Transcendence Adds British Actor Paul Bettany To Its Cast
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Wally Pfister’s directorial career is kicking into gear as the former cinematographer starts production on his debut film, Transcendence. Following the work he has done with Christopher Nolan will not be an easy feat, but it seems like the new director is up for the challenge.
IndieWire reports that British actor Paul Bettany will join the growing cast of Transcendence, opposite Pirates of the Caribbean star Johnny Depp. The science fiction film will follow a group of scientists who try to combine human intelligence with computer technology. After one of the scientists is assassinated, the others try to upload his brain into a supercomputer. There’s no official word on whom Bettany would play in the film, but it’s most likely that he would play one of the scientists.
Paul Bettany has had an acting career full of ups and downs. He was nominated for a BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his work in Peter Weir’s Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World in 2003. He recently had a standout performance in the indie movie Margin Call in 2011. However, Bettany has also appeared in a string of terrible movies including Legion, The Tourist, and Priest. He is perhaps best known for voicing J.A.R.V.I.S. (Just A Rather Very Intelligent System), Tony Stark’s handy-dandy A.I. assistant.
There should be more casting in the upcoming weeks because principle photography is set to start this April. There are three scientists in total, so Pfister and his team likely need one more actor to fill the role. Emily Blunt, Rebecca Hall, and Rooney Mara have all been rumored to join the cast, perhaps to play the dead man’s wife.
Yesterday, Johnny Depp was confirmed for Transcendence, and it’s likely he would play the gunned-down scientist. Screenwriter Jack Paglen wrote the screenplay, which would also be his feature debut along with Wally Pfister’s. Christopher Nolan and his producing partner and wife, Emma Thomas, will serve as Transcendence’s executive producers.
