Casting Call: Russell Crowe ‘Lies’ Down With Leo

Russell Crowe gets caught in a “Lie” with Leo. Ryan Gosling thinks Rachel Weisz is “Lovely.” Plus, Queen Latifah goes green with Starbucks. It’s all in today’s Access Hollywood Casting Call?

Russell Crowe is in talks to join Leonardo DiCaprio in “Body of Lies,” reports Variety.

The film, directed by Ridley Scott, is based on the novel “Body of Lies” by David Ignatius.

Crowe would play Ed Hoffman, a manipulative CIA boss who teams with operative Roger Ferris (DiCaprio) to trap a dangerous Al Qaeda leader by planting a false rumor that the bomber is in cahoots with the Americans.

Scott and Crowe seem to have taken a liking to each other, having worked together on “Gladiator,” “A Good Year” and the recently completed “American Gangster.” They are also set to work together in the Universal drama “Nottingham”.

Crowe will next be seen alongside Christian Bale in “3:10 To Yuma.”

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Ryan Gosling has been tapped to star opposite Oscar winner Rachel Weisz in Peter Jackson’s “Lovely Bones,” reports Variety.

“Bones” follows a young girl who has been murdered and watches over her family — and her killer — from heaven. Girl must weigh her desire for vengeance against her desire for her family to heal.

Gosling will play the girl’s father, Weisz the mother.

Shooting will begin in Pennsylvania and New Zealand in October.

The Oscar-nominated Gosling will next be seen opposite Patricia Clarkson in the comedy “Lars and the Real Girl.”

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Starbucks is planning a summer publicity blitz for the film “Arctic Tale,” an environmental documentary narrated by Queen Latifah, according to the Associated Press.

The coffee chain hopes the film, which centers on a walrus and a polar bear, will educate customers about the climate crisis.

Last year, Starbucks promoted “Akeelah and the Bee,” but the feel-good movie about an inner city girl who makes it to a national spelling bee got a lukewarm reception at the box office in spite of fun vocabulary-word flash cards in Starbucks shops.

Starbucks will play the movie soundtrack, which features Ben Harper, Aimee Mann and the Shins, in stores. The company has also designated Aug. 15 a “National Day of Discussion,” and plans to host in-store talks in some cities with environmental awareness groups such as Earth Watch and Global Green USA.

“Arctic Tale” is set to debut in selected theaters July 25, with a wide release planned for Aug. 17. Seela the walrus and Nanu the polar bear will start appearing in Starbucks stores July 31.

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Mos Def has signed on to star in and exec produce “Bobby Zero,” per The Hollywood Reporter.

The rapper-actor-poet will play the romantic lead in the film about a down-on-his-luck social satirist who gives up his artistic aspirations to work at an advertising agency.

“Zero” will be produced by Effie Brown’s Los Angeles-based production company Duly Noted, which is also producing another Def starrer, “Bury Me Standing.”

Directed by Caran Hartsfield, “Standing,” which begins production in August, also stars Alfre Woodard.

Mos Def’s other film credits include “16 Blocks,” “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” and “The Italian Job.”