Production has already started in Fillmore, California for James Ponsoldt's upcoming film adaptation of Dave Eggers' novel "The Circle.' A first glimpse at Emma Watson on set has been released; the "Bling Ring' actress stars in the technological thriller film alongside Tom Hanks, John Boyega, Karen Gillan, Patton Oswalt and Bill Paxton.
Watson will play a tech wizard on the film, which draws attention to the dangers associated with different forms of technology.
The wizarding world, where Watson's Hermione Granger character in the "Harry Potter' series significantly bolstered her acting career, is known to reject the mere idea of technology.
In contrast, the upcoming "The Circle' film adaptation will follow the 25-year-old actress as a recent college graduate who settles for a job with a booming Internet monopoly known as the Circle. Its workplace offers an extensive campus along with notable amenities for its employees.
After quickly going up the ranks, Watson's character finds herself in the middle of a business that connects "users' personal emails, social media, banking, and purchasing with their universal operating system, resulting in one online identity and a new age of civility and transparency."
Penned and directed by James Ponsoldt, who previously helmed "The Spectacular Now,' the tech thriller seeks to explore "the perils of life in a digital age where personal data is collected, sifted and monetized and used for surveillance, rendering privacy obsolete," as pointed out in a press release for the upcoming movie.
Ponsoldt highlighted Watson's intelligence as a critical factor for choosing her for the role.
"Emma Watson is one of my favorite actors, and her incredible talent, sensitivity, and deep intelligence will bring an electric energy to "The Circle'," the director said.
Meanwhile, Watson's "Harry Potter' co-star Daniel Radcliffe is also up for a thriller film that involves the FBI and neo-Nazis. The 26-year-old actor has gone bald to be an undercover FBI agent/analyst in "Imperium.'
In the actor's first photo for the film, the "Horns' actor's lack of black hair is greatly noticeable. Radcliffe's character, Nate Foster, sets out to gain access to a group of neo-Nazis attempting to create a dirty bomb.
"Imperium' is inspired by the experiences of ex-FBI agent Michael German, who also co-wrote the script with Daniel Ragussis.
Radcliffe is set to appear next in director Paul McGuigan's "Victor Frankenstein' as Igor opposite James McAvoy as the titular character.
The duo is joined by "Downton Abbey' alum Jessica Findlay Brown and Andrew Scott in "Victor Frankenstein,' which is set to premiere on Nov. 25.
