Alicia Vikander Lands Female Lead in “The Man From U.N.C.L.E.” Opposite Armie Hammer

May 8, 2013 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting Leave a comment

alicia-vikander Fast rising Swedish actress Alicia Vikander has landed another high profile role, this time the female lead in Guy Ritchie’s reboot of spy comedy “The Man From U.N.C.L.E.” starring Tom Cruise and Armie Hammer.

This is the 1960s buddy cop comedy style spy series that Warner Bros has been trying to put together for the big screen for some time, with previous iterations featuring Soderbergh behind the camera, Clooney in front, etc. Cruise is taking the Napoleon Solo role, with Hammer in line for his sidekick Illya Kuryakin. The two work for United Network Command for Law Enforcement (or U.N.C.L.E.) and use their charm, wit and advanced spy technology on missions. Vikander is taking the role a British agent with U.N.C.L.E. who “has a thing for cars.” She will be an original character who did not appear in the original TV series. And if she has to be someone’s love interest, we are just praying it’ll be Hammer.

One of our Breakout Stars of 2012, Vikander arrived on the scene in Hollywood thanks to the on-two punch of Joe Wright’s “Anna Karenina” and Danish Best Foreign Language Oscar nominee “A Royal Affair”, and has been landing increasingly impressive stateside jobs ever since. She’s wrapped Bill Condon’s Wikileaks drama “The Fifth Estate” and crime thriller “Son of a Gun” opposite Ewan McGregor, and will next be seen in sorcery actioner “The Seventh Son” with Jeff Bridges and Julianne Moore.

WATCH: Armie Hammer and Johnny Depp ride for justice in new trailer for “The Lone Ranger”

December 11, 2012 | Posted by Linda Ge in Videos Leave a comment

Pretty much in direct contrast to the “Man of Steel” trailers which are all about hazy, mythic atmosphere, the trailers for “The Lone Ranger”, the newest of which debuted today, go full-out exposition. Gore Verbinski directed Armie Hammer in the titular role and Johnny Depp as Tonto in the reboot of the classic long-running radio turned TV series, and while the first trailer dug deep into the action-oriented train robbery plot, the new trailer is all about the men behind the myth.

We fear the movie may turn out to be a slog like Verbinski’s final “Pirates” film, but it’s nice to see some comedic elements from Hammer, who has a keen sense of timing and has rarely gotten to display it. He, frankly, looks more interesting and intriguing than Depp, who has become a bit of a farce with his crazy costumes that ceased to be amusing several Burton movies ago.

“The Lone Ranger” is set for a May 31, 2013 release and the new trailer can be viewed below.

Fast Track: 15 A-List Newcomers Who First Launched Their Careers on Television

November 15, 2012 | Posted by Up&Comers Contributor in Features Leave a comment

A list by Emiah Gardner

If you’re a Hollywood follower, you know the drill. Small-time star has a bit-part in a big movie and suddenly goes wild. Soon, that star achieves A-list status and is able to choose any part he wants after paying his dues as a walk-on. Well, that’s how it used to be, anyway. With the growing number of movie actors who are TV actors and vice versa, it’s become kosher for TV and movie worlds to collide. In fact, some of the fresh-faced new A-listers are some of the TV show elite, using the small screen to catapult their rise to the silver screen. Check out this list of 15 big screen rising stars who launched their career in television.

Watch: Armie Hammer, Johnny Depp and some good old fashioned train robbery in first trailer for “The Lone Ranger”

October 3, 2012 | Posted by Linda Ge in Videos Leave a comment

Aside from knowing the basics behind “The Lone Ranger” and his sidekick Tonto, there really weren’t that many plot details available for Gore Verbinski’s big screen remake of the long-running radio turned TV series. At one point, the Lone Ranger and Tonto were supposed to face off against mythical creatures, but budget constraints put the kobosh on that idea. Now, with the arrival of the first trailer, we finally get a glimpse of what, exactly, this movie is about.

According to the trailer, Armie Hammer as the titular Ranger and Johnny Depp as Tonto will be facing off against crooks who intend to take over the newly invented railway system that runs through the American southwest. This brief teaser trailer shows off a lot more of the train robbery action sequences, and we barely glimpse the stars of the film at all until pretty far into it. It’s an interesting contrast, the rather grounded in reality look at the Old West with footage that could almost pass for any generic Western but then here comes Johnny Depp with white face paint and a bird on his head. Color us intrigued, if not particularly optimistic at this point in time.

“The Lone Ranger” is set for a May 31, 2013 release and the first teaser trailer can be viewed below.

Neither Garrett Hedlund nor Armie Hammer are involved in “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire”, producer confirms

June 6, 2012 | Posted by Rebecca Lewis in Casting Leave a comment

Looks like the casting process for “The Hungers Games” sequel “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” is still underway, as reports today confirm that no-one has yet been cast in fan favourite Finnick – and those rumours around Armie Hammer and Garrett Hedlund are in “no way true”.

Taylor Kitsch already took himself out of the running, and despite reports that director Francis Lawrence had “his mind set on” Hammer, Nina Jacobson, one of the producers for the sequel has told 24 Frames that things are “not narrowed things down by any means.”

