Castium Revelio: Remakes and Revivals Galore!

This week, MuggleNet’s Casting News is back, and we have plenty of updates for you! The main theme of our news this week is remakes and revivals, so let’s start by taking a look at which fan favorites are getting makeovers!

First, let’s start by addressing the rumor mill: The Hollywood News reports that Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts producer David Heyman could be producing a prequel film to Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, with actor Ryan Gosling rumored to be playing chocolatier Willy Wonka. Previously, actor Johnny Depp (Grindelwald, Fantastic Beasts) played the character in 2005’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The Hollywood News elaborates:

‘Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them’ producer David Heyman will apparently be producing the new Willy Wonka project for the studio which will focus on the adventures of a young Willy Wonka meeting the Oompa Loompas. The studio are reportedly looking for an actor between the ages of 29 and 35, hence the Ryan Gosling connection. He is apparently leading the way in terms of securing the lucrative role at the moment.

Meanwhile, Deadline Hollywood is reporting casting news about a new BBC and PBS miniseries of a well-known story: Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women. Filming begins this month in Ireland on the project, which will see actor Sir Michael Gambon (Albus Dumbledore) in the role of Mr. Laurence. Also cast are Angela Lansbury as Aunt March and Emily Watson as Marmee.

Playbill reports that the London revival of Follies, starring Imelda Staunton (Dolores Umbridge), will be broadcast in cinemas. The production, which begins previews on August 22, will be shown in a live broadcast in cinemas “across the globe” on November 16. The musical was previously revived on Broadway in 2011, and more information about its London revival can be found on the National Theatre’s website.

Staunton and fellow Potter alum Timothy Spall (Peter Pettigrew) are also featured in a new trailer for their upcoming comedy, Finding Your Feet, which Entertainment Focus describes as being “hilarious and heart-warming”:

When ‘Lady’ Sandra Abbott (Imelda Staunton) discovers that her husband of forty years is having an affair with her best friend, she seeks refuge with her estranged, bohemian, older sister Bif (Celia Imrie). Sandra couldn’t be more different to her outspoken, serial dating, free spirited sibling.

But it turns out different is just what Sandra needs and she reluctantly lets Bif drag her along to her community dance class, where gradually she starts finding her feet… and romance.

Deadline Hollywood is also reporting that actor Bill Nighy (Rufus Scrimgeour) has been cast in a BBC adaptation of Agatha Christie’s Ordeal by Innocence:

‘Ordeal By Innocence’ is the first Agatha Christie adaptation under a 2016 deal struck between BBC One and Agatha Christie Productions for seven dramas based on the author’s works. With filming starting in Scotland this month, the three-part mini has set its ensemble cast led by Bill Nighy, Catherine Keener and Matthew Goode.

Anthony Boyle, who originated the role of Scorpius Malfoy in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, has been cast as well.

Julie Walters (Molly Weasley) has been cast in the film Country Music, which is beginning principal photography and will be shot in both Glasgow, Scotland, and Nashville, Tennessee, according to The Fan Carpet:

Rose-Lynn Harlan (Jessie Buckley) is bursting with raw talent, charisma and cheek. Fresh out of jail and with two young kids, all she wants is to get out of Glasgow and make it as a country singer. Her mum Marion (Julie Walters) has had a bellyful of Rose-Lynn’s Nashville nonsense. Forced to take responsibility, Rose-Lynn gets a cleaning job, only to find an unlikely champion in the middle-class lady of the house (Sophie Okonedo). A comedy drama about mothers and daughters, dreams and reality, and three chords and the truth.

Walters is also the narrator of a new television documentary for Channel 4, Epidemic: When Britain Fought AIDS. Radio Times summarizes the program as follows:

Documentary examining the impact of the disease on British society, and how it has influenced the country in subsequent years. Paul O’Grady and Jean Paul Gaultier are among those sharing their personal stories, as well as activists and frontline doctors.

Also reported by Radio Times, Channel 4 has commissioned a four-part drama from Harry Potter and the Cursed Child playwright Jack Thorne, described as “very dark”:

Titled Kiri, the new thriller will star Bafta-winning actor Sarah Lancashire (Last Tango in Halifax) as Miriam, an ‘experienced, no-nonsense social worker who loves and believes in her job’ who is caught up in an abduction plot: when a young black girl, named Kiri goes missing and is killed, all fingers point towards at Miriam.

