Author Archive

Casting News Round-Up: May 13-17

CHECK IT OUT

May 13

• Jeff Nichols Gets Michael Shannon For Sci-Fi Film At Warner Bros.
• Robert Redford Takes ‘A Walk in the Woods’
• Owen Wilson Joins PTA’s ‘Inherent Vice’
• Chloe Moretz Nabs Lead in ‘The Equalizer’
• Salma Hayek Stars in Black List Project ‘Everly’
• William Fichtner Takes on Iconic Role in ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’
• Michael Nyqvist Cast in ‘My So-Called Father’
• Frank Whaley Joins ‘Rob the Mob’
• Michelle Williams Offered Lead in ‘South Pacific’ Remake

Mid-May TV Casting News Round-Up: ‘Downton Abbey’, ‘Dexter’, ‘Homeland’ & HBO Pilots

CHECK IT OUT

Much of what Game of Thrones may have you believe, Summer is coming! We’re heading off into the off-cycle of the regular Network TV season, but production on other TV series keeps on chugging. Check out who the new host of the Late Night talk show on NBC is, Dexter‘s newest nemesis for the final season and additions to American Horror Story: Coven, Pretty Little Liars spinoff Ravenswood and where Sean Bean’s next character may (not!) die next.

Mark Duplass & Olivia Wilde Get A ‘Reawakening’

CHECK IT OUT

Besides recognizing Mark Duplass from his recent stint on The Mindy Project, I can’t say I’m familiar with the actor. I’ve seen Olivia Wilde in Cowboys & Aliens and in Tron: Legacy, but that doesn’t do much for the actress who was on several seasons of House. The two actors have been cast in the medical thriller Reawakening from producer Jason Blum, behind the hits Insidious and Sinister.

Matt Dillon Starring in ‘Wayward Pines’ Miniseries From M. Night Shyamalan

CHECK IT OUT

Billed as a Twins Peak-esque “event series” for FOX, Matt Dillon is joining the small-town mystery drama Wayward Pines from director M. Night Shyamalan. The news comes from the ongoing chaotic week in Network Television known as Upfronts, a period which the big 5 networks cancel, greenlight, schedule and sell advertising for their upcoming television season.

Jeff Nichols Gets Michael Shannon For Sci-Fi Film At Warner Bros.

CHECK IT OUT

This news makes me truly excited. Like unbelievably happy that Jeff Nichols next film is set up at Warner Bros. It’s a sci-fi film and he’s once again teaming up with Michael Shannon after their last most excellent collaboration on Take Shelter. I haven’t seen much else of Nichols work, but Take Shelter has made a lasting impression. Enough so, that I’ll just go see anything he does next.

Casting News Round-Up: May 6-10

CHECK IT OUT

May 6

• Jessica Chastain & Michael Caine Joining Christopher Nolan’s ‘Interstellar’
• Leighton Meester, Gillian Jacobs and Adam Brody are ‘Life Partners’
• Justin Timberlake Is ‘Spinning Gold’
• Reese Witherspoon May Join Keanu Reeves in Sci-Fi ‘Passengers’
• Robert De Niro Heading to ‘Candy Store’
• Jason Bateman in Talks to get Animated for ‘Tangled’ Director
  
• Annette Bening & Bobby Cannavale In Talks To Join ‘Imagine’
• Sarah Gadon Heading To ‘Dracula’
• Jordana Brewster Going To ‘North of Hell’
• Bella Thorne Cast in ‘Blended’

Andrew Garfield & Ken Watanabe Joins Martin Scorsese’s ‘Silence’

CHECK IT OUT

To be honest, I havent’ been impressed with Martin Scorsese’s films lately. But his latest project, Silence, was greenlit just a month ago and will begin production next year. Luckily, the film is bringing on board Andrew Garfield and Ken Watanabe for the Japanese-language film.

Recasted: Keira Knightley in ‘Laggies’ & Ewan McGregor To ‘Jane Got A Gun’

CHECK IT OUT

One of the signs of a troubled production is marred by recasting a role in a film, but most of the time it’s due to scheduling conflicts or an actor doesn’t get with everyone else. This time, Jane Got A Gun has gone under some major retooling recently adding Ewan McGregor as the villain and Keira Knightley taking on the role previously played by Anne Hathaway in Laggies.

