Jacki Weaver Joins Charlie Kaufman's 'Frank Or Francis'; John Jarratt Part Of Quentin Tarantino's 'Django Unchained'

More than thirty years after Peter Weir's phenomenal, moody drama "Picnic At Hanging Rock" first graced screens, two supporting players from the film are set for major breaks stateside, with veteran duo Jacki Weaver and John Jarratt lining up roles in two of the biggest projects currently going around.

Weaver is already on quite the streak, shining in "Animal Kingdom" in 2010 and recently featuring in Nicholas Stoller's "Five-Year Engagement," and has upcoming roles in Park Chan-wook's "Stoker" and David O. Russell's "The Silver Linings Playbook." She's now set to add another illustrious name to her list of collaborators, joining the latest project from writer-director Charlie Kaufman, likely to be his film criticism satire "Frank Or Francis."

No further details on the project are noted by Australian newspaper The Age, but Kaufman's ambitious musical is a safe bet, and while there is no word on Weaver's role, there are plenty up for grabs. We previously described the script as a "a deliciously good and contemptuous (though self-aware) screed/send-up of the film industry, not only the graffiti-with-punctuation bloggers, but the entire machine." No word on exactly when lensing will get underway -- locking down financing seems to be an issue -- but with a game cast ready to participate including Jack Black, Nicholas Cage, Steve Carell, Elizabeth Banks, Kevin Kline, Catherine Keener and Paul Reubens, hopefully the wheels will start turning soon.

Jarratt, meanwhile, is reaping the rewards of Quentin Tarantino's renowned cinephilia. The helmer has apparently been a huge fan of the actor for a long time and even reached out to him while promoting "Kill Bill" in 2003, with a role in "Grindhouse" apparently in the works. Things didn't pan out on that occasion but Tarantino looks to have made amends as the actor has been revealed as another part of the ensemble for "Django Unchained."

Jarratt's role in the film has yet to be revealed, but the script did, of course, feature a trio of Australian hicks, who have a small and comedic but pivotal part of the last act. "Without A Trace" star Anthony LaPaglia and Joseph Gordon-Levitt were set to star in two of the three roles -- leader Jano and the younger Roy, respectively -- but plans for the latter to feature were soon halted by his own schedule. Since then, IMDB now lists LaPaglia as Roy instead with no one listed for Jano. Hmmm, considering Jarratt's seniority, has he stepped into the role of Jano with LaPaglia relagated to Roy? We hope so, although it still remains to be seen who will play the third member of the trio, Floyd. 

Starring Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz, Leonardo DiCaprio, Samuel L. Jackson and Kerry Washington and many more, that Christmas release for 'Django' can't come soon enough. [TheAge/TheAge]