Scarlett Johansson and Jonah Hill in talks to join Coen Brothers’ Hail Caesar!

By Rick Marshall Published July 14, 2014

Celebrated sibling filmmakers Joel and Ethan Coen have rarely had any trouble attracting all-star actors to their recent productions, and the upcoming Hail Caesar! appears to continue that trend, with Scarlett Johansson and Jonah Hill reportedly in talks to join the film’s cast. If the pair do indeed sign on for the film, they’ll be joining previously announced cast members George Clooney, Josh Brolin, Channing Tatum, Tilda Swinton, and Ralph Fiennes — giving the production an impressive collection of Oscar nominees and winners. According to Variety, Johansson will play an actress who becomes pregnant just before she begins work on a major production, which seems appropriate, given that Johansson announced that she was pregnant just a few months ago. The film will reportedly follow a Hollywood “fixer” in the 1950s who is tasked with keeping the industry’s stars in line and squashing bad press. There’s no word on the potential role for Hill. Hail Caesar! wouldn’t be the first Coen Brothers film to feature Johansson, who previously appeared in 2001’s The Man Who Wasn’t There with Billy Bob Thornton, Frances McDormand, and James Gandolfini. There’s no release date set for the film yet, but production is expected to begin this fall.

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