Who Should Play Augustus Waters in “The Fault In Our Stars” Opposite Shailene Woodley?

March 20, 2013 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting, Features 11 Comments

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It’s the question on everyone’s minds now that we have our Hazel Grace in “The Descendants” star Shailene Woodley: Who will play her sparring partner, love interest and fellow cancer survivor Augustus Waters in “The Fault in Our Stars”?

Josh Boone is directing the adaptation of the best-selling John Green YA novel, and the casting for Augustus will likely be even more scrutinized than Woodley as Hazel. Gus, described as long and lean with dark hair and blue eyes who’s witty and spouts off romantic soliloquies in his wooing of Hazel, is the ideal fictional boyfriend for many a teenage reader and no matter who is cast, he will undoubtedly meet with a fair share of resistance. Sure, there is no perfect Gus for everyone, but we did our best to come up with just a few suggestions of guys who can be trusted to bring this beloved character to the big screen and not screw it up for his legion of fans.

It should be noted that Boone has been pretty vocal that an actor who is 25 is “far too old” for the role, which immediately takes a few of our guys out of the running (and which frankly makes us think someone has already been chosen, but that’s another story). Clearly, we disagree with the director on this point, and this is just our wishful thinking, just let us have this. Okay? Okay.

Click below to see our choices for Augustus Waters and leave us yours!

The newest YA heroine needs a co-star. Who should play Four in “Divergent”?

January 31, 2013 | Posted by Lindsey Young in Casting, Features 1 Comment

With the announcement that Shaliene Woodley has been cast in the lead role in the upcoming dystopian “Divergent“, as well as Kate Winslet being in talks for an unknown role, this adaptation of the YA novel just got a little more real. Naturally, the next course of action will be to seek out other young individuals (well-known or perhaps not) to fill out the rest of the roles of Tris’ friends and foes alike. It’s no surprise that among Tris’ circle of friends is a love interest, and yes, it’s time to play the casting game again.

After Woodley’s negotiations became public knowledge last year, names were thrown into the casting mix for the pivotal role of “Four”, Tris’ mentor-turned-love interest. Alexander Ludwig (Cato of “The Hunger Games“) tweeted that he had a meeting with Lionsgate about the role. Not too long after, “Teen Wolf” star Colton Haynes caused much speculation among fans when he announced his departure from the MTV show and soon after followed Veronica Roth, author of “Divergent” on twitter while tweeting that he had some “news” to share soon. Related instances? Who knows. They were, however, perhaps meaningless ones as earlier this month, Alex Pettyfer, Lucas Till and Jeremy Irvine were reported to have auditioned for the role. The search is definitely on, but nothing and no one has been confirmed as of yet.

Of the names who have been thrown into the pool, there are some that we at Up and Comers could see as Four – but then there are also some that we think should stay far, far away from this adaptation lest they just turn him into another lacking portrayal of a character with so much to work with. In the words of our Tris Prior herself, “This character needs to be extremely masculine, and his eyes need to scream vulnerability and sensitivity.” We agree, Shailene. And so here are five actors that we think would be great as Tris’ mentor and eventual love interest.

Sydney Morning Herald predicts the next wave of Aussie movie stars: Alex Russell, Brenton Thwaites and more

October 29, 2012 | Posted by Linda Ge in Features, Lists 1 Comment

We admit it, we totally have a soft spot for Australian actors. And Hollywood is certainly on the bandwagon as well as year after year, loads of new talent are exported from Down Under and go on to become some of the biggest Hollywood movie stars around. Joel Edgerton, Chris Hemsworth, Mia Wasikowska and Teresa Palmer are just a few recent examples, but they follow in the footsteps of many before them, including the likes of Nicole Kidman, Russell Crowe, Hugh Jackman, Cate Blanchett and countless others. So who’s next?

