Looks like we’ll have to wait for Kate Winslet’s next big screen appearance until October 2011. That is when Contagion is scheduled to open – and in 3D, reports Coming Soon. This will be Kate’s first film to be released in 3D. As you may recall, Titanic will also be released in 3D in 2012.

The biggest announcement among them is that Steven Soderbergh will be releasing his virus thriller Contagion, starring Matt Damon, Kate Winslet, Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow and Marion Cotillard in 3D on October 21, 2011. Having spoken with Soderbergh about 3D this time last year, he told ComingSoon.net how he had been suitably impressed when he was given an early sneak peek at James Cameron’s Avatar, so it isn’t too big a surprise that he has decided to give it a go with his next big movie.

Also, according to New York Times, Mildred Pierce is scheduled to be broadcast in February 2011 so us Kate fans can look forward to two projects from our favorite actress next year. Can’t wait!

The Playlist, which has proved to be a reliable source for scoop regarding Contagion, has revealed further details regarding the film and its characters. According to it Kate Winslet’s character is called Dr. Erin Mears and she is battling to find a cure for the disease together with Laurence Fishburne’s Dr. Ellis Cheever. This certainly sounds like a different kind of role for Kate! Hopefully it will be a meaty one as well.

As the infection begins to spread, we meet a collection of other characters around the world. Dr. Ellis Cheever (Laurence Fishburne), the head of the Center for Disease Control (CDC), and his colleague Dr. Erin Mears (Kate Winslet) are both battling to find a cure for the disease, the latter being sent to examine Emhoff at home in Minnesota, while European doctor Leonora Orantes (Marion Cotillard), works for the World Health Organization, has a similar aim; heading to Hong Kong to investigate what appears to be the genesis spot of the breakout. Alan Krumwiede (Jude Law), meanwhile, is a hungry, truthseeking blogger with an unfortunate interest in conspiracy theories, who is responsible for spreading information about the disease, both true and false, around the world.

You can read quite a detailed plot report of Steven Soderbergh’s Contagion over at IESB. Beware of possible spoilers should you choose to read it.

Furthermore, Jude Law recently spoke to Coming Soon about the film and his role in it. Click on the link for the full article.

“Contagion is not until the end of the year and I’m one of a large number of people in a big ensemble, so I’m doing like 10 days on that, in San Francisco, I think. Well, the subject matter is really interesting, it’s very current. It’s about a contagious disease spreading across the world and how it affects different elements. Be it the public, the medical services, the emergency services, politicians. I play someone online, a blogger, who is kind of a fearmonger. And I just like the part, I really like the part, and I just love Steven Soderbergh films. I think he’s a great talent.”

The cast for Steven Soderbergh’s virus outbreak thriller Contagion keeps growing with outstanding talent. Now Laurence Fishburne is in talks to take on what is being described as a major role if his scheduling can be worked out. Check out this great post courtesy of The Playlist that sums up nicely the latest news regarding the film.

Note, Fishburne’s role is said to be as big as all the other actors announced thus far. Most of them will play an international team of doctors and scientists brought in by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) once the sickness outbreak starts. The vibe of the picture will be “ultra realistic” and apparently many of them will be jumping on planes to assist elsewhere; as we first reported, the film will be played out on four different continents. That might superficially make it sound from the outside like it’s a superstar team ala the Ocean’s series, but again the tone will be radically different.

Yesterday, Warner Bros. picked up this $60 million dollar project, but it should be noted there were several good deals offered for Contagion, but Soderbergh has a strong relationship with Sue Kroll at WB and feels she is the ideal person to sell this film (Kroll is the President of Worldwide Marketing WB).

Source: The Playlist

According to Deadline.com, Warner Brothers has picked up Steven Soderberg’s Contagion, a film that will feature a powerhouse cast of Kate Winslet, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jude Law, Marion Cotillard and Matt Damon.

Several other studios stayed in the bidding, including Twilight-rich Summit Entertainment. After all, pickups are popular right now, and this came with Participant Media ready to co-finance and carried a $60 million budget. It also has an Oscar-touted cast: Matt Damon, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kate Winslet, Marion Cotillard, Jude Law. Still, this action thriller is familiar movie territory, from The Andromeda Strain to Outbreak, and this latest film by Scott Z Burns (The Bourne Ultimatum, The Informant!) also is about an attempt to contain a deadly viral outbreak. Greg Jacobs will produce with Double Feature Films’ Michael Shamberg and Stacey Sher. The project was shopped shortly by the producers and Soderbergh’s Anonymous Content rep Michael Sugar.