There have been numerous casting announcements for upcoming geek films, and we round them up here.

Sam Neill (Jurassic Park, Event Horizon, The Hunt for Red October) told Shortlist in a video interview (3:27) that he had just “done a couple of days on Thor before I came here.”  Neill was not allowed to talk about the part in any detail.  The last casting news for the film was in May (see “Late May Marvel Movie Round-Up”).
 

Valene Kane (The Fall) has been cast as Lyra Erso in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.  She will play the mother of Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones) and wife of Galen Erso (Mads Mikkelsen).  “I grew up watching Stars Wars and I didn’t believe it was happening until I was filming in Iceland. It has a really edgy independent vibe,” she told BelfastLive.  The film opens December 16.

Pacific Rim 2 has added Levi Meaden (Aftermath), Chinese actress Jing Tian, and pop singer Cailee Spaeny.  According to Variety, Meaden will play Ilya, an irreverent and offbeat cadet.  Spaeny has landed the female lead in the sequel, Variety reported.  Tian’s role has not been announced, according to Variety.  The film begins production in Australia this November, with some scenes filmed in China.  The film releases on February 23, 2018.

Ed Skrein, who played Ajax in Deadpool, will play another villain in James Cameron and Robert Rodriguez’s Alita: Battle Angel, The Hollywood Reporter reported.  Skrein will play Zapan, a villainous cyborg who wields the Damascus blade. Jackie Earle Haley (Watchmen, Preacher) has also been cast as a villain role, THR reported.  Haley will play a monstrous cyborg.  The film will begin production in October in Austin.

Imogen Poots (Need for Speed, V for Vendetta) has been cast in I Kill Giants, an adaptation of Joe Kelly’s graphic novel (see “Geek Movie News Round-Up”).  According to Variety, Poots will join Zoe Saldana and Madison Wolfe in the drama about a misfit girl battling monsters both real and imagined.

Benicio Del Toro is in talks to star in the reboot of Predator, Deadline is reporting. The film will be directed by Shane Black (The Nice Guys, Iron Man 3). Fred Dekker is writing the script.

Billy Crudup (Watchmen) has been cast as Barry Allen’s (The Flash) father in the upcoming DC and Warner Bros. film, Variety is reporting.  Kiersey Clemons was recently cast as Iris West (see “Mid-August Geek Movie Round-Up”).  Ezra Miller will play the lead.