Stephen Root joins J. EDGAR, Monica Bellucci takes on RHINOS SEASON, two join LOFT remake

Filming may already be in full swing on the upcoming Clint Eastwood-directed J. Edgar Hoover biopic, J. EDGAR, but the cast is still very much being filled out.

Variety has revealed that Stephen Root has joined the film, and will play Arthur Koehler, who ultimately helped Hoover investigate the kidnapping of the Lindbergh baby. Root joins Leonardo DiCaprio, Armie Hammer, Ed Westwick, Josh Lucas, Damon Herriman, Naomi Watts, Ken Howard, and Judi Dench in the film. With a script penned by Dustin Lance Black, this is far and away one of 2011’s most anticipated films, so expect a lot more news coming out of this camp as production continues to ramp up.

Check out more casting news after the break.

In other casting news, Monica Bellucci is set to star in director Bahman Ghobadi’s upcoming film, RHINOS SEASON, according toVariety. Ghobadi is best known for his last film, NO ONE KNOWS ABOUT PERSIAN CATS, and has become a definite rising star amongst the ranks of indie arthouse filmmakers. The film is described as a “political film” and a love story, and will also star Iranian actor Behrouz Vossoughi. 

I haven’t seen PERSIAN CATS yet, but am very much interested in seeing what this director can do, particularly with a great cast like he seems to be building here.

Finally, Variety reports that both Patrick Wilson and James Marsden are in talks to star in the upcoming remake of the Erik Van Looy film, LOFT. The film, which has been picked up by Anonymous Content, will be directed by Looy himself, with a script from Wesley Strick, and follows a group of men who rent an apartment, discovering that one of them may in fact be a killer after discovering a body. Personally, I do like this premise quite a bit, and with Wilson and Marsden spearheading the film, this could be something to check out.

Posted in: Monica Bellucci