Ultra-mini teaser trailer for Polanski's 'The Ghost'

I'm really excited about Roman Polanski's upcoming thriller "The Ghost," but it's not because of this very short teaser that recently popped up online. I mean, come one! This darn thing is only 16 seconds long. My best guess is it's some kind of leaked footage intened for a longer preview.

Anyway, based on Robert Harris' novel, the film follows a ghostwriter who’s under pressure to finish the memoir of a former prime minister. When the author stumbles across a conspiracy that could implicate the ex-politician, he has to choose between his own safety and the commitment to his employer.

Sounds great, and so does the film's cast: Ewan McGregor, Pierce Brosnan, Timothy Hutton, James Belushi, Tom Wilkinson and Kim Cattrall are all on board. "The Ghost: will hit theateres some time next year. BTW, Polanski last directed "Oliver Twist." Mini teaser follows after the jump.

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Daily news dose: Mickey Rourke boards 'St. Vincent,' Fiennes makes directorial debut

Here's your dose of daily film news for Feb. 6, 2009:

• Mickey Rourke is set to star in Walter Hill's thriller "St. Vincent," about a hit man who returns to the Big Apple to finish a failed attempt to murder an informant. Cameron Young wrote the screenplay. Hill also directed the excellent television western "Broken Trail." (Variety)

• Ralph Fiennes will make his debut as director with "Coriolanus," the big-screen adaptation of William Shakespeare's Roman tragedy. According to Variety, Fiennes will also play the "contemptuous soldier spurred on by his ambitious mother to run for the Roman Senate, which ultimately leads to his downfall."

• Camilla Belle, Peter O'Toole, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Al Pacino and Jessica Lange are set to star in Alejandro Agresti's "Mary, Mother of Christ." Belle will play Mary, and Meyers is set for the roles of Gabriel and Lucifer. Pacino plays Herod, with Lange starring as Anna the Prophetess (Variety)

• Timothy Hutton is the latest to join Roman Polanski's upcoming flick "The Ghost." The film focuses on a ghostwriter who’s under pressure to finish the memoir of a former prime minister. Hutton plays the latter's American lawyer. Also starring are Ewan McGregor, Pierce Brosnan, Tom Wilkinson, James Belushi and Kim Cattrall. (The Hollywood Reporter)

Wilkinson, Belushi join Polanski's 'Ghost'

Tom Wilkinson and Jim Belushi have signed on to star in Roman Polanski's upcoming thriller "The Ghost," which Variety says starts shooting in Europe this February.

Based on Robert Harris' novel, the film follows a ghostwriter who’s under pressure to finish the memoir of a former prime minister.

When the author stumbles across a conspiracy that could implicate the ex-politician, he has to choose between his own safety and the commitment to his employer.

Also on board are Pierce Brosnan, Kim Cattrall, Ewan McGregor and Olivia Williams. Polanski last directed "Oliver Twist."

Tom Wilkinson is currently onscreen in "Valkyrie." He will next star in "Duplicity." As for Belushi, his last big-screen project was "Underdog."