Casting Round-up with James Marsden, Rupert Friend, Elijah Wood, and Rebel Wilson

January 10th 2014, 9:31am

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

Some new additions to several movies have been announced, including a couple of films that had to recast because of Paul Walker's tragic death. Walker was set to star in AGENT 47 (the sequel to 2007's HITMAN) as the bald assassin from the video game series, and THR has learned "Homeland" star Rupert Friend is in talks for the role. AGENT 47 will be directed by Aleksander Bach, and it will be his feature film debut.

Paul Walker had also signed on to star in the Nicholas Sparks adaptation THE BEST OF ME before his death, and Deadline is reporting James Marsden has been offered his part. THE BEST OF ME is about a former high school couple who are reunited 20 years later when they have to return to their small town for a funeral. The film also stars Michelle Monaghan (GONE BABY GONE, SOURCE CODE), and will be directed by Michael Hoffman (THE LAST STATION, THE EMPEROR'S CLUB, ONE FINE DAY.)

Deadline is also reporting Rebel Wilson has signed on for the third film in the NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM series. Wilson will play a night guard in Shawn Levy's film, which also stars Ben Stiller, Robin Williams, Owen Wilson, Steve Coogan and Ricky Gervais. NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM 3 will be in theaters on December 25th, 2014.

Last but not least, Elijah Wood has agreed to star in SET FIRE TO THE STARS for "Downton Abbey" director Andy Goddard. SET FIRE TO THE STARS will, "tell the story of the turbulent and moving relationship between aspiring poet, John Malcolm Brinnin and his hero, the hellraising Welsh poet Dylan Thomas." Wood will play Brinnin, and Thomas will be played by Welsh actor Ceyln Jones, who also co-wrote the script for SET FIRE TO THE STARS with Goddard. SET FIRE TO THE STARS will also feature the talents of Kelly Reilly (SHERLOCK HOLMES, FLIGHT, Shirley Henderson (HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE, FILTH) and Steven Mackintosh (KICK-ASS 2, LOCK, STOCK AND TWO SMOKING BARRELS.) Production on SET FIRE TO THE STARS is scheduled to begin at the end of this month.