By Adam Hetrick
19 Jun 2007

A host of theatre veterans are set to join Tom Cruise in the upcoming World War II drama “Valkyrie.”

According to Variety, Kenneth Branagh, Tom Wilkinson, Bill Nighy, Carice Van Houten and Eddie Izzard will take part in the film, based on a true story, about a German general’s attempt to assassinate Hitler.

Bryan Singer directs the production, which is scheduled to begin filming in Berlin July 19. Christopher McQuarrie and Nathan Alexander co-wrote the screenplay for United Artists.

Nighy was recently seen on Broadway opposite Julianne Moore in David Hare’s The Vertical Hour. Eddie Izzard, who was last seen on Broadway in A Day in the Death of Joe Egg, has numerous London stage credits including the title role in the Lenny Bruce musical Lenny and David Mamet’s Cryptogram.

Among Branagh’s theatrical credits are the successful London production and Broadway transfer of The Play What I Wrote, which he directed, as well as David Mamet’s Edmond, in which he appeared on the London Stage. Carice Van Houten has won numerous awards for her stage and television work in her native Netherlands. Tom Wilkinson, a RADA member and award-winning actor for his stage work in Ghosts and An Enemy of the People, is best known for his Academy Award-nominated work in “The Full Monty” and “In the Bedroom.” (Source: Playbill)

Casting Call: Tom Cruise’s New Leading Lady
Tom Cruise gets a new leading lady!
Carice Van Houten has signed on to star opposite Tom Cruise in “Valkyrie,” the World War II-set feature film, per The Hollywood Reporter.

Story is based on true-life attempts to assassinate Adolf Hitler during the height of WWII.

Also joining Cruise and Van Houten in the cast are Tom Wilkinson and Kenneth Branagh.

This will mark the first U.S. feature role for Van Houten, who has starred in several European films. She will play the love interest to Cruise’s main character. (Source: Access Hollywood)

Van Houten joins Cruise for ‘Valkyrie’
By Tatiana Siegel and Borys Kit

June 19, 2007

Carice Van Houten is set to play the female lead opposite Tom Cruise in Bryan Singer’s “Valkyrie” for United Artists. Tom Wilkinson also has joined the World War II-set drama.

Penned by Christopher McQuarrie and Nathan Alexander, the story is based on the true-life attempts to assassinate Adolf Hitler. Kenneth Branagh already has joined the cast.

Singer, Paula Wagner and McQuarrie are producing the film, which will begin shooting in July in Berlin.

Van Houten, who will play the love interest to Cruise’s character in the film, enjoyed a breakout performance in Paul Verhoeven’s Nazi drama “Black Book.” The classically trained actress also is a theater veteran in her native Netherlands.

She is repped by CAA.

Wilkinson, whose recent credits include “Batman Begins,” “Separate Lies” and “The Exorcism of Emily Rose,” was nominated for an Academy Award for 2002’s “In the Bedroom.”

He is repped by Lou Coulson in the U.K. and Larry Taube at Principal Entertainment. (Source: Hollywood Reporter)