Casting Net: Casey Affleck to star in Boston Marathon drama

• Oscar nominee Casey Affleck will return to his native Massachusetts to star in and produce a film based on the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing. The script written by Eric Johnson and Paul Tamasy (The Fighter) is based on the book “Boston Strong” by Casey Sherman and Dave Wedge and chronicles the massive manhunt to find the two men believed responsible for the bombings and the city’s response to the horrific events. [Variety]

• Steve Carell will continue his trend of taking on less comedic roles in an untitled thriller from director Gore Verbinski (The Lone Ranger). The film will be the third straight Verbinski shoots for New Regency after the horror picture A Cure For Wellness and the large-scale action comedy Passengers. Steve Conrad, who wrote the script for Passengers as well as the adaptation of The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, will once again collaborate with Verbinski on this project. [Deadline]

•Flight of the Conchords’ Jermaine Clement is teaming with James C. Strouse for People Places Things. Strouse just finished principal photography, and is directing from a script he wrote. The indie feature stars Clement as a freshly single, struggling graphic novelist attempting to raise his young twin daughters while also moving on from the woman who left him. Other cast members include Regina Hall, Stephanie Allynne, and Jessica Williams. Michael B. Clark and Alex Turtletaub are producing for Beachside. Beachside’s Tim Foley is executive producing with Summer Shelton. [Deadline]

• Tom Wilkinson will join Benjamin Walker (Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter) and Teresa Palmer (Warm Bodies) in the adaptation of the Nicholas Sparks novel The Choice. Ross Katz (Adult Beginners) is directing the film about the unexpected relationship of a young couple who meet as neighbors in a small coastal town, The script was written for the screen by Bryan Sipe. [Variety]

• Tim Roth (Pulp Fiction) has been added to the rom-com action flick Mr. Right. Anna Kendrick will star as a woman who thinks her unlucky streak in love has come to an end when she meets the perfect guy played by Sam Rockwell, who just happens to be a hitman. Wu-Tang rapper/producer RZA is on board to play Shotgun Steve, a marksman who works for a rival gangster. Filming begins next week in New Orleans with director Paco Cabezas (Neon Flesh) at the helm from a script by Max Landis (Chronicle). [Deadline]

• That ’70s Show star Danny Masterson will play a cutthroat yet lonely hedge fund tycoon who takes a group of friends on a mysterious island getaway in the thriller Urge. Pierce Brosnan is starring as the island gatekeeper and a designer drug dealer with Twilight star Ashley Greene playing one of Masterson’s friends. The film will be the directorial debut for producer Aaron Kaufman (Chef). [Deadline]

• Michael Gambon and Imelda Staunton have been added to the voice cast of the mixed live action/CGI animated movie Paddington. Ben Whishaw is providing the voice of the curious Peruvian bear in the film written and directed by Paul King and Gambon and Staunton will play his Uncle Pastuzo and Aunt Lucy, respectively. The movie also stars Nicole Kidman, Sally Hawkins, Hugh Bonneville, Jim Broadbent, Peter Capaldi, and Julie Walters in their natural human forms. [Deadline]