Stephen King’s ‘A Good Marriage’ Brings Anthony LaPaglia & Kristen Connolly

CHECK IT OUT

Stephen King’s deep roster of creative material is reaching fever pitch. CBS’s has Under The Dome this summer, J.J. Abrams has acquired the rights to 11/22/63 for TV and a remake of Carrie is coming to theaters for Halloween. And yet, A Good Marriage is also making its way to theaters, having already cast Joan Allen. Kristen Connolly and Anthony LaPaglia have just been cast in the project based on King’s 2010 novella by the same name.

Jessica Chastain & Michael Caine Joining Christopher Nolan’s ‘Interstellar’

CHECK IT OUT

Much debate could be had with Christopher Nolan’s films, as to whether they’re smart or if there’s a thin veil between its rudimentary formulas. I on the one hand fall in line with moviegoers who enjoy his films a great deal. Yes, even Inception for those who didn’t. Thankfully, Nolan has returned to the sci-fi well with Interstellar, casting Jessica Chastain and Michael Caine.

Casting News Round-Up: April 29 – May 3

CHECK IT OUT

April 29

• Corey Stoll Cast As Lead in FX Series ‘The Strain’
• Johnny Depp (May Sing Again) & Meryl Streep  In Talks To Join ‘Into The Woods’
• Colin Firth, Emily Blunt & Adam Sandler Solve ‘Murder Msytery’ For Charlize Theron
• Jake Gyllenhaal & Rene Russo Join Indie ‘Nightcrawler’
• Jon Favreau Going Indie With ‘Chef’ Starring John Leguizamo
• Christina Ricci Gets Cast in Indie Thriller ‘Unmasked’
• Dwight Henry To Play Marvin Gaye’s Father in Biopic
• Keegan Michael Key May Join ‘Let’s Be Cops’

May TV Casting News Round-Up: ‘Californication’, ‘Family Guy’, ‘The Walking Dead’ & ‘American Horror Story’

CHECK IT OUT

It’s time for May Sweeps, where all TV series premiere their final episodes on network television for the season and some closing up shop forever. Meanwhile, cable nets prepare for their summer premiere, but most importantly, production on new series is going to start up casting. Come check out who’s coming to Californication, Family Guy, Warehouse 13, The Walking Dead and more after the jump.

Jamie Foxx To Join Quvenzhane Wallis in ‘Annie’

CHECK IT OUT

Not only is Jamie Foxx taking on the role of Electro in Marc Webb’s follow-up The Amazing Spider-Man 2, the actor is look to land another iconic role in the remake of the classic musical Annie. The film is from Sony and will be produced by Will Smith and Jay-Z.

‘The Secret Service’ Enlists Colin Firth

CHECK IT OUT

Well this is an almost scary production schedule: Matthew Vaughn is set to direct an adaptation of Mark Miller’s The Secret Service set to begin shooting in August and released in November 2014. Casting is currently underway as the project has officially announced Colin Firth involvement in a pivotal role.

Dream Casting: David Lynch’s Unproduced ‘One Saliva Bubble’

CHECK IT OUT

What would you say (or do) for a new David Lynch film? Just about anything, we’d hope. The auteur’s last theatrical feature film was Inland Empire way back in 2006. Since then, he’s marketed his own brand of coffee beans, released a highly disturbing music album titled “Crazy Clown Time”, a bunch of short videos and recently released the documentary Meditation, Creativity, Peace. Sometimes you wonder whatever happened to those unproduced projects Lynch must’ve had. Lo and behold, we’ve got One Salive Bubble.

Corey Stoll & Kevin Durand Cast As Lead in FX Series ‘The Strain’

CHECK IT OUT

Let’s just get the behind the scene pedigree and history out of the way: Guillermo Del Toro and Chuck Hogan originally conceived The Strain as a TV series. When that got shot down, the duo released the project a book trilogy. Gaining up steam and interest, likely due to the unprecedented success of AMC’s The Walking Dead, the cable network FX decided to greenlight the property back in March as a TV series. And then came word that Corey Stoll has been cast as the lead, with Kevin Durand not that far behind.