Casting Net: Chadwick Boseman lands lead in 'Message From The King'

• It’s a good time to be Chadwick Boseman: The actor, who was cast as the Black Panther in 2016’s Captain America: Civil War last week, has also just claimed the lead in Message From The King. Fabrice du Welz is directing the revenge thriller from a script by Stephen Cornwell and Oliver Butcher. The film follows Jacob King (Boseman), a South African man who comes to Los Angeles to find his younger sister. Upon discovering she’s been killed, the story follows Jacob’s subsequent revenge in the six days before he flies home. Message from the King is scheduled for a February shoot prior to Marvel’s production. [Deadline]

• Benicio Del Toro will star in The Trap alongside Jamie Foxx. Harmony Korine, of Spring Breakers notoriety, is writing and directing the southern revenge movie. The story catches up with two childhood friends in their adult lives; one is successful, while the other has spent years in jail. The jailed friend is released just in time for his successful counterpart’s big recognition—payback is in store. [THR]

• Hot off his critically acclaimed turn in Whiplash, Miles Teller is in negotiations for The Only Living Boy in New York. The Amazing Spider-Man‘s Marc Webb is attached to direct the indie drama. With Allan Loeb as its scribe, the film follows a young man who tries to stop his father’s affair, but becomes involved with the woman as well. [Variety]

• The Lennon Report has rounded out its cast, EW has confirmed. The film, which Jeremy Profe is writing and directing, depicts the true events that occurred the night John Lennon was killed in New York City on December 8, 1980. Richard Kind has claimed the role of Dr. Stephan G. Lynn, the doctor running Roosevelt Hospital’s emergency room, with Stef Dawson as one of the hospital’s head nurses, Nurse Kammerer. Evan Jonigkeit and Stephen Spinella will portray two instrumental doctors, Dr. David Halleran and Dr. Richard Marks, respectively. Adrienne C. Moore will play another doctor on the scene with David Zayas as Officer Medina, head of the hospital’s security. Gregory Barr will make his feature debut as Lennon with Karen Tsen Lee as his wife, Yoko Ono. Walter Vincent co-wrote the film and will portray reporter Alan Weiss, who broke the tragic news. Devin Ratray will play the part of ABC news assignment editor Neil Goldstein, whom Weiss calls to break the story. William Pennen is taking over for Kevin Dillon in the part of NYC Police Officer Riley. Filming began today in NYC.

• Cherry Jones and Bradley Whitford are teaming up with Tom Hiddleston and Elizabeth Olsen for I Saw the Light. Marc Abraham will direct the Hank Williams biopic, which he also adapted from Colin Escott’s biography. The story follows the life of the country singer who skyrocketed to fame, but later fell to drug and alcohol abuse. Hiddleston takes the lead as Williams, with Olsen as his wife, Audrey Mae. Jones will play Williams’ mother, Lillie. Whitford will play a Nashville music publisher, Fred Rose, who was a professional relation and friend to Williams. David Krumholtz, Josh Pais, James DuMont, and Wrenn Schmidt also star. The film’s production is ongoing in Louisiana. [THR]

• Marwan Kenzari has joined Timur Bekmambetov’s Ben-Hur. The historical epic, from MGM and Paramount, is a remake of the 1959, Charlton Heston-starrer, which won 11 Academy Awards. In the remake, Kenzari will play Druses, a Roman captain who is tied to Messala’s betrayal, which sends Ben-Hur into slavery, and ultimately on a path to redemption. Toby Kebbell, Jack Huston, and Morgan Freeman also star. [Deadline]