Sam Rockwell – who, frankly, we’ve always thought should be a much bigger star – has signed on to star alongside Hilary Swank (oh, she’s not that bad) in Betty Anne Waters. Minnie Driver has also bagged a role in the legal drama.
Based on a true story, Rockwell will play Kenneth Waters, the brother of the eponymous heroine. When he was convicted of a murder-robbery in 1983, Betty Anne (Swank), an unemployed single mother, spent the next two decades slowly earning a law degree and fighting tirelessly to overturn the conviction. There’s more to the story than that, but we don’t want to say anymore, in case we spoil it. Google is your friend.
Rumour had it that John C. Reilly had been set to play Kenneth initially, but the charismatic Rockwell seems to be a fine choice for the role. The movie, which will be directed by Tony Goldwyn, starts shooting this month, which means it shouldn’t interfere with Rockwell’s role as the villainous Justin Hammer in Iron Man 2. That film starts shooting in April.