Rumorville: Emma Watson Leads the Short List for a Major Role in ‘Black Widow,’ + More Big Projects Casting Now

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Welcome to Rumorville! Here you can learn about casting news that’s about to break in Hollywood. These speculations might be only rumors, but that doesn’t mean you can’t follow the trail all the way to the audition room.

“Black Widow”
Ahead of the scheduled “Black Widow” production start date in June, Marvel is actively casting a major role that will play a counterpart—described as “a kickass female Bond”—to Scarlet Johnsson’s titular Black Widow. According to That Hashtag Show, a shortlist for the role has emerged and Emma Watson is currently at the top of it. Alice Englert, Dar Zuzovsky, and Florence Pugh have also auditioned and are in the running for the role, but it is Watson is who is reportedly being discussed by director Cate Shortland, Brad Winderbaum, and Kevin Feige. Marvel casting director Sarah Finn is, of course, casting this project.

“Suicide Squad”
While there is no indication that Idris Elba will take over the role of James Bond from Daniel Craig, the actor will probably be joining another big franchise in the meantime. Elba is reportedly taking over Will Smith’s role of Deadshot in the upcoming “Suicide Squad” sequel. Smith recently dropped out of the film, citing scheduling conflicts, which likely includes his recent casting as the Williams patriarch in an upcoming film about raising Tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams. Like the first film, expect CDs Lindsay Graham and Mary Vernieu to helm the casting process.

“The Invisible Man”
Ahead of her upcoming turn on the big screen in Jordan Peele’s “Us,” Elisabeth Moss is reportedly in talks to join Universal Pictures’ retelling of “The Invisible Man.” According to Variety, negotiations are in the very early stages. The film will be directed and written by Leigh Whannell. No casting director has been announced yet, but Whannell has used Terri Taylor on both of his previous features and she put the cast together on Moss’s next film role in “Us.”

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