Sanaa Lathan Joins Steven Soderbergh's 'Contagion'; 'Haywire' Ticketing Mix-Up Leads To Oscar Run Confusion

The already massive ensemble cast for Steven Soderbergh's "Contagion" has added one more, actress Sanaa Lathan. The film recently wrapped production in Hong Kong and will start filming next week in Chicago.

An international thriller that takes place on several continents, "Contagion" is a "Traffic"-like sprawling film about the ramifications of the spread of a global virus. Lathan joins (deep breath) Matt Damon, Kate Winslet, Marion Cotillard, Laurence Fishburne, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jude Law, John Hawkes, Chin Han, Josie Ho, Demetri Martin, Jennifer Ehle, Bryan Cranston and Elliott Gould in the film and her role is an interesting one. She will play the spouse of Fishburne's character who starts the panic when she tells a friend about the epidemic her husband, a doctor, has learned about.

And speaking of rumors getting out of control, the interwebs went briefly aflame when a now removed post by Jeff Wells pointed out an interesting glitch on AMC's website that seemed to indicate that Steven Soderbergh's forthcoming "Haywire" was suddenly (and inexplicably) being given a quiet Oscar qualifying run in New York and Los Angeles starting this Friday with tickets available for purchase (sorry, not anymore).

So what's the deal? We reached out to some sources close to the film and from what we heard told the whole thing is a massive mistake. We've been told that "Haywire" is not an Oscar film (no surprise there, it's been described to us as "if Alfred Hitchock made a Pam Grier movie") and that Steven Soderbergh, Overture and others involved with the film know nothing about any "Haywire" screenings.

Adding to (and perhaps explaining) the confusion, the "Haywire" listings have now been scrubbed and replaced with "Knockout." But wait! Wasn't that the working title of the film? Yes, but it also happens to be the name of an Indian movie which is apparently opening in some theaters this weekend. So, mystery pretty much solved.

So what will happen on Friday with those of you that bought tickets? Honestly, we have no idea. The situation is a little weird to say the least, but if we had to put money on it, we'd wager there won't be a screening (or else you'll end up watching the Indian "Knockout") and AMC staff will be armed with vouchers to compensate those of you that purchased tickets hoping to see Soderbergh's latest. But stranger things have happened and if you do end up seeing the film Friday, please let us know what you thought (and or email us immediately so we can catch the day's final showing).