Downton Abbey probably doesn't need the boost, but they've just secured a sure ratings win this Christmas when George Clooney makes a cameo appearance on the show. Clooney will play "an American character who is a guest at a wedding in the country estate". Clooney, who is reportedly a huge fan of the show, is doing all of this as part of a charity fundraiser Text Santa for ITV. Will this make me want to watch the period drama for the first time ever? No, but others probably will. [The Guardian]
Morgan Freeman has joined Timur Bekmambetov's upcoming Ben-Hur remake which has Tom Hiddleston eying the lead role. Unsurprisingly, Freeman is set to play Ben-Hur's mentor/trainer, Ildarin, who helps the wrongfully enslaved nobleman rise up against his captors and get revenge on his former best friend. Freeman can be seen in theaters now in Dolphin Tale 2, and recently signed on for Ted 2. Ben-Hur is set to open February 26th 2016.
Jean-Marc Vallee (Dallas Buyers Club, Wild) is putting together the pieces to his next film, Demolition, and has just added a terrific supporting actor in Chris Cooper. The August: Osage County star joins Jake Gyllenhaal and Naomi Watts in the story of "a young investment banker struggling to understand his emotional unraveling after the tragic death of his wife, when, suddenly a woman he meets in a chance encounter changes his life forever."[Deadline]
