Duplass

With casting news everyday, we can’t always keep up. So today we’ve bundled together three casting scoops into one article for conveince, all a trio for some anticipated projects coming up. One actor joins a comedy that is sure to impress audiences next year, while another joins the follow up film to a Best Picture winner. But even films don’t hog all of the glory as zombie fans can’t wait to have The Walking Dead back on television, and thanks to a recent casting list with two new characters in tow.

First up, rapper and actor T.I. has joined the currently shooting comedy Identity Theft as one of the main antagonists of the film. The feature stars Jason Bateman as a man who’s identity is stolen by a woman played by Melissa McCarthy. The two are forced to work together, however, after T.I.’s character of a bounty hunter is tasked with bringing the two down thanks to the excessive spending. Director Seth Gordon (Horrible Bosses) is at the helm with a script from Steve Conrad and Craig Mazin, with co-stars including Jon Favreau and Amanda Peet. [Deadline]

Meanwhile, Mark Duplass has been alternating both behind and in front of the camera, especially as the summer goes on. Set up to star in Safety Not Guaranteed and People Like Us next month, he’s also the co-director and writer of he and his brother Jay’s next effort The Do-Deca-Pentathlon. Now, Duplass will be joining a very big effort as a key supporting role in director Kathryn Bigelow’s (The Hurt Locker) upcoming drama Zero Dark Thirty, about the hunting down and killing of Osama Bin Laden. He joins a cast that includes Jessica Chastain, Chris Pratt, Joel Edgerton, Kyle Chandler, Mark Strong, Harold Perrineau, and more. Currently, the film is set for release on December 21st. [Deadline]

Finally, with the first behind the scenes video of The Walking Dead‘s third season officially online, information on the new episodes are bound to start coming soon. And right along with the trailer, STYD has uncovered a casting call that involves two brand new characters that are likely to come attached to The Prison that will be introduced as the major setting for the next year:

[HAROLD] 40s to early 50s. Male. A studious and fastidious man, trying to create a niche for himself in this new world. Guest star. Recurring.

[MANUEL] 30 to 40, Hispanic, a working class survivor, he is confident, physically skilled, a leader when necessary, capable and smart. Has a terrific sense of humor where you wouldn’t expect one. Recurring.

It’s unclear where exactly these new survivors will fall into play, but Manuel certainly sounds like he could become a new fan favorite if the right actor is cast.

The Walking Dead returns this fall to AMC.