Ansel Elgort Is Augustus Waters in "The Fault in Our Stars" Opposite Shailene Woodley

From siblings to star-crossed lovers! EW reports rising star Ansel Elgort has been offered the male lead in "The Fault in Our Stars" opposite Shailene Woodley - who plays his sister in the currently-filming dystopian adaptation "Divergent." The two Read more

Dylan O'Brien Lands "The Maze Runner" Lead; Ki Hong Lee Also Joins

UPDATE: Director Wes Ball tweets that Ki Hong Lee has also joined the cast as Minho, a fellow Glader and ally to Thomas throughout the series. Lee is probably best known as a regular on short-lived ABC Family Read more

Shailene Woodley Confirmed for "The Fault in Our Stars"

I mean, duh, we called it. It has now been officially confirmed with glowing quotes from director, producer and author in tow that the increasingly in demand Shailene Woodley will play the lead role of Hazel Grace Lancaster Read more

Up and Comers Presents: 20 Faces to Watch in 2013

After a somewhat unpredictable year in which the stars we expected to break out largely didn't but fresh faces came out of nowhere to surprise us all, we are ready to look ahead to the new talent waiting to Read more

Up and Comers Presents: The Breakout Stars of 2012

Another year, another new crop of fresh talent. Just like last year, the hardest part is narrowing down which of the dozens of the year's rising stars shone the brightest. This year we heralded the arrival of the unlikeliest Read more
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american bullshit

Jack Huston Joins Jennifer Lawrence in David O. Russell’s Abscam Drama

March 26, 2013 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting Leave a comment

jack-huston David O. Russell’s newest film has already been shooting for a couple of weeks now, but one last cast member is jumping on board, with Deadline reporting “Boardwalk Empire” star Jack Huston has joined Christian Bale, Bradley Cooper, Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner and Jennifer Lawrence in the 1970s set political thriller.

The untitled film, originally called “American Bullshit”, will follow the real life political drama Abscam, which was set up by the FBI in the 1970s and 80s. An FBI employee posed as a fictional Middle Eastern sheik named Kraim Abdul Rahman, who was videotaped taking meetings with government officials in which they agreed to take money for helping him gain asylum in the US, among other illegal activities. The investigation culminated in the conviction of a United States Senator and five members of the House of Representatives. Various cast members have been spotted around the Boston area dressed in their best 70s garbs – including Lawrence with this amazing updo – shooting the film which already has an Oscar-friendly December 13th release date.

Huston, who plays scarred and mask Richard Harrow on HBO’s “Boardwalk Empire”, recently premiered Beat Generation origin tale “Kill Your Darlings”, in which he plays Jack Kerouac, at Sundance. He most recently completed work on edgy art world dramedy “Posthumous” opposite Brit Marling.

First Look: Jennifer Lawrence Goes Totally 70s in First Photos From the Set of David O. Russell’s Latest

March 25, 2013 | Posted by Linda Ge in Images 1 Comment

abscam001 She just won her first Oscar, but Jennifer Lawrence is not slowing down one bit. Since her big night just a month ago, Lawrence has already completed reshoots on “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” and is already on to her second movie set. This past week photographers spotted the blonde-again star back at work with “Silver Linings Playbook” director David O. Russell on his newest, donning a totally 70s updo as she prepares to film scenes as the wife of Christian Bale.

The untitled film, originally called “American Bullshit”, will follow the real life political drama Abscam, which was set up by the FBI in the 1970s and 80s. An FBI employee posed as a fictional Middle Eastern sheik named Kraim Abdul Rahman, who was videotaped taking meetings with government officials in which they agreed to take money for helping him gain asylum in the US, among other illegal activities. The investigation culminated in the conviction of a United States Senator and five members of the House of Representatives. Lawrence’s “Silver Linings” co-star Bradley Cooper is among the all-star cast, marking this their third collaboration in as many years, as well as Amy Adams and Jeremy Renner.

The first photos of Lawrence doing her best Trophy Wife impression can be found below, thanks to Celebrity Gossip and Zimbio. Be sure to head over for even more pics.

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Jeremy Renner may play Julian Assange in WikiLeaks film

July 23, 2012 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting 4 Comments

It’s one of the hottest, most timely of topics, and now WikiLeaks may have met the face of its Hollywood immortalization. Deadline reports Dreamworks Studios is eyeing Jeremy Renner to star as controversial founder Julian Assange in a big screen retelling of the formation of the whistleblowing organization. Additionally, the studio is also said to be in negotiations with Oscar-winning director Bill Condon to step behind the camera.

