LaPaglia appears as journalist Roger East in the true-life account of the 1975 Indonesian invasion of East Timor, according to Variety. Isaac, who starred in the Delacorte stagings of Romeo and Juliet and Two Gentleman of Verona for the Public Theater, has signed on to appear as a young Jose Ramos-Horta, the current president of East Timor. Damon Gameau, Gyton Grantley, Nathan Phillips, Mark Winter and Tom Wright have also joined the cast of the motion picture that began filming June 30 in the Australian city of Darwin. The film will travel to the East Timorese capital of Dili later this month.
Robert Connolly, who directs, co-wrote the script with David Williamson. "Balibo" is aiming for a mid-2009 release.
Anthony LaPaglia earned a 1998 Tony Award for his work in the revival of Arthur Miller's A View from the Bridge. He has appeared on stage in The Guys, The Rose Tattoo, Northeast Local and On the Open Road. LaPaglia earned a Golden Globe for television's "Without a Trace," and is known for roles on "Frasier," "CSI" and the films "Summer of Sam," "The Client," "Innocent Blood" and "Empire Records."
Oscar Isaac starred opposite Lauren Ambrose in the 2007 Shakespeare in the Park staging of Romeo and Juliet. His stage appearances also include Grace and Beauty of the Father. On film Isaac has appeared in "Guerilla," "The Nativity Story" and "The Life Before Her Eyes."