P&P NewsBits: Judi Dench, Penelope Wilton, and cast of 'The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel' reunite for sequel, Jena Malone's 'The Wait' in select theaters now, and more!

Some new movies, casting, release dates, and filming news info. featuring some P&P actors here that I thought I'd post them all in the same post...

Here's this weekend's quick news round up of TV and film news (including casting calls, a film synopsis, trailers, release dates, festival news, etc.) of the following P&P (2005) actors Kelly Reilly, Jena Malone, Donald Sutherland, Rupert Friend, Judi Dench and ), all in one post!

First up...
THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE Becomes Domestic Top Grossing Film of 2013 with $409.4 Million

Lionsgate announced today that The Hunger Games: Catching Fire has now grossed $409.4 million domestically, which surges past Iron Man 3’s $409.0 million total to make Catching Fire the top grossing film of 2013.  That’s quite an impressive feat considering Catching Fire didn’t enjoy the 3D surcharge that other top grossing 2013 films like Man of Steel and Despicable Me 2 did.  In fact, Catching Fire and Fast & Furious 6 are the only films in 2013’s Top 10 highest grossers that didn’t play in 3D.  Catching Fire’s worldwide total now stands at an astounding $832.2 million, and it’s the first film with a solo female lead to take the top box office spot since 1973′s The Exorcist.

Read full article here.

Judi Dench and Penelope Wilton reprise roles In Sequel To The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

Full Cast and Synopsis Revealed for THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL 2

Here's the official press release:

Fox Searchlight Pictures President of Production Claudia Lewis and Participant Media Executive Vice President of Production Jonathan King announced today that production on The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel 2 has begun in India. John Madden (Shakespeare in Love) has returned to helm the follow-up companion feature to the 2012 film from an original screenplay by Ol Parker, from a story by Parker and Madden. Blueprint Pictures returns producing the film.

The cast has reunited for the film including stars Judi Dench (Evelyn), Maggie Smith (Muriel), Bill Nighy (Douglas), Dev Patel (Sonny), Celia Imrie (Madge), Ronald Pickup (Norman), Penelope Wilton (Jean), Diana Hardcastle (Carol), Tena Desae (Sunaina) and Lillete Dubey (Mrs. Kapoor). Additional cast making their debut include Richard Gere, David Strathairn and Tamsin Greig. Blueprint Pictures’ Graham Broadbent and Peter Czernin will produce the film, with Participant’s Jeff Skoll serving as executive producer. Fox Searchlight Pictures has worldwide rights and will co-finance the film in association with Participant Media and Image Nation Abu Dhabi.

“We’re thrilled to reunite our creative and delightful Marigold Hotel family along with some intriguing new ‘guests’,” said Lewis. “With John Madden’s direction and Ol Parker’s original screenplay, we look forward to further exploring our characters’ rich stories and triumphs.”

King added, “We’re delighted to be reteaming with our good friends at Fox Searchlight and the incredibly talented filmmakers for another chapter in this inspirational story. We believe audiences will be as happy as we are to spend more time at The Marigold, as this remarkable cast continues to demonstrate that life can be an adventure at any age.”

“What are the odds of being able to re-assemble this extraordinary group of actors and filmmakers, let alone to add to their number?” said Broadbent. “We found a worldwide audience we never dreamed of for the first, and we feel very lucky to have the chance now to bring them this companion film.”

“This film presented us with an irresistible opportunity: to continue a story we realized we had only just begun. Not to tell the same story again, but to pursue where the lives of these very different characters lead, with an audience which already holds them in great affection,” said Madden.

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel was released in Spring 2012 to record-breaking business in the UK and US, earning more than $135 million worldwide, along with a host of critical acclaim and accolades including Best Picture nominations from The Hollywood Foreign Press, BAFTA, and The Screen Actors Guild (Ensemble Award). The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel 2 marks the first sequel ever released by Fox Searchlight Pictures.

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel 2 is the expansionist dream of Sonny (Dev Patel), and it’s making more claims on his time than he has available, considering his imminent marriage to the love of his life, Sunaina (Tena Desae). Sonny has his eye on a promising property now that his first venture, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel for the Elderly and Beautiful, has only a single remaining vacancy – posing a rooming predicament for fresh arrivals Guy (Richard Gere) and Lavinia (Tamsin Greig). Evelyn and Douglas (Judi Dench and Bill Nighy) have now joined the Jaipur workforce, and are wondering where their regular dates for Chilla pancakes will lead, while Norman and Carol (Ronald Pickup and Diana Hardcastle) are negotiating the tricky waters of an exclusive relationship, as Madge (Celia Imrie) juggles two eligible and very wealthy suitors. Perhaps the only one who may know the answers is newly installed co-manager of the hotel, Muriel (Maggie Smith), the keeper of everyone’s secrets. As the demands of a traditional Indian wedding threaten to engulf them all, an unexpected way forward presents itself.

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel 2 will be overseen by Senior Vice President of Production Zola Mashariki and Creative Executive Taylor Friedman for Fox Searchlight and Executive Vice President of Production Jonathan King for Participant Media.

Read article here.

The Wait (in select US theaters this weekend, starting January 10th) posters and stills featuring Jena Malone

Starring: Jena Malone, Chloe Sevigny, Luke Grimes Written and directed by M. Blash Synopsis Two sisters decide to keep their deceased mother in their home after being informed that she will come back to life.

(source: 2013 Sammy Films | IMDB)

Kelly Reilly to star with Elijah Wood in Set Fire To The Stars

"Downton Abbey" director Andy Goddard is helming the film, which he co-wrote with actor Celyn Jones. Elijah Wood has signed on to star in Set Fire to the Stars, a period movie exploring the relationship between poets John Malcolm Brinnin and Dylan Thomas.

Downton Abbey, co-wrote the script and is directing. Celyn Jones (Jo) co-wrote the script with Goddard and will portray Thomas opposite Wood’s Brinnin. The movie is set to begin filming at the end of the month and counts Kelly Reilly (Flight, Sherlock Holmes), Shirley Henderson (the Harry Potter movies) and Steven Mackintosh (Luther) in its cast. Read full article here.

'Homeland' Actor Rupert Friend in Talks to Replace Paul Walker in 'Agent 47' 

Rupert Friend, currently starring on TV’s Homeland, has been tapped to replace Paul Walker in Agent 47 from Fox International. 47 was the movie that Walker was to have starred in after wrapping Fast and Furious 7, but the actor was killed in a car crash Nov. 30. Commercials helmer Aleksander Bach is directing from a script by Kyle Ward, Skip Woods and Michael Finch. Agent 47 is a bald-headed elite assassin who is the star character of a video franchise. The plot for the new movie is being kept under wraps. Read full article.