS’ Ghost, has landed a supporting role alongside Eddie Murphy and Tracee Ellis Ross in the holiday comedy Candy Cane Lane from Prime Video. Jillian Bell, Genneya Walton, Madison Thomas, Thaddeus J. Mixson, Nick Offerman, Robin Thede, and Chris Redd will also star.
Plot details remain under wraps, but the project is currently filming in Los Angeles. Reginald Hudlin is directing from a script by Kelly Younger, which the scribe based on his own childhood holiday experiences. | Source: Deadline
Dylan Sprouse Leads Action Thriller Aftermath
Dylan Sprouse (After We Collided) and Mason Gooding (Scream) will headline the action thriller Aftermath. Patrick Lussier directed the film from a screenplay by Nathan Graham Davis. Principal photography just wrapped in Boston. Megan Scott, Kevin Chapman, and Will Lyman round out the film’s supporting cast.
The official logline for Aftermath reads as follows: “On what should have been a peaceful afternoon drive, former Army Ranger Eric Daniels (Sprouse) finds himself trapped with hundreds of other commuters and a high-profile prisoner (Dichen Lachman) after a group of heavily armed ex-military contractors shut down Boston’s Tobin Bridge. As their leader (Mason Gooding) starts killing hostages, Sprouse must rely on his military training, killer instincts, and some unexpected help to get his little sister – and everyone else – home safely.” | Source: Deadline
More Casting to Know
- Giancarlo Esposito has joined the cast of Francis Ford Coppola’s Megalopolis. (Deadline)
- Actor Alex Wolff will reteam with Pig filmmaker Michael Sarnoski on Paramount Pictures‘ A Quiet Place: Day One. (Deadline)
- Xosha Roquemore is the latest to join the ensemble of Captain America: New World Order. (Deadline)
- Nikki M. James (The Book of Mormon) has been cast in Marvel Studios‘ upcoming Disney+ series, Daredevil: Born Again. (Deadline)
- Meryl Streep has been cast in the upcoming third season of Hulu‘s Only Murders in the Building. (The Hollywood Reporter)
- William H. Macy has boarded Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes in an undisclosed role. (Deadline)
- Ayo Edebiri (The Bear) has joined Thunderbolts. (Variety)
That’s it for the last few weeks. What projects mentioned are you interested in seeing once completed? Tell us in the comments!
