The Tracking Board’s Daily Debrief (06.14.17)

Jessica Chastain to Play X-Men Villain Empress Lilandra in Dark Phoenix as Core Mutants Return For Sequel

Simon Kinberg will make his directorial debut with the comic book movie, which is bringing back James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender and Jennifer Lawrence.

Lionsgate Does Something Nobody Else Does, Which is a Good Thing (Studio Series)

What to make of an outfit like Lionsgate? The company has established itself very firmly as the maker of mid-level films that the studios don’t often make anymore, as well as genre fare and, now and again, the kind of franchises that lead to huge international box office, but it still can’t be lumped in with the Big Six.

Dakota Johnson Joins Shia LaBeouf in The Peanut Butter Falcon, T-Bone Burnett to Produce Soundtrack

Newcomer Zachary Gottsagen will co-star, as he lives with high-functioning Down syndrome and actually serves as the inspiration for the indie film.

More News From Around The Web

• Danai Gurira is already looking to reprise her role in the forthcoming Black Panther in the mega-superhero team-up Avengers: Infinity War. She plays Okoye, a member of Dora Milaje, a team of female warriors that protects the royal family of Chadwick Boseman’s titular character. (Deadline)

• Lucy Liu has joined Zoey Deutch, Glen Powell, and Taye Diggs in Netflix’s Set It Up from director Claire Scanlon. Written by Katie Silberman, the film follows the story of two overworked and underpaid assistants. (Deadline)

• Danny Elfman is going to dole out the sweet sound of justice, coming on board to compose the score for Justice League, Warner Bros.’ all-star superhero extravaganza. (The Hollywood Reporter)

• PBS and Bill Nye are adding a new element to their longtime relationship. The pubcaster has acquired North American distribution rights to Bill Nye: Science Guy, the documentary that had its world premiere this year at SXSW. (Deadline)

• Legends of Tomorrow has tapped Billy Zane to portray politician and showman P.T. Barnum, who founded Barnum & Bailey Circus. This will reunite Zane with his Titanic co-star Victor Garber, who plays Dr. Martin Stein on the CW series. (TVLine)

• Jason O’Mara has joined the cast of Amazon’s flagship drama series The Man In the High Castle as a new series regular for the upcoming third season. (Deadline)

• MGM has acquired the rights to produce Every Day, the feature adaptation of David Levithan’s bestselling YA novel that Michael Suscy will direct with Angourie Rice starring. (Deadline)

• Annalise Basso and Sasha Frolova are set as series regulars opposite Jennifer Connelly and Daveed Diggs in TNT’s pilot Snowpiercer, a futuristic thriller drama based on the acclaimed 2013 feature by Bong Joon-ho. (Deadline)