Who better to turn to for the answer to that than Aussie newspaper the Sydney Morning Herald, who have the advantage of being down on the ground floor witnessing the evolution of the rising actors in their country way before we get a whiff of their talent overseas. Much like our own Ones to Watch annual features, the Herald have put out their list of 10 up-and-coming Aussie actors poised to follow in the footsteps of the international superstars that have come before them. Below, we take a look at the Class of 2012.

Watch: Chloe Moretz sets the world on fire in first teaser trailer for “Carrie”

October 16, 2012 | Posted by Linda Ge in Videos Leave a comment

Kimberly Pierce’s new adaptation of Stephen King’s horror classic “Carrie” is off to an appropriately creepy start. Today the first teaser trailer dropped, and like the teaser poster released over the weekend, it relies heavily on star Chloe Moretz as the titular telekinetic causing some damage.

The footage is brief, overlaid with spooky, atmospheric music and voice-over that suggest conspiracies, and focuses in tightly on one singular scene/event, and anyone familiar with the story can guess at what scene that is. Unlike the original Brian De Palma film, it’s not just Carrie’s high school that’s on fire but damn near the whole town, and you can thank Carrie’s overbearing religious mother – played by Julianne Moore in this new version – and bullying schoolmates (Gabriella Wilde, Alex Russell, Portia Doubleday, etc) for triggering her latent superpowers. Moretz is only seen briefly, but seems to infuse her Carrie with a cognizant, snarling anger rather than the possessed/blank expression Sissy Spacek employed in De Palma’s original.

We expect there will be much debate to come on which interpretation is better, but for now, consider us thoroughly spooked and our interest piqued. “Carrie” will be released on March 15th, 2013 and the first trailer can be viewed now below.

Portia Doubleday joins Chloe Moretz in “Carrie” remake

June 14, 2012 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting Leave a comment

Chloe Moretz has found herself another victim. Deadline reports Portia Doubleday has signed on to play one of Moretz’s classmates in Kimberly Pierce’s “Carrie” remake, joining Alex Russell, Ansel Elgort and Gabriella Wilde. Julianne Moore is also on board to play Carrie’s religious fanatic mother, and Judy Greer has signed on to play the school’s gym teacher Miss Desjardin.

Moretz plays the titular role in the remake, originated by Sissy Spacek in Brian De Palma’s 1976 classic, of a painfully shy high school student who is the target of merciless bullying. When a prank goes too far at her prom, she manifests telekinetic abilities and turns her murderous rage against the classmates who tortured her. Wilde is set as Sue Snell, a popular girl who makes fun of Carrie but then begins to befriend her, while Russell is set as one of the bullies and Doubleday takes over the role of mean girl Chris Hargensen.

Doubleday is perhaps still best known for her role as Michael Cera’s dream girl Sheeni in 2009 comedy “Youth in Revolt”, has since appeared in “Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son” and was a regular on Matthew Perry’s Showtime comedy series “Mr. Sunshine.” She recently completed filming on indie “K-11.”

“Chronicle” star Alex Russell and Broadway actor Ansel Elgort join “Carrie” remake opposite Chloe Moretz

May 15, 2012 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting 1 Comment

Chloe Moretz just found herself a couple of new victims. Variety reports “Chronicle” star Alex Russell and Broadway actor Ansel Elgort are the two newest additions to the cast of Kimberly Pierce’s new adaptation of Stephen King classic “Carrie.” Moretz is set for the titular role while Julianne Moore will play her uber-religious mother and Gabriella Wilde recently signed on as the first of Carrie’s classmates.

Moretz plays the role, originated by Sissy Spacek in Brian De Palma’s 1976 classic, of a painfully shy high school student who is the target of merciless bullying. When a prank goes too far at her prom, she manifests telekinetic abilities and turns her murderous rage against the classmates who tortured her. Wilde is set as Sue Snell, a popular girl who makes fun of Carrie but then begins to befriend her, while Russell is set as one of the bullies. Elgort is reportedly going to play “a friend” who takes Carrie to prom, but it’s unclear if the role is Tommy, Sue’s boyfriend who she convinces to take the ostracized girl to prom in order to make her feel more accepted in the book and original film.

