Casting Bits: Nina Dobrev In 'The Perks Of Being A Wallflower;' Billy Bob Thornton In 'Baytown Disco;' Alex Russell In 'Chronicle'

Summit is pinning some hopes on Stephen Chbosky's adaptation of his own novel The Perks of Being a Wallflower. The project has been waiting for Emma Watson to be finished with Harry Potter so she can play a lead role, and also has Logan Lerman, Mae Whitman and Paul Rudd in the cast. (Logan Lerman is the titular wallflower.) Now Nina Dobrev is going to jump into the cast from The Vampire Diaries as a character named Candace. [Deadline]

After the break, Billy Bob Thornton goes to the disco, and Fox hires more cast for Chronicle.

The Baytown Disco, co-written by Barry Battles and Griffin Hood, was on the 2009 Black List and is now about to go into production in Louisiana with Barry Battles directing. The film " follows the foibles of three redneck brothers who get more than they bargained for after agreeing to help a woman get her son back from his seemingly-abusive father."

The cast is coming together quick, and features Serinda Swan (TRON: Legacy), Clayne Crawford (Swimfan), Thomas Sangster (Love Actually, Bright Star) and Meagan Good (Brick). Now Billy Bob Thornton and Eva Longoria have joined, too. No word on specifics on their roles here, but maybe the paycheck will help Billy Bob Thornton work on his own film, Jayne Mansfield's Car. [via press release]

Finally, Fox is moving forward on Chronicle, the film written by Max Landis that will be the directorial debut of Josh Trank. The film is already set to be released in early February 2012, and now Michael B. Jordan and Alex Russell have been added to the cast. Dane DeHaan was already set to be in the "supernatural thriller about a group of teens who develop powers from a mysterious substance." [Variety]