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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anthony russo

First Image of Chris Evans in “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” As Sequel Begins Production

April 8, 2013 | Posted by Linda Ge in Images 1 Comment

wintersoldier001 One of our most anticipated sequels kicks off production today and to mark the occasion (and perhaps to lower the price tag for the first unofficial paparazzi photos from the set), the first official image of Chris Evans reprising his role as Steve Rogers in “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” has been released via EW.

Nothing too exciting to see in the first photo, just reinforcing Rogers’ relationship with S.H.I.E.L.D. but the film’s official tagline was also released, which proves a bit more interesting: “Steve Rogers struggles to embrace his role in the modern world and teams up with Natasha Romanoff, aka Black Widow, to battle a powerful yet shadowy enemy in present-day Washington, D.C.” That would make Scarlett Johansson front and center in this sequel, while that shadowy enemy, as comic fans are well aware, is taking the form of Sebastian Stan’s Bucky Barnes, Steve’s wartime buddy who’s been resurrected as the titular villain Winter Soldier.

Emily VanCamp is also on board and her long-rumored role as Agent 13, aka Sharon Carter, is finally officially confirmed, while Hayley Atwell, as the first Carter Steve loved, will make an appearance via flashback. Samuel L. Jackson is expected to have a large supporting role as Nick Fury, and Robert Redford recently signed on to play the head of S.H.I.E.L.D.

“Captain America: The Winter Soldier”, under the direction of Joe and Anthony Russo, will be released on April 4, 2014. The first photo of Evans can be seen below.

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“Revenge” star Emily VanCamp lands female lead in “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” opposite Chris Evans

February 1, 2013 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting 1 Comment

It’s been a long-fought battle but it looks like a victor is finally emerging in the quest to become Chris Evans’ newest leading lady in “Captain America: The Winter Soldier.” Deadline reports the role is going to Emily VanCamp, best known for her current starring role on ABC series “Revenge.”

VanCamp came as a surprise to those of us who have been following this casting process, as her name had never appeared on any of the previous shortlists, and she has landed the role over a plethora of some of the hottest rising film actresses right now, including Anna Kendrick, Felicity Jones, Imogen Poots, Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Teresa Palmer. The character still has not been officially confirmed but is largely expected to be Sharon Carter, relative of Steve Rogers’ first love in “Captain America: The First Avenger”, Peggy (played by Hayley Atwell). Filming on the sequel under the direction of Joe and Anthony Russo will begin on April 1st. Evans, Scarlet Johansson and Sebastian Stan are returning to reprise their roles, while Anthony Mackie and Frank Grillo will be joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe for the first time.

VanCamp is a TV actress through and through, earning recognition on TV series from “Everwood” to “Brothers and Sisters” to her current gig on “Revenge”, which is now in its second season. With the boost this role will surely add to her profile though, she may find herself a little bit busier during hiatuses in the future.

Frank Grillo to play villain Crossbones in “Captain America: The Winter Soldier”

October 29, 2012 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting Leave a comment

We still don’t know for sure who will be playing Sharon Carter in “Captain America: The Winter Soldier”, but the latest Marvel flick does have another villain now locked down. After a week of rumor and speculation, Variety confirms “End of Watch” actor Frank Grillo has closed his deal to play Brock Rumlow, who would ultimately adopt the villainous moniker Crossbones, opposite Chris Evans returning as supersoldier/Avenger Steve Rogers.

Grillo teased fans last week when he tweeted about meeting with Marvel and hoping a deal could be worked out, along with the hashtags #CaptainAmerica and #bones. Well, work out it did, and Grillo becomes the latest to join the cast that already includes Sebastian Stan returning as Bucky Barnes, who becomes the titular Winter Soldier, Scarlett Johansson as the Black Widow, Cobie Smulders as Maria Hill, as well as fellow newbie Anthony Mackie, who takes on the role of the Falcon. And of course, whoever lands the role of Sharon Carter, be it Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Jessica Brown Findlay or any of the other dozen names mentioned in relation to that particular casting. Anthony and Joseph Russo will direct “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” next March, with a release already set for April 4, 2014.

Grillo has been acting steadily on TV and in movies for years, but is undeniably having a bit of a moment on the big screen right now, thanks to a string of impressive supporting turns, first opposite Joel Edgerton in “Warrior”, then Liam Neeson in “The Grey” and most recently opposite Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael Pena in “End of Watch.” He’ll surely impress further when he reteams with Edgerton in Kathryn Bigelow’s “Zero Dark Thirty” and with Mackie in “Gangster Squad.”

Mary Elizabeth Winstead is the secret front-runner for “Captain America 2″ according to latest Marvel rumor

October 12, 2012 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting 3 Comments

The search for the female lead of “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” is becoming one of those long-winded musical chair sessions. First it was Imogen Poots vs. Felicity Jones vs. Anna Kendrick, then it was Poots up against a few other names, including Alison Brie, Emilia Clarke, Teresa Palmer and Jessica Brown-Findlay. Now, the latest rumor suggests it may not be any of the above. Latino Review reports that Marvel actually “has the most traction” with a name that has not been on either list: Mary Elizabeth Winstead.

The young lady chosen will likely be playing Sharon Carter, or S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent 13 in the film opposite Chris Evans returning as Steve Rogers. Depending on the mythology, which varies even in the comics, Sharon is the niece or granddaughter or some other relative of Peggy Carter, Rogers’ love interest in “Captain America: The First Avenger” as played by Hayley Atwell. Latino Review further details that actresses auditioning for the role should be in their 20s and read their lines with “an accent.”

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Imogen Poots, Alison Brie, Emilia Clarke and more vying for “Captain America: The Winter Soldier”

October 2, 2012 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting 3 Comments

Imogen Poots, Teresa Palmer, “Game of Thrones” star Emilia Clarke, “Downton Abbey” star Jessica Brown Findlay and “Community” star Alison Brie are vying for “a significant new role” in “Captain America: The Winter Soldier”, according to Deadline. This new report also appears to take the previously-rumored Anna Kendrick and Felicity Jones out of the running.

Chris Evans is reprising his role as the super soldier turned leader of “The Avengers” for the sequel that will take in modern times, with Sebastian Stan set to reprise his role as Bucky Barnes, who becomes the titular Winter Soldier and Scarlett Johansson returning to play the Black Widow, who shares significant history with Bucky in the comics. Anthony Mackie signed on recently to play Falcon, Cap’s longtime partner in crime in the comics, making his Marvel Film Universe debut. Anthony and Joseph Russo will direct “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” next March, with a release already set for April 4, 2014.

It’s unclear what role the young actresses are testing for, though it’s believed to be a new love interest for Steve. Could it be Sharon Carter, great-niece to Peggy Carter, the love Steve left behind in the 1940s and played by Hayley Atwell in “Captain America: The First Avenger”?

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