News: Jason Schwartzman

Whether appearing as decadent King Louis XVI in his cousin Sophia Coppolla’s latest movie will boost his career is hard to tell. He is, however, in talks to appear in the Wes Anderson-directed feature-length take on Roald Dahl’s The Fantastic Mr Fox, due out sometime next year.

This would mark a welcome re-teaming of the actor and director following their successful partnership on Anderson’s breakout 1998 flick Rushmore. Whether other Anderson favourites Bill Murray and Owen Wilson will also appear is unclear, but The Life Aquatic and The Royal Tennenbaums co-star Angelica Houston is also in talks.

News: Steve Coogan

The comedian still best known as Alan Partridge continues to find interesting film roles. Following his experimental turn in director Michael Winterbottom’s A Cock and Bull Story earlier this year and his supporting role in this week’s Marie Antoinette, Coogan has signed on to play the former British Ambassador to Uzbekistan, Craig Murray, in a Winterbottom-directed adaptation of his memoirs, Murder in Samarkand. Detailing Murray’s efforts to expose alleged British involvement in the torture of terror suspects and other human rights abuses, it will be an interesting departure for the comic.

Also in the pipeline for Coogan is a feature-length movie based around his Alan Partridge character, Alan Partridge: The Movie, although the production is currently on hold. Meanwhile, he will be appearing in the Ben Stiller vehicle Night at the Museum alongside the likes of Robin Williams, Owen Wilson, Mickey Rooney, Dick Van Dyke and Ricky Gervais – due to hit our screens on Boxing Day.

Coogan will also appear in a cameo role in Hot Fuzz – the British police comedy from the team behind cult favourite Shawn of the Dead – and is currently attached in the Roger Moore role alongside Ben Stiller in a movie version of 60s TV classic The Persuaders.