The studio purchased the rights to two WikiLeaks related books in preparation for their film, “Inside WikiLeaks: My Time with Julian Assange at the World’s Most Dangerous Website” by Daniel Domscheit-Berg, a former WikiLeaks executive, and “WikiLeaks: Inside Julian Assange’s War on Secrecy” by David Leigh and Luke Harding, British journalists who worked at The Guardian and helped Assanage publish his first findings.

Naturally, Dreamworks are not the only film company seeking to tell Assange’s story. The man himself has been contracted to write his own memoirs, with screen rights being handled by CAA, though that may be years down the line as he’s still embroiled in legal issues from several different angles. “The Hurt Locker” writer Mark Boal has also optioned “The Boy Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest”, which examines Assange’s dealings with The New York Times, and Universal Pictures will stick to just the facts, picking up a documentary on the subject. But it appears Dreamworks, perhaps with Condon and Renner in tow, will have the head start on the dramatization side.

If a deal comes together, the polarizing Assange will be right up Renner’s alley, who has proven himself capable of the kind of gravitas it takes to not only convincingly play complex characters but also have the charisma to headline high profile studio fare. Already having earned his indie cred with Oscar-nominated roles in “The Hurt Locker” and “The Town”, he’s moving into that blockbuster becoming-a-movie-star phase of his career with roles in “The Avengers” and soon to be released “The Bourne Legacy.” Something like this WikiLeaks film – and the upcoming David O. Russell directed (soon to be retitled) “American Bullshit” opposite Bradley Cooper – seems to hit the sweet spot between both extremes.

Jeremy Renner replaces Christian Bale, joins Bradley Cooper in David O. Russell’s next

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

Two of the busiest, most sought-after leading men are set to share the screen at last. Variety reports Jeremy Renner is in negotiations to join Bradley Cooper in director David O. Russell’s next untitled drama, formerly working under “American Bullshit.” Christian Bale had previously been slated to star opposite Cooper but fell out.

The film will follow the real life political drama Abscam, which was set up by the FBI in the 1970s and 80s. Cooper will play Mel Weinberg, a con artist who was forced into doing undercover work for the FBI to catch corrupt political officials. Renner will play the FBI agent who busts him and turns him into an ally. The Abscam investigation ultimately culminated in the conviction of a United States Senator and five members of the House of Representatives, all of whom were videotaped making illegal deals with the undercover Weinberg. A February 2013 start date is scheduled.

Renner, who recently appeared in “Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol” and “The Avengers”, has one more blockbuster actioner to go this year, “The Bourne Legacy”, in which he takes the mantle from Matt Damon as an amnesiac government operative gone rogue. He has also wrapped up filming on fairy tale revision “Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters” and an untitled drama opposite Marion Cotillard and Joaquin Phoenix.

Bradley Cooper may reunite with David O. Russell for “American Bullshit” opposite Christian Bale

April 18, 2012 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting 1 Comment

Sounds like Bradley Cooper really enjoyed working on “The Silver Linings Playbook.” He’s already working with co-star Jennifer Lawrence on a new movie, “Serena”, and now he’s in talks to reunite with director David O. Russell as well. Deadline reports Cooper is now in negotiations to join the cast of “American Bullshit”, with another Russell alum, Christan Bale, already attached to star.

The film will follow the real life political drama Abscam, which was set up by the FBI in the 1970s and 80s. An FBI employee posed as a fictional Middle Eastern sheik named Kraim Abdul Rahman, who was videotaped taking meetings with government officials in which they agreed to take money for helping him gain asylum in the US, among other illegal activities. The investigation culminated in the conviction of a United States Senator and five members of the House of Representatives. A January 2013 start date is tentatively scheduled, with director and stars all committed to other projects between now and then.

Cooper is currently in Prague with Lawrence filming 1920s thriller “Serena” under the direction of Susanna Bier. In September he’ll return one last time to the role that made him famous in the threequel to “The Hangover.” And while Woody Allen’s next film had been rumored to take place in Copenhagen with Cooper attached to star, the location was quickly debunked (Allen will shoot in San Francisco instead); it’s unclear if Cooper’s involvement is also off the table.