UPDATED: Cruz Catches Trier's 'Melancholia' and 'Cancer' Gets Two Ladies

Also, Pixar moves 'Cars 2' and Universal picks up a pair

By: Brad Brevet
Published: Wednesday, February 10th 2010 at 2:27 AM

Cruz Moves to Trier's Melancholia: UPDATE Apparently this is not happening and is said to be a mere rumor.

The first and really only truly interesting casting news to kick off this edition of "Who's In? Who's Out?" is that Penelope Cruz has not signed on to star in Lars von Trier's next film Melancholia. Plot details are scarce as the once titled Planet Melancholia is described as a psychological disaster film with sci-fi elements. Shooting will reportedly take place in Sweden and Germany on a $5 million dollar budget with the ultimate goal to premiere the film at next year's Cannes Film Festival where von Trier's Antichrist caused quite a stir. [The Playlist, ABC.es and NFO.nu]

Howard and Kendrick are with Cancer: Bryce Dallas Howard and Anna Kendrick have joined the cast of I'm With Cancer, the comedy starring Seth Rogen and James McAvoy. Jonathan Levine (The Wackness) will direct from a script by Will Reiser who adapted his own novel. The story centers on a 25-year-old (McAvoy) who learns he has cancer and successfully battles the disease over several years. The character is based on the real experiences of Reiser, who won his own fight with cancer in his mid-20s. Summit Entertainment has acquired domestic distribution rights as shooting is set to begin later this month in Vancouver. [Variety]

Universal Buys Hanks's Crowne: Universal has acquired domestic rights to Larry Crowne, starring Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts, with Hanks set to direct from his own script. Story centers on a middle-aged man who's forced to find a new career. Filming is set to begin production in April in Los Angeles. [Variety]

Guggenheim Plays House at Universal: Universal has picked up David Guggenheim's thriller Safe House, which revolves around the young house-sitter of a CIA-run safe house. The house-sitter must help a criminal who's being hidden there as they flee to another secure facility when the first house is destroyed by villains who want the witness dead. [Variety]

Cars 2 Races Out of June 2011: Walt Disney and Pixar have moved next year's Cars 2 from its June 24, 2011 to an unspecified December 2011 date. [Coming Soon]