'Game Of Thrones' Star Carice Van Houten Joins Benedict Cumberbatch In Bill Condon's Wikileaks Movie

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by Oliver Lyttelton
January 18, 2013 3:33 PM
6 Comments

The star of Paul Verhoeven's undervalued "Black Book," Carice Van Houten, was tipped for big things after that film bowed in 2006. The actress picked up Hollywood roles in "Valkyrie" and "Repo Men" but neither role was particularly rewarding, and she had a quiet few years after. But the Dutch star (who has a side career in the music industry) picked up a prominent role as sorceress Melisandre in HBO's "Game Of Thrones" (she'll be returning to the show for the third season when it debuts in March), and now she's landed a role in another big Hollywood picture.

According to Variety, Van Houten has signed on to join the untitled Wikileaks movie that's gearing up over at DreamWorks, to be directed by "Gods and Monsters" and "Twilight: Breaking Dawn" director Bill Condon. The film, penned by Josh Singer, stars Benedict Cumberbatch as Julian Assange, Daniel Bruhl as his now-estranged right-hand man Daniel Domscheit-Berg, and "Anna Karenina" breakout Alicia Vikander as Domscheit-Berg's co-worked and girlfriend.

Van Houten plays Birgitta Jonsdottir, an Icelandic journalist who became spokesman for the website, and has gone on to be a MP in her home country. Interestingly, there's no mention in Variety's report of "Downton Abbey" star Dan Stevens, who was previously said to be on board, to play Guardian journalist Ian Katz. An oversight? Or has Stevens dropped out of the project? Either way, Condon will get underway on filming soon, and DreamWorks are likely to be targeting a fall release to get Cumberbatch into the Oscar race.

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More: Bill Condon, Carice van Houten, Benedict Cumberbatch, Alicia Vikander, Daniel Brühl, Dan Stevens

6 Comments

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kyle | January 19, 2013 6:08 PMReply

Carice Van Houten looks good in anything. Ill really be looking forward to seeing her in this. This lady is so hot. Also watched her in repomen. I want to see her in more movies....Such as cute and sexy women
Lee | January 18, 2013 5:09 PMReply

Maried: what is the basis for your claim that the "cast and crew are practically walking on thin ice?" - seems a tad presumptuous for not having, as you say, even seen a trailer. Why are your expectations so low to the point of advising others to keep their expectation from being too high?

Odd and curious declaration to have made.
MarieD | January 18, 2013 4:44 PMReply

The cast that have been confirmed is indeed rather impressive. Cumberbatch is surely a talent, and obviously this year is his big year, but this movie is not an easy one to pull off; the major cast and crew are practically walking on thin ice. Personally I wouldn't get my expectation up too high before seeing the trailer.
olly | January 18, 2013 3:56 PMReply

Cumberbatch started filming today in Reykjavik. He was wearing a white/blonde wig for Assange. Obviously no time to dye and then redye for filming Sherlock. He stopped to chat to fans.
Alan B | January 19, 2013 1:46 AM

Maried, so I guess websites shouldn't post trailers, reviews, pictures or anything else about a film because, apparently, a comment about Cumberbatch wearing a wig is, like, spoiling the experience of seeing a film in the theater.
MarieD | January 18, 2013 4:15 PM

Not exactly a big spoiler, but you know it's always more interesting for the audience to find out the details about the film by themselves in theatres, and other than some more fervent Cumberbatch fans, whether he's wearing wig or stopping to talk to fans is really not a big deal to the rest of the world.