Newcomer Rami Malek Joins ‘The Master,' Additional Details Revealed

Happy Friday everyone. We had a great deal of casting news this week but we aren't done yet. Variety reports that relative newcomer Rami Malek (HBO's "The Pacific") has signed onto the still untitled (but for brevity's sake just called 'The Master') religious drama. Malek will play the son-in-law of the Master (Philip Seymour Hoffman), married to the 19 year old daughter of Hoffman's and Amy Adams's characters.

Malek converts to P.T. Anderson pic 'Twilight' thesp to play the son-in-law of religious leader

By Jeff Sneider

EXCLUSIVE: Having recently wrapped "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn -- Part II," Rami Malek has signed on for Paul Thomas Anderson's untitled religious drama.

Malek will play the son-in-law of the main character, the creator of a new faith that closely mirrors Scientology (Philip Seymour Hoffman). Joaquin Phoenix co-stars as an alcoholic drifter who becomes his right-hand man and disciple.

Hoffman and Amy Adams have a sassy, 19-year-old daughter in the film; Malek will play her husband, Clark.

Other confirmed cast members include Laura Dern, Jesse Plemons and David Warshofsky.

The Weinstein Company has worldwide distribution rights to the Annapurna Pictures-financed period pic, which starts production later this month.

Anderson and his longtime producing partners JoAnne Sellar and Daniel Lupi will produce through Anderson's Ghoulardi Film Co., along with Annapurna's Megan Ellison. Ted Schipper is exec producing.

Malek, who recently starred in HBO's "The Pacific," will soon be seen alongside Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts in "Larry Crowne," which Universal opens July 1.

Thesp is best known for playing Ahkmenrah in the "Night at the Museum" pics -- though that may change once he's seen as the powerful Egyptian vampire Benjamin in the final installment of Summit's "Twilight" franchise, due for release in November 2012.

Malek is repped by WME and Kyle Fritz Management.

Still no details on Dern's character and as usual the trade is behind on news it didn't receive via press release (the casting of Lena Endre, which was confirmed by her reps) but more news will surely surface in the coming weeks with filming set to begin very shortly. Can you feel the excitement?

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