Thorne commented on the upcoming series, which will also stream on Hulu:

My Mum spent most of her life in the caring professions and I’ve always wanted to find a way of examining the pressures they are put under. I’m so grateful as always for the bravery and brilliance of Channel 4 in being prepared to look these issues in the face.

Kiri is set to begin filming this year, with its air date expected for 2018.

Variety writes that composer John Williams, who scored the first three Harry Potter films, will not be providing the score for Steven Spielberg’s Ready Player One. Williams has composed the scores for all but two of Spielberg’s feature films, so this news might come as a surprise to those familiar with his body of work. Not to fear, however; Williams will be providing the score for Spielberg’s The Papers, instead! This comes, reportedly, as a result of a scheduling conflict, since both films will be in post-production at the same time. The Papers is set for release on December 22.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Kristina Lauren Anderson is writing the limited series Mrs. Hemingway for Amazon, which will star Jude Law. Law will be playing the role of a young Albus Dumbledore in the next film in the Fantastic Beasts series.

Director Lenny Abrahamson’s The Little Stranger, which stars Domhnall Gleeson (Bill Weasley), has begun filming, per Hot Press:

‘The Little Stranger’ is based on the novel of the same name by Sarah Waters. The 1940’s set story follows a doctor in the English countryside (Gleeson) who befriends a dysfunctional family living in a rundown mansion. As unexplained events occur that coincide with the strain of the financial troubles of maintaining and running the estate, tensions and old secrets begin to arise.

The film, a “gothic ghost story,” also features actors Will Poulter, Ruth Wilson, and Charlotte Rampling.

Nerdist.com is reporting that new movie theater merchandise for the upcoming film Justice League, which features Ezra Miller (Credence, Fantastic Beasts), shows previously unseen photos of the cast in character. Justice League is the latest addition to the DC Extended Universe, and Ezra will be playing Barry Allen, also known as “the Flash.” Its release date is set for November 17.

New photos have also been revealed of the cast of the romantic comedy film You, Me and Him, including actor David Tennant (Barty Crouch, Jr.) in the role of John. David-Tennant.com provides a summary of the film:

‘You, Me And Him’ tells the story of two women’s differing experiences with pregnancy. One, Alex, is a 40-year-old magistrate, the other, Olivia, a carefree party girl. The twist is that they are in a relationship with each other. The action will unfold over a 12 month timeframe. David plays the role of the couple’s neighbour, John, a  Casanova style character who is responsible for one of the pregnancies.

Fans of Doctor Who have also received a tease from the BBC, by way of this Facebook post of actors Peter Capaldi and David Bradley (Argus Filch), which announced that the show is set to return at Christmas:

Bradley can also be seen in the first look at the fourth and final season of FX’s The Strain, which premieres July 16:

[The show] will pick up nine months following the dramatic events of the Season 3 finale. The video features interviews with cast and crew and delves into the new look of the show and how truly bleak things are when the final season kicks off this coming Sunday.

Get your first look below:

Also in post-apocalyptic fiction, Dave Erickson, the showrunner for Fear the Walking Dead, discussed the midseason finale of the show’s third season with the Hollywood Reporter. Actor Frank Dillane (Tom Riddle, Half-Blood Prince) plays the role of Nick on the show, and you can find out more about what happened to his character by reading the interview here. Beware of spoilers!

While this next piece of news isn’t a spoiler warning, fans of Stephen Fry (who narrated the British version of the Harry Potter audiobooks) will be excited to know that he is going on a short book tour! The Irish News writes that Fry will be going on tour within the UK this November to promote his book, Mythos. He will be stopping in Brighton, Birmingham, and Cardiff, and you can find more information on his official site.

Finally, ahead of its theatrical release, we have plenty to report about Dunkirk, which stars Sir Kenneth Branagh (Gilderoy Lockhart)! We have a teaser trailer from Entertainment Weekly, followed by a “seriously intense” new trailer from Maxim, plus this behind-the-scenes featurette from Total Film:

That’s all for this week’s Casting News! Check back here next week for more on what your favorite wizarding alumni have in store!