Ben-Hur: Nazanin Boniadi, who plays a CIA agent on TV drama Homeland (above), has been offered the lead female role in the upcoming new version of Ben-Hur. She would star opposite Jack Huston (Boardwalk Empire) and Toby Kebbell (Dawn of the Planet of the Apes), who play best friends in a tale of betrayal, slavery and chariots; Morgan Freeman leads the supporting cast. [Deadline]
Source Code: Anna Foerster will direct a sequel to 2011 suspense thriller Source Code. She'll make her feature debut after gaining considerable experience behind the camera, often working with director Roland Emmerich, most recently on White House Down (above), as well as directing multiple episodes of various TV shows. The original followed Jake Gyllenhaal as he continually relived eight minutes on a speeding train, trying to prevent a disaster. [Variety]
Bank Heist Thriller: Matt Reeves, who directed Let Me In (above) and Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, has signed on to direct a bank-heist thriller being described as "in the vein of Heat and Dog Day Afternoon" that will be written by Matt Charman (Steven Spielberg's upcoming untitled spy thriller). Reeves won't be able to turn his attention to the project until after he finishes the next installment of the Apes franchise, due out in 2016. [The Hollywood Reporter]
Black or White Trailer: Kevin Costner stars in the first trailer for Black or White, due in theaters on January 30. After his wife dies, he is left alone to care for his beloved biracial granddaughter, but soon finds himself in a custody batle with the girl's paternal grandmother (Octavia Spencer). Mike Binder, who previously worked with Costner on 2005's The Upside of Anger, directs. [YouTube]
