When it was announced earlier this month that Robert Zemeckis had committed himself to making Flight, his first live-action film in 11 years, I noted that the director would have to move quickly with pre-production. After all, the movie is scheduled to begin filming next month and at the time of the announcement the only confirmed cast member was Denzel Washington. In the three weeks since then, however, the movie has added Kelly Reilly, Bruce Greenwood, Don Cheadle, John Goodman and Brian Geraghty. Not too shabby, right? Well they're not done yet.

THR reports that Oscar winner Melissa Leo and James Badge Dale are now both in talks to join the Zemeckis drama. In the movie Washington stars as Whip a pilot who manages to save 98 people when he's able to land his damaged plane safely. But while he's treated as a hero at first, Whip finds himself under scrutiny when its revealed that he is an alcoholic and a drug addict. Leo will be playing an investigator who is trying to expose Whip's personal problems while Dale will play a "gaunt dying cancer patient" (it's not explained how his character fits into the plot). The film is based on an original script by Real Steel scribe John Gatins and is being produced by Walter Parkes and Laurie MacDonald.

Anyone else feel like James Badge Dale is popping up everywhere these days? The actor has been linked to both World War Z and The Lone Ranger and also plays a part in Joe Carnahan's The Grey and David M. Rosenthal's A Single Shot. I'd complain, but Dale is a talented actor and it's good to see him get more work.