Confirmed: Joel Kinnaman is the new “Robocop”

February 24, 2012 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting Leave a comment

UPDATE 03/03/12: Deadline reports negotiations are now closed and Kinnaman has officially signed on as MGM’s new “Robocop.”

Is Joel Kinnaman the new hot commodity in Hollywood? It sure seems that way, with studios and filmmakers eager to woo the Swedish actor for all sorts of big projects, from “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.” to “Arthur and Lancelot.” With the latter film on hold indefinitely, MGM is hoping Kinnaman has room to take on the title role in its “Robocop” remake. Deadline reports Kinnaman will be receiving an official offer for the role, but as always, we are probably still a ways away from locking down anything or anyone official.

Josh Zetumer wrote the script and Jose Padilha will direct the new film based on the 1987 sci-fi classic that starred Peter Weller. It was such a pop culture icon that the movie spawned two sequels, a television series, two animated TV series, and a television mini-series, video games and two comic book adaptations. And now a remake. Kinnaman would take over the role of a murdered police officer who is recruited to become a cyborg cop.

Kinnaman is currently working on the second season of divisive AMC series “The Killing”, which ended its first season on a twist of a cliffhanger involving his character. On the film front, Kinnaman’s star is rising fast after breaking out in hit Swedish thriller “Snabba Cash” and the soon to be released sequel; he also has roles as Daniel Craig and Robin Wright’s magazine co-editor in David Fincher’s “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” and as the man who operates Ryan Reynolds and Denzel Washington’s “Safe House” under his belt. We’re just hoping to see him as Lancelot.

Juliet switcheroo comes full circle: Lily Collins replaces Hailee Steinfeld in “Rosaline”

February 23, 2012 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting 2 Comments

Now this is what we call coming full circle. Hailee Steinfeld and Lily Collins have pulled a complete Juliet switcheroo on us and Variety is reporting it is Collins, not Steinfeld, who is now in negotiations to play Juliet in revisionist romantic comedy “Rosaline”, which retells the famous Shakespearean classic from the point of view of the young woman Romeo claimed to have been in love with at the beginning of the story – right before falling in love at first sight with the fair Capulet. As previously reported, Deoborah Ann Woll is still on track to being the titular Rosaline, while Dave Franco is still likely to be Romeo.

But the Steinfeld/Collins Juliet saga is where it gets interesting. Bear with us, because it’s kind of a long and convoluted timeline that led us to this new development. Almost a year ago, Steinfeld replaced Collins in Carlo Carlei’s new adaptation of Shakespearean classic “Romeo and Juliet”, which is now filming in Italy. A few months later, Collins was rumored to be a strong contender for “Rosaline” – but in the titular role, not as Juliet. Instead, a couple of months later Woll, Franco and Steinfeld entered talks for “Rosaline” instead, with Steinfeld apparently and inexplicably keen to play Juliet in two different movies. In any case, it seemed like that would be the end of Collins’ possible associations with that particular Shakespearean tale, and with playing casting musical chairs with Steinfeld. Evidently not! Is this the end of the road? Will Collins finally be playing Juliet after all? We hope so, but as Variety reports, talks are still in the early stages.

Collins, daughter of Phil Collins, made her big screen debut in 2009′s Sandra Bullock Oscar contender “The Blind Side” and has been on an upward swinging career trajectory ever since. She headlines Tarsem Singh’s Snow White redo “Mirror Mirror” in March and has long been attached to the lead in potential teen genre franchise “The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones.” She recently completed work opposite Michael Anagarano and Julianne Moore in indie dramedy “The English Teacher.”

Anthony Mackie in for some “Pain and Gain” opposite Mark Wahlberg

February 23, 2012 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting 2 Comments

One of our favorite rising stars – and one of our Faces to Watch in 2012 – Anthony Mackie continues to build an impressive and varied upcoming slate, with Variety reporting the “Hurt Locker” star has signed on to star opposite Mark Wahlberg and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson in bodybuilding heist thriller “Pain and Gain.”

Michael Bay directs the low budget crime thriller based on a true story about a group of bodybuilders in Florida who “engaged in a campaign of kidnapping, extortion and murder.” Mackie will play Adrian Doorbal, a nice guy who’s fed up with bodybuilding getting him nowhere in life and gets roped into the schemes of friend and fellow athlete Daniel Lugo, played by Wahlberg. Rounding out the real life portrayals are Ed Harris as Ed Du Bois, the detective on the case and comedian Rob Corddry as John Mese, the owner of the gym where the guys work out. Production is slated for a spring start.

Mackie, along with Jeremy Renner and Brian Geraghty, led Kathryn Bigelow’s indie Iraq war thriller “The Hurt Locker” all the way to a Best Picture Oscar win, and has been a steadily rising star ever since. After appearing in four movies in 2011 – rom com “What’s Your Number?”, Toronto Film Fest entry “Ten Year”, robot boxing actioner “Real Steel” and sci-fi romance “The Adjustment Bureau”, Mackie is looking to have an even bigger 2012. He’s already appeared opposite Sam Worthington in “Man on a Ledge” and has completed filming on “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter” and “Gangster Squad.”

