Ewan McGregor Joins 'Snowtown' Director Justin Kurzel's John Le Carré Adaptation 'Our Kind Of Traitor' NEWS BY KEVIN JAGERNAUTH JANUARY 17, 2013 9:40 PM (INDIEWIRE)

First announced last spring, "The Snowtown Murders" director Justin Kurzel's adaptation of John Le Carré's "Our Kind Of Traitor" has been moving slowly. There was a brief flick of life in November when it was reported that Mads Mikkelsen, Ralph Fiennes and Jessica Chastain were rumored for roles. But now it seems the first actor has come aboard, and it's none of those names.

According to the usually plugged-in Baz Bamigboye, Ewan McGregor has joined the picture in an unspecified lead role. The film, penned by Hossein Amini ("Drive," "Snow White and the Huntsman"), follows an English couple who get mixed up with a Russian businessman who turns out to be an oligarch, and one of the world's biggest money launderers. They get caught up in his plans to defect and are soon positioned between the Russian Mafia and the British Secret Service, neither of whom they can trust. We presume McGregor is one half of the English couple.

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ALAN RICKMAN: Kate Winslet & Matthias Schoenaerts To Star In Alan Rickman Directed Period Drama 'A Little Chaos' NEWS BY KEVIN JAGERNAUTH JANUARY 17, 2013 8:25 P (INDIEWIRE)

Persistence pays off it would seem. To date, celebrated actor Alan Rickman only has one feature film directing credit to his name, 1997's "The Winter Guest," and while we've yet to see a sophomore effort, it hasn't been for lack of trying. Rickman has had a couple of projects percolating over the years, but the one that he's stuck with has been "A Little Chaos." It looks like his determination has finally yielded some results, with two great actors on board and a start date in sight.

Baz Bamigboye reveals that Kate Winslet and "Rust & Bone" star Matthias Schoenaerts will topline the Rickman directed "A Little Chaos." Penned by Allison Deegan, the film will tell the unique story of rival landscapes gardeners who are both commissioned to create a fountain at Versailles by Louis XIV. Winslet and Schoenaerts will spar in the main roles, and Rickman has been busy scouting locations and revising the script in preparation for a spring shoot. It will be Winslet's second time up to bat with Rickman, co-starring with him in "Sense & Sensibility," while Schoenaerts adds the project to a very busy 2013 slate that also includes "Suite Francaise" with Michelle Williams. The guy sure knows how to pick his projects.


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