Winstone Rumored for 'Noah,' Hoffman for 'Catching Fire' and Theron Shaves for 'Fury Road'

Ray Winstone is said to be in negotiations to play the lead villain in Darren Aronofsky's Noah, a role that previously had Liam Neeson and Liev Schreiber among the names said to be in contention. As for what kind of antagonist he'll actually be no one knows. [source]

Philip Seymour Hoffman is the new name attached to play Plutarch Heavensbee, the new Gamemaker in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire following in the footsteps of Wes Bentley in the first film. This, of course, is just rumor and is yet another instance where Lionsgate is playing negotiations in the media just as they did with the director decision for the film and are currently doing when it comes to casting the Finnick Odair character which has since seen Robert Pattinson and Taylor Kitsch declaring they are not in the running along with fellow actors previously rumored Armie Hammer and Garrett Hedlund. In all honesty, the way the production of this new film has played out sickens me a bit. Art is completely lost, it seems, on The Hunger Games franchise. [source]

Penelope Cruz is set to reunite with Pedro Almodovar for the fifth time on Stand by Lovers (Los Amantes Pasajeros) as well as Ridley Scott's The Counselor where she'll star opposite her real-life husband Javier Bardem. [source]

Finally, Charlize Theron is set to play Furiosa in Mad Max: Fury Road as the production is finally ready to begin filming after years of delays and it seems the actress has shed her golden locks in preparation for the part.

During press rounds for Prometheus she discussed the role saying, "It's been three years. It's time to skin this cat already... I feel like the original Mad Max created such a vivid world, that to go back and re-imagine it and kind of replay in that sandbox sounds like fun to me. George really created a female character that I've never read anything like this. I mean, I'm scared shitless."

Fury Road is the first of two films that will be shot back-to-back, rebooting the franchise that started with Mel Gibson in the title role. Taking over is Tom Hardy as Max Rockatansky, a hardened ex-cop in a future beset by gas shortages and marauding gangs.

Last I heard, Fury Road would take place a short while after the story detailed in 1985's Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome, which keeps Mad Max relatively young. This time around the story centers on Max (Hardy) and the "Five Wives," a group of women Max must protect from the bad guys. There's no word on whether or not this is still the direction they are heading.

For a larger look at Theron's new "do" click the source link. [source and photo credit to ComingSoon.net]