Apparently Chris Nolan's "Inception" is no small flick; budget could run upwards of $200 million

When the project was first announced, most people assumed that Inception would be a smaller film that Christopher Nolan would film before returning to make a third Batman film. But with a budget of over $200 million (or possibly $178 Million if the initial number is Canadian dollars) , the film isn’t looking so small after all.

This according to The Calgary Sun, who also claims that the psychological thriller will be filming in five different countries, including a “significan portion” in Kananaskis, Alberta (a rural district situated to the west of Calgary in the footholls of the Canadian Rockies). Apparently Nolan visited Canada twice scouting locations, looking at nearby foothills and mountainous areas by helicopter before choosing Fortress Mountain as the main Alberta location. The newspaper insists that the location shooting will be significant, employing hundreds, if not thousands, of local film workers beginning this Summer when construction on an “elaborate set” is scheduled to begin.

The plot is being kept under lock and key. MTV recently asked Joseph Gordon-Levittto talk about the movie, and the star reluctantly responded:

Here’s the thing… I cant wait to talk to you about [Inception] but I’ve been very specifically asked not to talk about it. I want to respect [director Chris Nolan's wishes] because I love his movies and I’m so honored and grateful to be working with him. He’s got a really specific idea and way he wants people to be presented with this thing.

All we know about the story so far is that the movie is a contemporary science fictionaction movie “set within the architecture of the mind.” Leonardo DiCaprio plays the lead, a CEO-type, Marion Cotillard (La Vie en rose, Public Enemies) is his wife, Ellen Page (Juno) is a young college grad student and DiCaprio’s sidekick, Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays an associate working for DiCaprio. Ken Watanabe will play the film’s villain, a man who is blackmailing Leonardo DiCaprio’s character. Tom Hardy (Bronson) is a member of DiCaprio’s team. Cillian Murphy (Batman Begins, Sunshine) andMichael Caine are also signed on, but no details are known about their characters.

Inception will begin production this summer, and is scheduled to hit theaters on July 16th 2010.

Two more join Christopher Nolan's "Inception"

This is shaping up to be quite the cast...although after "The Dark Knight", who wouldn't want to work with Chris Nolan?

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

Ken Watanabe and Tom Hardy are boarding Christopher Nolan's "Inception" for Warner Bros.

The story, which Nolan wrote, is a contemporary sci-fi actioner set within the architecture of the mind, with Leonardo DiCaprio as a CEO type. Watanabe will play the film's villain, a man who is blackmailing DiCaprio. Hardy is a member of DiCaprio's team.

The duo join a cast that includes Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Cillian Murphy, Ellen Page and Marion Cotillard. 

Watanabe's deal reunites him with Nolan, with whom he collaborated on 2005's "Batman Begins."

Nolan and the studio are aiming for a summer shoot ahead of a 2010 release. Nolan and Emma Thomas are producing through their Warners-based Syncopy Films shingle.

Watanabe next appears in the Weinstein Co.'s September release "Shanghai" with John Cusack, Chow Yun-Fat and Gong Li. He is repped by Endeavor and ROAR. 

Hardy, who is in negotiations for his role, next appears in "Bronson," playing a criminal who spent 30 years in solitary confinement. He is repped by CAA.

Michael Caine joins Nolan's "Inception" (2010)

Source: The HDRoom

Another big name has joined Chris Nolan's Inception only this one's appearance will be relatively brief.

While chatting with Michale Caine about his newmovie Is Anybody There?, InContention.comconfirmed with Michael that he has secured a "little part" in Inception.

"I have a little part in it, yes. Just a tiny part. Chris and I are very good friends so I'll do that little part. I think I'll work about three days. It'll be extraordinary, wait until you see this one. I think if I say another word he's going to kill me!"

So aside from Inception's only descriptive words being "a contemporary sci-fi actioner set within the architecture of the mind," we have a living cinematic god saying the movie will be "extraordinary." Can we find out what this movie is about already? The suspense is starting to kill me.

In case you missed earlier Inception casting news, Caine is joins Leonardo DiCaprio, Joseph Gordon-Levitt (replacing James Franco who bailed due to an overloaded calendar), Cillian Murphy, Marion Cotillard, and youthful Ellen Page.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt joins Christopher Nolan's "Inception" (2010)

I have no complaints. He's a very talented young actor, and it's nice to see him get to work on a big budget project that will give him more recognition. However, does anyone else think that he bears an eerie resemblance to the late Heath Ledger??

Source: The Hollywood Reporter/Reuters

By Borys Kit

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Joseph Gordon-Levitt is signing on for "Dark Knight" director Christopher Nolan's "Inception," a thriller starring Leonardo DiCaprio.

The story line of the Warner Bros. project, which Nolan also wrote, remains rapped in a veil of secrecy, with no details announced beyond the description that it's a contemporary sci-fi action tale set within "the architecture of the mind."

Gordon-Levitt is taking the role that was to have been played by James Franco, who bowed out over scheduling issues. He would play an associate of DiCaprio's character, a CEO-type.

Marion Cotillard is already on board as DiCaprio's wife, while Ellen Page is playing a grad student and DiCaprio's sidekick. Cillian Murphy is also in the cast.

Nolan and the studio are aiming for a summer shoot and a 2010 release.

Gordon-Levitt ("The Lookout," "Mysterious Skin") has a big summer lined up: He stars in the romantic comedy "500 Days of Summer," opening in July, and plays the villainous Cobra Commander in "G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra," which opens August 7.

Christopher Nolan's next non-Batman film expands its cast

Source: Variety

Warner Bros. is in talks with Marion Cotillard, Cillian Murphy and Ellen Page to join the cast of "Inception," which Christopher Nolan wrote and will direct as his next film.

Leonardo DiCaprio has already been set to star.

WB bought the spec preemptively before other studios got a crack at the material, which kept Warner in business with the filmmaker after smash hit "The Dark Knight" (Daily Variety, Feb. 12).

More than one option

• (Co) Daily Variety
  Filmography, Year, Role
• (Co) Daily Variety

Production begins this summer for 2010 release.

The subject matter has been kept under tight wraps, with the studio describing the film as a contemporary sci-fi actioner set within the architecture of the mind.

Nolan will produce with Emma Thomas.

The film is Nolan's first with Cotillard and Page, but he is reteaming with Murphy, who played the villain Scarecrow in "Batman Begins," with a cameo in "The Dark Knight." Murphy just completed "Peacock" and "Perrier's Bounty."

Cotillard will next be seen in the Michael Mann-directed "Public Enemies" and just completed the Rob Marshall-helmed musical "Nine."

Page just teamed with Murphy in "Peacock" and starred in the Drew Barrymore-directed "Whip It!"