Matthew Macfadyen Joins ‘The Current War’; ‘D.O.A. Blood River’ Rounds Out Cast; Katia Winter Stars In ‘Unwanted’

Matthew Macfadyen (Anna Karenina) has been added to the cast of  The Weinstein Company’s drama The Current War, set to begin shooting on December 18 in London and surrounding areas. Directed by Alfonso Gomez-Rejon, the film stars Benedict Cumberbatch as Thomas Edison alongside Michael Shannon’s George Westinghouse. Set in the late 1880s,  the pic details the rivalry between Thomas and George and the race to create a marketable and sustainable electricity system. Katherine Waterston, Tom Holland, and Nicholas Hoult, and Tuppence Middleton also co-star. Written by Michael Mitnick, the pic is produced by Basil Iwanyk, Timur Bekmanbetov, and Harvey Weinstein with Cumberbatch and Adam Ackland serving as exec producer.

Christa B. Allen (Revenge) and Scottie Thompson (NCIS) rounds out the cast for Silver Plane Films and Kingfisher Media noir thriller D.O.A. Blood River, along with Christopher Rob Bowen, Tyson Sullivan, Stephen C. Sepher, and Lillo Brancato. The group joins previously announced cast Billy Flynn, Chris Mulkey, and D.B. Sweeney in the pic written and directed by Sepher. It follows Sam, a pharmaceutical sales rep who visits a small town in Louisiana to close the business deal of a lifetime but the outcomes is not what he expected. Desperate for answers, he turns to a local girl Jesse and their path leads to a place that only confirms Sam’s doomed fate. Sepher also produces with Rory Fradella, Kim Barnard, and Nazo Bravo.

Fox’s Sleepy Hollow actress Katia Winter and newcomer Ashley Jones are set to topline the horror film Unwanted from Fright Night 2 director Eduardo Rodriguez. Written by Andrew Wong, the film follows Emma (Winter), who regains custody of her young daughter Isla (Jones) and hopes to rebuild their relationship after many years apart. But when an evil entity begins to torment them, mother and daughter are forced to face the inexplicable presence that inhabits the walls of their new home. Zach Avery will co-star. The film is produced by Luis Guerrero and Chris Lemos of Vital Pictures and Kacie Lehner.  Suicide Squad actor Jay Hernandez is exec producer.