* Project X star Thomas Mann has joined the upcoming Kristen Wiig comedy, Welcome to Me. Produced by Will Ferrell and Adam McKay with Shira Piven directing, the indie film has Wiig as a woman with personality disorder who hits the lotto and decided to host a cable access TV show about herself. Mann will play an art student and fan of the show who has a steamy encounter with Wiig's character. Tim Robbins, Linda Cardellini, and Jennifer Jason Leigh co-star. [TheWrap]
* 2011's Dolphin Tale was a surprise hit, nearly clearing $100M (although how it cost $37M is a wonder) and..I dunno...kinda rescuing the aquatic mammal genre from extinction or something? Anyway, the film was successful enough that a sequel has now been greenlit, with everybody involved with the first coming back. Morgan Freeman, Ashley Judd, Harry Connick Jr., and Kris Kristofferson are returning to star, with Charles Martin Smith directing. The story will be based on another real life dolphin rescue, this one of a baby dolphin named Hope who was saved and rehabilitated in 2010. Production on Dolphin Tale 2 begins this October.
* Production is now underway on Kill the Messenger, based on the true story of journalist Gary Webb, who was smeared by the CIA after he exposed their connection to drug and arms trafficking with Contra rebels. Jeremy Renner is on board to play Webb, and already confirmed are Paz Vega, Rosemarie DeWitt,Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Barry Pepper and Michael K. Williams. The cast has been filled out with the additions of Michael Sheen, Andy Garcia, Tim Blake Nelson, Robert Patrick, Lucas Hedges (Moonrise Kingdom), and Oliver Platt.
