Hollywood Ink: Anna Friel Not Afraid of the Dark

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· Anna Friel is in late talks to join the Bradley Cooper pharma-psychological (psycho-ceutical?) thriller The Dark Fields, which is currently shooting in New York. Friel would play the emotionally stunted ex-wife of Cooper's character, a man who discovers a drug that makes him smarter and more successful, slows down time, gets him chased by a gang of "mysterious antagonists" and generally threatens his life. Robert De Niro and Abbie Cornish co-star, Neil Burger directs and Rogue Pictures will eventually distribute. [THR]

Aaron Sorkin shortlists the John Edwards story, Fox doubles down on Wimpy Kid, and more Hollywood Ink after the jump.

· Buried in Rush & Molloy's Sunday column, find word that Aaron Sorkin is reportedly interested in adapting the best-selling memoir The Politician for the screen. Written by John Edwards's former aide and go-between in his catastrophic affair with Rielle Hunter, it's kind of mind-blowing the book doesn't already have something in the works; Ari Emanuel is involved in the early negotiations, natch. [NYDN]

· As expected, Fox plans to build a franchise out of its profitably sleeperesque Diary of a Wimpy Kid, the first adaptation from Jeff Kinney's book series that will yield at least four remaining titles to produce. The sequel, Roderick Rules, is in development as we speak; director Thor Freudenthal is not likely to return, likely over some fissure about 3-D conversion. You know how it goes these days. [LAT]

· James Bond and The Hobbit notwithstanding, the overriding question during this whole MGM-sale saga has been obvious: What will happen to The Zookeeper? Good news! The Kevin James comedy about the title character who receives counsel from his animals about how to win his dream girl (Rosario Dawson) is apparently headed over to Sony for domestic distribution. The studio, which had a surprise blockbuster last year with James's Paul Blart: Mall Cop, was already set to handle the international release. [Deadline]

· As alluded to Friday morning and now officially confirmed, Emily Blunt has passed on Captain America. If you're scoring at home, this leaves Keira Knightley and Alice Eve as the rumored remaining leading-lady short-listers. [LAT]