Casting Net: Mr. Robot star Rami Malek lands first leading film role

• Rami Malek is breaking big. The lead of the acclaimed USA series Mr. Robot was added to lead Buster’s Mal Heart, an independent thriller from Sarah Adina Smith. Malek, who had a minor turn in The Master, is set to play a man on the run who’s plagued by a recurring dream. Lin Shaye (Insidious), Lance Barber (The Comeback), Mark Kelly (Do-Deca Pentathalon), Bruce Bundy (The Hunger Games), and Teresa Yenque (The Affair) were also cast in the film. [The Hollywood Reporter]
• James McAvoy is bringing Submergence to life. The X-Men star will head up the adaptation of J.M. Ledgard‘s novel, a love story/thriller about two lovers who each face life-and-death situations — one held captive by Somalian jihadists, while the other performs deep-sea research. Production on Wim Wenders‘ film, based off Erin Dignam‘s screenplay, is pegged for March 2016. [The Hollywood Reporter]
• Speaking of McAvoy John Goodman is in talks to join him in and Charlize Theron in Coldest City. The espionage thriller is centered around a spy investigating the death of an undercover MI6 agent just before the fall of the Berlin Wall. Goodman would play an American colleague of Theron and McAvoy. David Leitch and Chad Stahelski (John Wick) are directing from Kurt Johnstad‘s script, based on the graphic novel by Antony Johnston. [Deadline]
• Lily James is taking the plunge — literally. The Downton Abbey star will play swimmer Gertrude Ederle in the biopic Young Woman and the Sea. In 1926, Ederle was the first woman to swim across the English Channel. Jeff Nathanson (Catch Me If You Can) is penning the script. [Variety]
• Troian Bellisario, Tom Felton, and Ben Winchell are joining Feed. The indie from first-time director Tommy Bertelsen follows 18-year-old twins (Bellisario and Felton) who share a deep connection but are forced apart. Filming begins Nov. 9 in Los Angeles. [Deadline]
• Another Pretty Little Liars actress might be headed for the big screen. Lucy Hale is negotiation to lead Dude, a comedy from Olivia March. The high school comedy follows a group of four friends during the last two weeks of senior year. Hale would play popular girl Lily. Shooting is slated to begin at the end of the month in L.A. [Deadline]

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