Keri Russell is in talks to joint the cast of Star Wars: Episode IX, being directed by J.J. Abrams, according to Variety. The actor-director duo had earlier worked in 2006’s Mission: Impossible III. The role calls for action-heavy fight scenes. Russell, 42, has previously performed stunts in projects such as The Americans, Mission: Impossible and Dawn of the Planet of the Apes. Abrams and Lucasfilm executives met several potential actors for the role in the past two months and decided that Russell was the right choice before the film. The film begins production at the end of the month. Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac and Adam Driver are expected to return. 

Saif Ali Khan, Kunal Kemmu and Vir Das are all confirmed to return for the sequel to their hit zombie comedy Go Goa Gone. The film will be once again helmed by director duo Raj Nidimoru, and Krishna DK, while Dinesh Vijan will produce it via his banner, Maddock films. “It’s been quite a journey from 2013, and I’m so excited we are back again with this crazy ride! Go Goa Gone redefined many things, and we are gunning to do that again. “ Vijan said in a statement. “Saif’s character has stayed with me all this while and we are thrilled to bring it back to life! I have had a great partnership with Raj & DK and I’m excited to be back with the original gang!”

Dakota Fanning has joined the cast of the futuristic anime-style series, gen:Lock, by Rooster Teeth.  Besides Fanning, Koichi Yamadera of Ghost in the Shell-fame will lend his voice to the series alongside Michael B. Jordan, The Hollywood Reporter said. Fanning will play Miranda Worth, an expert pilot and love interest for Jordan’s Julian Chase. Yamadera will voice Kazu Iida, a new recruit who transfers from Japan’s military forces to fight alongside Chase. “We’re thrilled to announce Dakota and Yamadera-san are joining the cast of gen:LOCK. Dakota brings an endearing energy and texture to Miranda that the audience is going to bond with very strongly,” showrunner Gray Haddock, head of Rooster Teeth Animation, said. gen:Lock revolves around Earth’s last free society, which is on the losing side of a global war.

Director Alan Taylor will helm a big screen prequel to the hit HBO series The Sopranos. Written by show creator David Chase and Lawrence Konner, the films has been tentatively titled The Many Saints of Newark, reported Variety.  New Line recently bought the script of the prequel, which will be set against the backdrop of the Newark riots of the 1960s when African-Americans and Italians clashed. Taylor, who has film credits such as Thor: The Dark World and Terminator: Genisys, previously directed episodes of The Sopranos and won an Emmy in 2007 for Outstanding Directing for the episode Kennedy and Heidi. 

Dakota Johnson says she found Chris Hemsworth’s physique distracting on the set of Bad Times at El Royal.  The actress, 28, joked it was a “really big mistake” for producers to film her co-star shirtless in the mystery thriller because it drew all the attention to him. She told Entertainment Tonight: “I think it was a really big mistake to have him take his shirt off.  Because it’s all you can look at.”