Octavia Spencer (The Help) and young McKenna Grace are joining Chris Evans and Lindsay Duncan in Gifted. This is the next feature from The Amazing Spider-Man director Marc Webb, and centers on Frank (Evans)a slacker raising his brilliant, "gifted" niece Mary (Grace), with hopes of giving her a normal life. The only problem is that he's in a constant fight for custody with the girl's grandmother. Spencer will play Roberta, Frank's landlord and close friend. [Deadline]
The always in-demand Ansel Elgort, who already has Allegiant part 1, Edgar Wright's Baby Driver, and November Criminals coming up, has signed on for his most serious role yet. He'll star in CIA drama Code Name Veil, based on a true story of a rookie agent investigating the 1983 barracks and embassy bombings in Beirut. When his mentor is taken hostage, he takes desperate measures to try and get him back. The film is directed by Michael Cuesta (Kill the Messenger) from a Black List screenplay by Matt Billingsly. [THR]
There's been a switch at the top of Kung Fu Panda 3's voice cast, as Kate Hudson has stepped in to replace Rebel Wilson who had to drop out due to scheduling. Hudson voices Mei Mei, a ribbon-dancing female panda encountered by Po (Jack Black) in a long-hidden panda village. She joins the returning cast of Angelina Jolie, Seth Rogen, Dustin Hoffman and more, along with newcomers J.K. Simmons and Bryan Cranston in a story that has Po finding his long lost father. Kung Fu Panda 3 opens January 29th 2016. [THR]
