Casting round-up: The Dark Tower, Snow White and the Huntsman and more!

Javier Bardem for Dark Tower franchise?

Reports indicate that Javier Bardem (No Country for Old Men) has been offered the role of Roland Deschain, the lead in Stephen King's opus The Dark Tower, which is being developed as three films and a TV series by director Ron Howard and writer Akiva Goldsman. Some news sources were reporting that Christian Bale had come into the running for the part but it emerged over the last day that Bardem has the role if he wants it. The films are to be backed by Universal Pictures, with NBC handling the television series.

Jon Bon Jovi returns to the screen

Jon Bon Jovi, or JBJ, has joined the cast of Gary Marshall's multi-character, inter-locking tale New Year's Eve. JBJ will be alongside a sizeable cast including Robert De Niro, Halle Berry, Jessica Alba, Ashton Kutcher, Michelle Pfeiffer, Hilary Swank and Zack Efron. Bon Jovi will play an ageing rocker who once jilted Berry's character. Details are still scarce aside from the name of Kutcher's character 'Reed Bennet', and a succinct plot summary: 'The lives of several couples and singles in New York intertwine over the course of New Year's Eve.' The big cast and festive setting seem to mark this out as a potential US stab at the tone set by 2003's Love Actually. No release date has yet been set, but I think we can guess.

Stewart and Mortensen for Snow White and the Huntsman?

Kristen Stewart is being heavily tipped to star opposite Viggo Mortensen and Charlize Theron in a new telling of the Snow White tale. Numerous actresses have screen tested for the role, including Emily Browning and Riley Keough, but Twilight star Stewart is thought to be the preferred choice. The film will bring Mortensen's Huntsman to the fore and make him a mentor and guardian to Snow White, whilst Theron will play the role of the Evil Queen.

Rise of the Guardians...

Alec Baldwin, Hugh Jackman and Jude Law are all set to contribute their voices to this 3D animated film from Dreamworks. The film follows Santa Claus (Baldwin) and the Easter Bunny (Jackman) as well as a host of other imaginary childhood characters, with Law voicing 'Pitch', an evil spirit. The film's source material is an upcoming series of books, The Guardians of Childhood, written by William Joyce who will also co-direct. With Guillermo Del Toro set as an executive producer, this could be a bit title in 2012.

John Travolta to play Gotti?

John Travolta is being heavily linked with the role of John 'The Teflon Don' Gotti in Nick Cassevetes upcoming film. Travolta is already signed to the project as executive producer and recently had dinner with John Gotti, Jr. to seek his approval of the project. Gotti, Jr. had this to say; “He's a tremendous actor and he'll feel the part. He nails every single one and he can do this too, I'm totally confident.” Meanwhile James Franco is also being touted a possibility for the role of John Gotti, Jr.

Alex Williams