Casting Net: Andrew Garfield teams up with Scorsese; Plus James Franco joins 3-D Wim Wenders drama, more

* Martin Scorsese has found a new leading man in Andrew Garfield (The Amazing Spider-Man) for his feature Silence, based on Shusaku Endo's 1966 Japanese-language novel. The fictional story follows a 17th century Portuguese Jesuit missionary to Japan. Ken Watanabe (Inception) also stars in the film, which will be largely shot in Japanese. At one point, Daniel Day-Lewis and Benicio del Toro were going to star in the film. [Variety]

* James Franco is set to join Paris, Texas director Wim Wenders' upcomingdrama Everything Will Be Fine, about a writer who kills a child accidentally. The story will follow Thomas (Franco) for 12 years after the accident as he attempts to live a normal life. Sarah Polley (Splice) also stars. Wenders plans to make the film in 3-D — his second using the format. His first was the 2011 Oscar-nominated documentary Pina. [THR]

* Parks and Recreation's Adam Scott is in negotiations to join Craig Robinson, Rob Corddry, and Clark Duke in Hot Tub Time Machine 2. John Cusack is so far the only original cast member who will not reprise his role for the sequel, which will be directed by Steve Pink, who also helmed the first. Aside from his ongoing role as Ben Wyatt, Scott will also appear in an episode of Maron, and the Ben Stiller-directed adaptation of The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, which hits theaters December 25. [The Wrap]

* Sorry, Hiddleston and Skarsgard lovers, Luke Evans (Fast & Furious 6) is now in talks play the title role in the update of The Crow, based on the James O'Barr graphic novels. Brandon Lee played the role of Eric Draven in the 1994 film version. F. Javier Gutierrez (Before the Fall) will direct off of a script from Warrior scribe and former Entourage staff writer Cliff Dorfman. [Deadline]

* John Travolta will star in The Forger, a heist flick about an imprisoned man who has the chance to get out if he does one last big job for the shady organization who has the influence and cash to get him an early release. Of course those always go well. Philip Martin (Prime Suspect 7) will direct. Travolta can also be seen in Killing Season with Robert De Niro, out sometime this year. [Deadline]

* Clueless writer and director Amy Heckerling will direct Jada Pinkett-Smith (Collateral) and Latino soap star William Levy in Salsa, which she also wrote. The romantic comedy is about a woman, who (as if you couldn't guess) finds happiness through salsa dancing…and an attractive instructor. [Deadline]

* Maggie Smith (Downton Abbey) has joined the cast of My Old Lady, to star alongside Kevin Kline (No Strings Attached) and Jane Birkin (Blow-Up). Based on Israel Horovitz's play, an American goes to Paris to liquidate his recently deceased father's property, only to discover someone living there — a woman who was his father's lover for 50 years. Horovitz will make his feature debut on the project. [THR]

* Gossip Girl alum Ed Westwick is set to star in an adaptation of Anthony Bourdain's thriller Bone In The Throat, about a London sous-chef who accidentally gets mixed up with some mobsters. Westwick is best known for his role as Chuck Bass, but has appeared in a few features including J. Edgar. He also plays Tybalt in the latest take on Romeo and Juliet, starring Hailee Steinfeld. [Deadline]

* Jason Alexander (Seinfeld) will join Jason Statham and Sofia Vergara in the update of the Burt Reynolds movie Heat, which is currently shooting in New Orleans. [Variety]

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