Hot Topics:

Branagh set for Singer's 'Valkyrie'

Actor joins Cruise in WWII drama

Trio signs on for 'Nutcracker'

Gere to star in, produce 'Hachiko'

Private equity firm stalks Virgin

Litton adds Castle Hill titles

Spielberg abandons 'Harvey'(1943 views)

'Blind Side' gains B.O. yardage over 'New Moon'(1838 views)

Nine(1797 views)

Taylor Lautner to star in 'Max Steel'(969 views)

Johnny Depp eyes Pancho Villa role(893 views)

Bennett Miller to direct 'Moneyball'(692 views)

Kenneth Branagh will star with Tom Cruise in "Valkyrie," the Bryan Singer-directed WWII drama that shoots this summer for United Artists.

Branagh will play a German general who mentors Cruise's character and hatches a plan to assassinate Hitler. Christopher McQuarrie and Nathan Alexander scripted, based on a true story.

Singer and McQuarrie, who will produce, brought the project to Cruise and Paula Wagner in March; Cruise committed to star shortly thereafter. Project marked the second film to which UA committed and also the second in which Cruise is starring (he also toplines the Robert Redford-directed "Lions for Lambs").

Pic begins lensing July 19 in Berlin.

Branagh recently finished directing a "Sleuth" remake that stars Michael Caine and Jude Law and a version of Shakespeare's "As You Like It" that will premiere on HBO in September.