Role Call: Holy Role-rs!

In this week’s role call, we get an all new look at Effie Gray, see a beloved Hogwarts portrait-dweller return to her religious roots, and learn the next project that He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named will take on! Dive on in for MuggleNet’s weekly Casting News!

Actress Dawn French will once again wear her vicar’s collar as she returns this March to her character Geraldine Granger, the Vicar of Dibley. French will be appearing in a one episode special for Comic Relief. French (the Fat Lady, Prisoner of Azkaban) previously starred in the series with the late Roger Lloyd-Pack (Bartemius Crouch, Sr., Goblet of Fire). The new episode, which will find Geraldine campaigning to become the Bishop of Dibley, can be seen on March 13 and the entire previous series, including two Christmas special episodes, can be found on Netflix.

A new trailer has been released for Emma Thompson‘s long-awaited Effie Gray, which will star not only Thompson (Professor Trelawney) and her husband, Greg Wise, but also Julie Walters (Molly Weasley) and Robbie Coltrane (Rubeus Hagrid). The film will finally see a release on April 3. You can view the new trailer below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQWyVwKETKw#t=102

Alas, it appears that rumors of Rupert Grint‘s (Ron Weasley) involvement in the Eddie the Eagle biopic are probably just that, as it was announced that another actor is now attached to the film. According to MovieWeb, however, another Potter alumnus is being eyed to play the titular character’s father. Filmmakers are hoping that Timothy Spall (Peter Pettigrew/Wormtail) might join the project, but are unsure if he will sign on. We’ll keep an eye on the potential casting for the film and let you know as soon as we hear any other tidbits!

Actor Christian Coulson (young Tom Riddle/Lord Voldemort, Chamber of Secrets) is set to star in an off-Broadway production of Everything You Touch. Coulson will play a fashion designer named Victor. The play is set to premiere January 28 at Cherry Lane Theater and tickets for the production can be purchased here. You can read the synopsis below:

Victor is a ruthless 1970’s fashion designer at the top of his game. Esme is his glamorous protégé and muse who is pushed aside when an ordinary Southern woman inspires Victor to make his artistry accessible to the masses. A generation later, a woman grappling with a healthy dose of self-loathing must wrestle her own family demons to find her way back through the world of fashion that won’t give her size a second look.

Speaking of Broadway – Bill Nighy‘s (Rufus Scrimgeour) Skylight has moved up their first preview performance to March 13. The play will debut at the John Golden Theatre on April 2 and will run for 13 weeks. The production previously sold out in London’s Wyndham’s Theatre in the West End before being moved to Broadway. Tickets can be purchased here.

Stephen Fry (audiobook narrator, UK HP versions) attended the annual Gift of Life event last week to support and send funds to children in Russia battling cancer. The event this year showcased The Nutcracker as its theme, raising £500,000 for the charity. Stephen was a special guest of the charity, saying:

I am proud to support such an inspiring and warm-hearted charity this evening. Compassion knows no borders and it is wonderful to see how Gift of Life UK brings together so many people from very different backgrounds (within the British and Russian community) with such tremendous hard work and generosity to bring hope to children and their families facing the toughest time in their life.

It’s hard to believe that with everything David Heyman has been doing lately, he would have time to tackle another project! However, the award-winning Harry Potter producer told Spinoff Online that he has become involved with a film adaptation of the comic book series, Fables with X-Men: First Class screenwriter Jane Goldman. You can read a synopsis of the series here:

The series deals with various people from fairy tales and folklore – referring to themselves as “Fables” – who have been forced out of their Homelands by “The Adversary” who has conquered the realm. The Fables have traveled to our world and formed a clandestine community in New York City known as Fabletown. Fables who are unable to blend in with human society (such as monsters and anthropomorphic animals) live at “the Farm” in upstate New York.

After confirming the adaptation is currently the works, Heyman explained why he decided to take on the DC Comic and Vertigo series:

I’m drawn to stories about outsiders… They’re people who are all separate, and how they ultimately have to form the community in order to survive… I just think the characters are so vivid.

That’s all for this week’s Casting News. Are you excited to see what’s in the works? Are there any projects or roles you’d like to see the Harry Potter cast take on? If so, name the cast member and the role or project you’d like to see them in and why by posting in our comment section below, sending us a Tweet, or replying to our post on Facebook!