The character of Finnick is a fan favorite from the entire series, a handsome, charming District 4 victor who becomes one of Katniss’s most trusted allies throughout “Catching Fire” and the third novel, “Mockingjay”.

And Jacobson admits that producers and Lawrence are not taking in to consideration the fan wishes, admitting that “It means something that people can see [an actor] in that light, so you know [the actor] will be accepted by a lot of people [but] the other hand, you have to kind of ignore it.”

Our open letter to director Francis Lawrence back in April featured Hammer and Hedlund, as well as Hunter Parrish, Harry Lloyd and Jesse Williams, five actors “who have demonstrated all the strength and charm and swagger and heartbreaking sadness that would make them more than suited to join Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth and step into Finnick’s shoes”. But with a November 23, 2013 release date and production set to start this summer, there’s sure to be an unveiling soon.

Armie Hammer reportedly the front-runner for Finnick in “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire”, but does he want the job?

June 1, 2012 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting 9 Comments

No, there’s still nothing official yet, but are we one step closer to meeting our Finnick? Lainey Gossip (she who broke the news of Jennifer Lawrence’s initial front-runner status for Katniss) reports “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” director Francis Lawrence has his mind set on Armie Hammer to play the dashing District 4 tribute and fan favorite Finnick Odair and that “if he could start tomorrow with his dream cast, Armie would be Finnick”.

But don’t celebrate just yet, ArmieForFinnick supporters. The difference between Lainey’s report this time and the one written at the time of Lawrence’s casting, is that there seems to be a lot of doubt as to whether Hammer is even interested. As we said as well, Hammer is an increasingly in demand young actor, and he and his people could simply decide committing his heavily scheduled time to a teen franchise for potentially three more movies is not the best move for him. In the meantime, fellow rumored maybe-Finnick Taylor Kitsch has apparently taken himself out of the running, telling The LA Times point blank: “Not going to happen.” Not a peep from Garrett Hedlund’s camp, which is probably smart if he is actually interested in the job.

Hammer is currently filming the titular role in “The Lone Ranger” opposite Johnny Depp for director Gore Verbinski, a feat that perhaps had seemed a much a bigger deal pre-”Dark Shadows”, and he has a couple of indie thrillers lined up: “By Virtue Fall” with Eric Bana and “Cut Bank” with Teresa Palmer, both potentially shooting this fall, so he may not even be available. There’s still a big question mark hanging over this one, but we’ll be keeping an eye on it as closely as you will.

The search for “Catching Fire”‘s Finnick down to Armie Hammer, Garrett Hedlund and Taylor Kitsch?

May 29, 2012 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting 4 Comments

It’s just about that time. With “The Hunger Games” sequel “Catching Fire” set to film this fall (and rehearsals beginning as soon as July), fans – us included – have been waiting with baited breath to hear news of who will be joining Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth and the rest of Panem’s citizens, with one character at the forefront of everyone’s minds: Finnick Odair, the handsome, charming District 4 victor who becomes one of Katniss’s most trusted allies throughout the two remaining sequels. Today, E! Oline reveals that the top three contenders currently “being bantered about” at Lionsgate are familiar and popular names that have come up in many discussions among fans: Armie Hammer, Garrett Hedlund and Taylor Kitsch.

E! Online’s sources go on to say that filmmakers are also keeping an eye out for a discovery of an unknown, ala Brad Pitt in “Thelma and Louise.” Not a bad goal to strive for. Furthermore, an official announcement could come as soon as this week.

If you ask us, any of the three would be terrific in the role, and we said as much here in an open letter to new director Francis Lawrence. Sorry for the exclusion, Mr. Kitsch, purely an oversight, we can assure you. However, Kitsch may have already taken himself out of the running, if we believe an MTV interview from earlier this year during “John Carter” press rounds. In any case, this shortlist, whether it ends up being any of the three, is a good indication that filmmakers’ view of the much beloved character is very much in line with fans’.

“The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” has already been set for a November 23, 2013 release so the real Finnick should be unveiled sooner rather than later. And then can we talk about Johanna Mason?!

Armie Hammer and Teresa Palmer take on crime thriller “Cut Bank”

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

Two of our favorite up and comers are joining forces, as Deadline reports Armie Hammer and Teresa Palmer have signed on to star in indie crime thriller “Cut Bank.” They will be joined by an impressive cast that also includes Sir Ben Kingsley, John Malkovich and Michael Sheen.

Matt Shakman will make his feature directorial debut on the project from a 2009 Black List script by Roberto Patino. Hammer will play Dwayne McLaren, a small town auto mechanic in Cut Bank, Montana, who will do anything to get out of his tiny town, which sets into motion “a series of events that will change his life, and the life of Cut Bank, forever.” Filming will begin in the fall and filmmakers will be selling the project at the Cannes Film Festival next month.

“The Social Network” breakout star Hammer is currently on location with director Gore Verbinski and star Johnny Depp as he plays the titular role in “The Lone Ranger”, and is also attached to revenge thriller “By Virtue Fall” opposite Eric Bana. Palmer recently appeared in Sundance hit “Wish You Were Here” opposite Joel Edgerton and has zombie romance “Warm Bodies” with Nicholas Hoult and Vietnam war drama “AWOL” with Liam Hemsworth awaiting release.

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