Katie Cassidy sticks with The CW, Neil Patrick Harris returns to “Harold and Kumar” and Peter Jackson’s in talks to helm “The Hobbit” – all in today’s Casting Call.
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Peter Jackson, the director of the three installments of “The Lord of the Rings” saga, is reportedly returning to J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-Earth. According to Deadline, the helmer “has decided” to direct the two-part “The Hobbit,” Tolkien’s prequel to “Lord of the Rings,” and is in negotiations to do so. Fellow fantasy director Guillermo del Toro was previously slated to direct the two films, but dropped out in May after legal concerns and studio issues prompted delays in production.
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Katie Cassidy turned heads last season on The CW’s “Melrose Place” reboot, and the vivacious blonde’s not done with the network yet – Entertainment Weekly’s Michael Ausiello reported that she’ll be heading from Melrose Place to the Upper East Side to appear on a multi-episode run on this fall’s “Gossip Girl.” The star will reportedly play a love interest for Nate Archibald (Chace Crawford) who’s “not what she appears.” And switching sets (and coasts) won’t be lonely — Katie’s currently in production on the film “Monte Carlo” with “Gossip Girl” co-star-to-be Leighton Meester.
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Neil Patrick Harris is scooping up a third helping of “Harold and Kumar,” according to Hollywood.com. The star, who appeared in both “Harold and Kumar Go The White Castle” and “Harold and Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay,” will reprise his role as himself in 2011’s “A Very Harold and Kumar Christmas.” The return comes despite the events of “Escape From Guantanamo Bay,” which saw the star gunned down. John Cho and Kal Penn will return in the stoner saga’s title roles.
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