Casting Net: Amy Adams in talks for sci-fi thriller

* Amy Adams (American Hustle) is in early talks to star in Story of Your Life, a sci-fi thriller based on a Ted Chiang short story about a linguist who is hired to determine whether the aliens who have just landed on Earth are a threat. During her communication with the visitors, she beings to experience visions that help her determine why they are there. Denis Villeneuve (Prisoners) will direct off of a script from Eric Heisserer (Final Destination 5). [Deadline]

* Emily Blunt (Looper) in in talks to star in Denis Villeneuve's Sicario about an Arizona police officer who ventures into Mexico to try to find a drug lord. Blunt can be seen next alongside Tom Cruise in Warner Bros.' The Edge of Tomorrow (out June 6). [Variety]

* Allison Janney and Sam Rockwell, who co-starred in The Way Way Back, are in talks to re-team with their directors Jim Rash and Nat Faxon on The Heart, an action-comedy starring Kristen Wiig. In The Heart, Wiig will play a desperate, broke woman who agrees to transport black-market organs. [The Wrap]

* Juno Temple (Afternoon Delight) and Jesse Plemons (Breaking Bad) are in talks to join Johnny Depp in the Whitey Bulger pic Black Mass. Guy Pearce and Joel Edgerton also star in the Scott Cooper pic, and Dakota Johnson is in talks to join. Another report says that Plemons' potential involvement could affect his possible role in Star Wars: Episode VII. [THR]

* Sam Worthington (Avatar), Chris Messina (The Mindy Project), and Anna Kendrick (Pitch Perfect) will join Jennifer Aniston in Cake. Also joining the cast are Felicity Huffman, William H. Macy, and Britt Robertson. [The Wrap]

* Zac Efron is set to star in and produce an adaptation of John Grisham's The Associate. Shia LaBeouf was previously attached to star when Paramount had the project in 2008. [THR]

* Archie Panjabi (The Good Wife) will star opposite Dwayne Johnson in San Andreas about a 10.0 earthquake that hits California. She'll play a reporter in the Brad Peyton-directed pic. [Variety]

* Forest Whitaker is in talks to star in Antoine Fuqua's boxing drama Southpaw. Jake Gyllenhaal is set to star as a champion fighter who is recovering from a tragedy and hoping to repair his relationship with his young daughter. [The Wrap]

* Tony Hale (Veep), Peter Krause (Parenthood), and Kevin Pollak (Casino) have joined Night Owls, an indie comedy about a one-night stand gone wrong. [The Wrap]