* After seeming like it was dead in the water, the long-gestating adaptation of Cassandra Clare's The Mortal Instruments has been proceeding pretty quickly over the last few weeks. Today sees two additions to the cast in perennial tough guy Kevin Durand(Real Steel) and ex-WWE wrestler Robert Maillet(Sherlock Holmes). Lily Collins, Jamie Campbell-Bower, and Jemima West star in the film about Clary Fray, a young girl who discovers she's part of a long line of Shadowhunters, a secret group that protects the world from demons. Durand will play Pangborn, while the 6 foot 11 inch Maillet will be Blackwell, both considered antagonists in the story. Harald Zwart will direct, with The Mortal Instruments set to hit theaters on August 23rd 2013.[Variety]
* As you'd expect from an unconventional actor like Joseph Gordon-Levitt, he's putting together an atypical cast for his directorial debut, Don Jon's Addiction. With JGL set to star as the titular porn addict and modern day Don Juan, he's now added the always awesome Brie Larson(21 Jump Street) to play his sister. JGL wrote the script, which follows Don Jon's attempts to become a less selfish person after meeting an older, widowed woman played by Julianne Moore. Scarlett Johansson, Tony Danza, and Rob Brown co-star in the currently filming romantic comedy. [Variety]
* Dude. I thought 300: Battle of Artemisia was dead as a fallen Spartan? It's been so long since we've heard anything about the slowly developing swords 'n sandals flick, that getting any news on it seems strange. Whatever the case, there's been a new addition to the cast with Brit actor Jack O'Connell(Harry Brown) jumping aboard. He'll take on the role of Calisto, which was vacated when Jamie Blackley dropped out back in April. I can't figure out if Warner Brothers is taking this movie seriously, as they seem to be doing everything in their power to make it as inferior to Zack Snyder's hit film as possible. First they made the unusual choice of hiring Noam Murro(Smart People) to direct, and then filled the cast with people most don't care about. Rodrigo Santoro is back as Xerxes, joined by new arrivals Sullivan Stapleton, Eva Green, and Callan Mulvey. 300: Battle of Artemisia is set to open next year on August 2nd. [DailyMail via ThePlaylist]