Nash Edgerton joining brother Joel in Kathryn Bigelow’s Bin Laden thriller

February 22, 2012 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting Leave a comment

We’ve been hearing about Joel increasingly over the past few months, and now it looks like big brother Nash Edgerton is getting some time in the spotlight as well. Entertainment Weekly reports the Australian actor will be joining little brother Joel Edgerton, Jessica Chastain, Edgar Ramirez, Kyle Chandler, Chris Pratt and more in Kathryn Bigelow’s untitled thriller which had been working under the title “Kill Bin Laden.” British actress Jennifer Ehle – who has long been rumored – has now been confirmed as well. EW also lists formerly rumored named including Idris Elba and Tom Hardy, but those are still on shakier ground, especially given how large the cast already is.

Edgerton will play a Navy SEAL in the Mark Boal-scripted film about the elimination of the most wanted terrorist in the world, while Ehle’s part is unknown. Perhaps she will be taking over for Rooney Mara, who passed on the role of a female journalist embedded with the soldiers. Chastain will play a military analyst while the younger Edgerton, Pratt and Jason Clarke are also SEALs. Filming is imminent with a release date of December 19 already in place.

Best known thus far for his stunt work on films like “The Matrix” and the “Star Wars” sequels, Edgerton also runs Blue Tongue Films with his brother and other Australian filmmakers, which produced 2010′s starmaker “Animal Kingdom” and this year’s Sundance entry “Wish You Were Here.”

Aussie rising star Jai Courtney lands coveted “Die Hard 5″ role; first look at screen test

February 22, 2012 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting, Images Leave a comment

Looks like Jai Courtney is a name we should all be watching out for. After a roller coaster casting process that has seen the likes of Liam Hemsworth, Aaron Paul, James Badge Dale, Milo Ventigmilia, Paul Dano and more young actors vying for the coveted role of John McClane, Jr. opposite Bruce Willis in “A Good Day to Die Hard”, it is the relative unknown Australian who didn’t show up on any previous shortlists that will now join the franchise. Judging from the first image from his screen test with Willis, he’s pretty convincing.

Deadline reports the process likely came down to a final two between Courtney and Hemsworth with Courtney ultimately winning out and preparing to head to Moscow to star as Willis’ estranged son, Jack. McClane and Jack don’t get along but must work together in order to keep each other alive and the world at peace. Previous reports indicated if the film is successful, whoever was cast as Jack could be groomed to take over the franchise from an aging Willis. For now, John Moore will direct the father-son actioner for a February 14, 2013 release.

Having just landed his American feature film debut, legal thriller “One Shot” opposite Tom Cruise, in September, Courtney’s star is exponentially rising just a few months later. He’s perhaps thus far best known for Starz series “Spartacus: Blood and Sand”, but that’s all about to change with “One Shot”, “Die Hard” and a starring role opposite Aaron Eckhart in “I, Frankenstein” on the horizon.

See Courtney and Willis in a promotional shot from their screen test together below.

Michael Fassbender commits to “The Counselor”; Jeremy Renner, Bradley Cooper eyed for villain role

February 22, 2012 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting Leave a comment

It’s official. Deadline reports Michael Fassbender has committed to starring as titular role in “The Counselor”, the spec script written by acclaimed novelist Cormac McCarthy to be directed by Ridley Scott. The possibility arose a couple of weeks ago and now all systems are go, with a start date of May 1st already in place.

Scott is now casting other roles in the story described as “‘No Country For Old Men’ on steroids.” For the villain, Deadline reports that inevitably, the ubiquitous Jeremy Renner and Bradley Cooper are in contention (…yawn), while more unexpected names like Brad Pitt are also being mentioned. We are personally a bit more invested in who will play the two female leads, The Counselor’s love interest Laura and Malkina, the Argentinian bad-ass who figures even more prominently into the story.

Fassbender just came off an amazing year with stunning breakout roles in “Jane Eyre”, “X-Men: First Class” and “Shame” and only has one upcoming commitment aside from “The Counselor”: a third collaboration with director Steve McQueen on “12 Years a Slave”, which is aiming for a summer shoot. Renner has become something of a new franchise king, soon to be seen in “The Avengers” and “The Bourne Legacy” and has a bank heist thriller in development, while Cooper recently completely filming on “The Silver Linings Playbook” and is set to reunite with co-star Jennifer Lawrence on “Serena.”

“Friday Night Lights” star Adrianne Palicki travels to “Coffee Town”

February 20, 2012 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting Leave a comment

Adrianne Palicki is moving to “Coffee Town.” Variety reports the “Friday Night Lights” actress and almost Wonder Woman has landed the female lead in CollegeHumor’s first foray into feature films and will join a cast that already includes Glenn Howerton, Ben Schwartz, Steve Little and Josh Groban in the workplace comedy.