Australian actor Russell earned some buzz for Aussie drama “Wasted on the Young” but hit a bit of a breakout moment along with co-stars Dane DeHaan and Michael B. Jordan earlier this year with found footage sci-fi thriller “Chronicle.” Elgort, still a high school senior, made his professional acting debut a couple of months ago as the star of Off-Broadway drama “Regrets.” “Carrie” would mark his feature debut.

Who will have “Sex on the Moon”? Ten guys we could see as daring NASA thief Thad Roberts

March 1, 2012 | Posted by Linda Ge in Features 5 Comments

The team behind the massive critical and commercial success “The Social Network” are at it again. Producers Scott Rudin and Dana Brunetti have teamed up with author Ben Mezrich – whose book “The Accidental Billionaires” was the basis from which the Oscar-winning film was made – for another film. Mezrich’s new book, “Sex on the Moon”, is another true story that’s no less juicy and scandalous and filled to the brim with young, morally ambiguous and party-hard geniuses, and the filmmakers have fittingly set “Easy A” helmer Will Gluck to direct.

Our lead character, Thad Roberts, is a 25-year-old upstart working in NASA’s highly selective co-op program, with very real ambitions to go to space one day (as “the first man on Mars” to be exact). But Roberts is no nerdy rocket scientist. In order to prepare for space, he is in tip top physical shape, and has earned a pilot’s license. With effortless charm and cool, Thad becomes a leader amongst his fellow students and stages elaborate adventures to take them on. When he meets and falls in love with beautiful fellow co-op student Rebecca, his next adventure becomes even more daring – and a lot more illegal, as the two conspire to lead a small team on a mission to steal and sell priceless moon rocks from NASA’s seemingly impenetrable facilities.

Ambitious, competitive, charming, rebellious, beyond intelligent, and madly in love. No small task, but here are ten young actors we think would thrive in this role.

Watch: Rising stars Dane DeHaan, Alex Russell and Michael B. Jordan in first “Chronicle” trailer

October 19, 2011 | Posted by Linda Ge in Videos 1 Comment

Some little known young actors are getting the chance to headline a major studio movie in Josh Trank directed “Chronicle”, a sci-fi “found footage” style thriller from 20th Century Fox. The story centers around three Portland teenagers, played by Dane DeHaan, Alex Russell and Michael B. Jordan, who are exposed to a mysterious substance in the woods and subsequently develop superpowers. They begin to work together to hone their new skills but soon find themselves turning on each other.

The first trailer shows the boys having a bit of fun with their new powers, though one seems to enjoy it a bit too much and inevitably chaos breaks out. The footage looks like a lot of fun and pretty different than other movies out there right now. “Chronicle” is set for a February 3, 2012 release.

Michael B. Jordan and Alex Russell join Dane DeHaan in teen sci-fi thriller “Chronicle”

April 15, 2011 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting Leave a comment

Sci-fi thriller “Chronicle” has apparently completed casting on its trio of leads, as Variety reports that relatively unknown young actors Michael B. Jordan and Alex Russell have joined Dane DeHaan in the Fox project.

The story centers around three Portland teenagers who are exposed to a mysterious substance in the woods and subsequently develop superpowers. They begin to work together to hone their new skills but soon find themselves turning on each other. Though Variety doesn’t specify, presumably DeHaan, Jordan and Russell will play the teenagers. Fox bought the Max Landis script last August and Josh Trank, who will be making his directorial debut, will shoot the film documentary style in the vein of “Paranormal Activity” or “Cloverfield”.

Jordan (no relation to that basketball player you may have heard of) was a series regular on the last two seasons of critically acclaimed NBC series “Friday Night Lights” and recently completely filming indie “Red Tails”. Russell only has a few small indies under his belt – mostly in his native Australia, including the buzzy “Wasted on the Young” and shark attack thriller “Bait” opposite “Twilight” star Xavier Samuel. “Chronicle” will mark his American studio debut.

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