'Downfall' & 'The Reader' Star Alexandra Maria Lara Lands Female Lead In Ron Howard's 'Rush'

While "The Dark Tower" may have crumbled for now, Ron Howard isn't wasting any time mourning missed opportunities, as the director continues to move into production on the racing pic "Rush."

Alexandra Maria Lara has joined Chris Hemsworth and Daniel Brühl in the film, taking on an unspecified female lead role in the film (we presume she will be a some kind of love interest for the latter). The actress has been part of a numerous notable films including "Downfall," "The Reader," "Youth Without Youth," "Miracle at St. Anna" and "The Baader Meinhof Complex," and while she may not be a well known name just yet, but this should definitely help boost her profile. Penned by Peter Morgan, “Rush” centers on Austrian Niki Lauda’s (Brühl) rivalry with English racer James Hunt (Hemsworth). In 1976, Lauda nearly died when his Ferrari swerved off the track in only the second lap of the German Grand Prix and crashed, causing him to lapse into a coma and lose his right ear—Hunt won the race. Six weeks later, Lauda was back behind the wheel chasing Hunt at the Italian Grand Prix and followed him to the Canadian and U.S. Grand Prix as well. Hunt would finally earn enough points during 1976 to take the World Driver’s Championship title away from Lauda.

The plan is for cameras to roll in late 2011/early 2012, once Hemsworth wraps up his duties with “Snow White And The Huntsman” which begins shooting this fall. Production on “Rush” will take place in Germany and the U.K. No release date has been set and the film is currently without a home, though Howard's longtime home Universal is expected to land the rights. [Variety]