Brad Copeland wrote and will make his feature directorial debut on the film, which follows three friends “who band together when their freeloading existence is threatened.” Palicki plays Howerton’s love interest, a coffee-loving nurse. Filming is set to begin this week in Los Angeles.

Palicki won audiences’ hearts as troubled hometown girl Tyra on critically acclaimed NBC series “Friday Night Lights”, which is churning out some potential movie stars in the likes of Taylor Kitsch and Kyle Chandler. Palicki, though, seemed to have some trouble finding her breakout role, though movies like “Legion” and the titular role on a reboot “Wonder Woman” series had potential. She recently completed the female lead of Lady Jaye in “G.I. Joe: Retaliation”, out this summer, so here’s hoping this one will stick.

Sullivan Stapleton and Jamie Blackley to lead the battle in “300″ sequel

February 17, 2012 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting Leave a comment

A couple of relative unknowns are gearingup to take over for Gerard Butler in leading a group of oiled-up, nearly naked men into battle. Deadline reports young British actor Jamie Blackely has landed the co-lead in the “300″ sequel opposite fellow rising star Sullivan Stapleton, who landed the other lead role of Themosticles – that had been initially offered to Joel Edgerton – last week.

In the Noam Murro-directed follow-up to Zack Snyder’s 2007 hyper-realistic ancient Greek epic, Eva Green is Artemisia, and Blackley will be Calisto, a teenager who idolized his heroic father and leads him to stepping up into a leadership role among the new group of soldiers. The film had been working under the title “300: Battle of Artemisia” but it’s unclear if that’s still the case. Also unclear is whether “300″ original cast member Rodrigo Santoro will reprise his role of Xerxes here as well.

Stapleton co-starred with Edgerton in 2010′s “Animal Kingdom”, a movie that’s proven to be quite a starmaker, having also outsourced Oscar nominee Jackie Weaver and young up and comer James Frecheville. He’ll be seen later this year opposite Ryan Gosling and Anthony Mackie in “Gangster Squad.” Blackley has appeared on hit teen British series “Misfits” and starred opposite Colin Farrell and Keira Knightley in “London Boulevard.” He also has a (seemingly) small role in this summer’s fairy tale rewrite “Snow White and the Huntsman.”

“Friday Night Lights” star Kyle Chandler to “Kill Bin Laden” for Kathryn Bigelow

February 17, 2012 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting Leave a comment

Seriously, this movie just gets better and better. With Oscar-winning director Kathryn Bigelow behind the camera and a cast that already included Joel Edgerton, Jessica Chastain, Chris Pratt, Mark Strong and Edgar Ramirez, the latest bit of news feels like an answer to the question “What do you give the movie that already has everything?” How about a little dash of Coach Taylor? Deadline reports “Friday Night Lights” star Kyle Chandler is the latest to join the cast on the topical untitled Navy SEALs thriller previously titled “Kill Bin Laden.”

The secretive filmmakers won’t comment on any of the actors who have been cast so far, but Deadline reports Chandler will be playing a CIA agent. Edgerton, Clarke and Pratt play SEALS, while Chastain will be a military analyst. Strong and Ramirez’s roles are unknown. Though the film had been in development for a couple of years (and originally revolved around an unsuccessful earlier assassination attempt on the Al Qaeda leader), it became a top priority when Osama Bin Laden was really killed by Navy SEAL Team 6 last year in a covert operation. Bigelow and screenwriter Mark Boal are expected to rewrite the ending of their film to reflect the thrilling new development. Filming is imminent with a release date already set for December 19, 2012.

Douglas Smith joins Logan Lerman and Jake Abel in “Percy Jackson” sequel

February 16, 2012 | Posted by Rebecca Lewis in Casting 2 Comments

Despite lackluster box office returns for the first film, Fox 2000 are continuing with their Percy Jackson franchise.

The first flick “Percy Jackson and the Lightening Thief“, based on the book by Rick Riordan, was released in 2010 and starred Logan Lerman as Jackson, a teenager who discovers he’s the descendant of a Greek god and sets out on an adventure to settle an on-going battle between the gods.

Also starring Alexandra Daddario, Brandon T. Jackson and Jake Abel, the second film, “Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Sea of Monsters” sees Jackson and his friends head into the Sea of Monsters to find the mythical Golden Fleece.

Variety reports that Douglas Smith, star of TV’s “Big Love”, has joined the cast although no word yet on who, or what, he might be playing.

Smith is a relative unknown to Hollywood audiences. The young actor played a young Brendon Fraser in 1999′s “Blast From The Past” and then various bit roles on TV shows. In the next year, the 26 year old has the sci-fi thriller “Antiviral” with Sarah Gadon and Caleb Landry Jones, and the amusingly-titled “The Boy Who Smells Like Fish“, alongside Zoe Kravitz.

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