Chloe Moretz and Asa Butterfield Reuniting to Run Away With “The White Circus”

May 15, 2013 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting 2 Comments

chloe-asa “Hugo” co-stars Chloe Moretz and Asa Butterfield, along with Andrea Riseborough and German actor Christian Friedel, have signed on to star in dark fairy tale “The White Circus”, according to Screen Daily.

The duo of Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski, known collectively as Clyde Henry, wrote the script and will be making their feature directorial debut on the project, scheduled to shoot in Germany and Siberia in February 2014. Described as a “dark fairytale of with moments of brilliant black comedy”, “The White Circus” follows a young pilot who crash-lands his plane in a war torn town where he is met with a fantastical cast of characters including a talking bear, a cabaret singer and a maniacal despot.

Butterfield and Moretz previously had a magical adventure together in Martin Scorsese’s Oscar-nominated “Hugo.” Butterfield has “Ender’s Game” out later this year, while Moretz is awaiting the release of Kimberly Pierce’s remake of “Carrie.” Riseborough can currently be seen opposite Tom Cruise in “Oblivion” while Friedel appeared in Michael Hanake’s Cannes Palme d’Or winner “The White Ribbon.”

Watch: First Trailer for “Ender’s Game” Starring Asa Butterfield and Hailee Steinfeld

May 7, 2013 | Posted by Linda Ge in Videos 1 Comment

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Children are sent into battle in a futuristic world in this potential franchise launcher from Summit/Lionsgate, but “Ender’s Game” is very different from “The Hunger Games” in the first trailer for Gavin Hood’s adaptation of Orson Scott Card’s iconic sci-fi novel. Children’s innate innocence and bravery are emphasized in our first look at the film, which features Harrison Ford narrating why “a new kind of soldier” is needed to combat aliens who are always one step ahead of humans.

Set in a futuristic world where the human race has been all but wiped out by a race of bug-like aliens called Formics, the government recruits the best and brightest children to attend Battle School, where they are trained in the art of war through a series of games, including one in an anti-gravity Battle Room. Asa Butterfield plays Ender Wiggins, whose brilliance causes him to be promoted to Command School to act as a leader of children’s armies to “simulated” wars against the alien Formics, to largely successful outcomes. Hailee Steinfeld has an expanded supporting role as Petra, the only girl at the Command School, and Abigail Breslin plays Ender’s protective older sister.

The footage looks sleek and exciting, though frankly, also a bit generic and confusing, but sci-fi nerds should be excited about this one, which comes out on November 1st and hopes to be the start of a franchise. Watch the first trailer below and judge its potential for yourself.

First Look At Hailee Steinfeld In New Image From “Ender’s Game”

February 20, 2013 | Posted by Linda Ge in Images Leave a comment

endersgame002sm Taking a slow and steady approach to marketing, today we have a new image from Gavin Hood’s adaptation of Orson Scott Card’s seminal sci-fi novel “Ender’s Game”, and it features Asa Butterfield as Ender Wiggin as well as our first look at Hailee Steinfeld, in her female lead role of Petra Arkranian.

We first saw Butterfield’s Ender in December, facing off against Harrison Ford as the stern Colonel Graff. In this futuristic world, Ender, Petra and other children attend Battle School, and Ender’s superior intellect eventually leads to him commanding an army of other exceptionally bright children in a simulated fight against the alien race of Formics.

Hood worked extensively with Card, who also adapted the screenplay from his own novel. “I am a fan,” Hood told EW back in December, “and I have had a desire to do this and have been working on this now for nearly four years.”

“Ender’s Game” will be released on November 1, 2013 and the full still can be viewed below.

First Look: Asa Butterfield stands at attention in first photo from “Ender’s Game”

December 5, 2012 | Posted by Linda Ge in Images 1 Comment

Asa Butterfield and Harrison Ford face off in our first look at a scene from Gavin Hood’s highly anticipated of Orson Scott Card’s seminal sci-fi novel “Ender’s Game.”

EW debuted the image this morning, describing it as a scene that takes place early on in Ender’s (Butterfield) time at the Battle School, where he is a new recruit. Ford’s Colonel Graff is questioning Ender over his e-mail exchanges with the family he left behind. This futuristic sci-fi tale sees Ender leading an army of other exceptionally bright children in a simulated fight against the alien race of Formics. The cast also includes Hailee Steinfeld as Ender’s most trusted ally and Abigail Breslin as his older sister.

Hood worked extensively with Card, who also adapted the screenplay from his own novel. “I am a fan,” Hood tells EW, “and I have had a desire to do this and have been working on this now for nearly four years.” He also hints that the book’s ending (to which I’m not privy, having never read it) remains in tact. “That ending — and the complex moral questions that it raises — is one of the reasons why I love the book. I promise you that it is very much there.”

“Ender’s Game” will be released on November 1, 2013 and the full still can be viewed below.

Asa Butterfield, Elle Fanning, Thomas Horn, Ezra Miller and more nominated for Critics Choice Awards

December 13, 2011 | Posted by Rebecca Lewis in Awards 5 Comments

From one Critics Society’s nominations to another, and today the Broadcast Film Critics Association’s Critics Choice Awards. Once again The Artist and Hugo lead the pack with eleven nominations each – and a surprise but hugely welcome nomination for Melissa McCarty in the Best Supporting Actress category for her performance in Bridesmaids.

There has been a slow buzz around McCarthy’s performance and we have previously commented on her Oscar chances. This new nomination follows on from awards from the Boston Society of Film Critics and the New York Film Critics.

Elizabeth Olsen gains another Best Actress nomination for the outstanding Martha Marcy May Marlene, and TV star Patton Oswalt garners a further nomination for his supporting role alongside Charlize Theron in Young Adult.

Most notably, the Broadcast Film Critics have a category focusing specifically on the best young actor or actress of the year. This year they’ve chosen some of our favorite performances of the year – and a surprise choice of Saoirse Ronan in the little talked about Hanna. Also nominated are Asa Butterfield (Hugo), Elle Fanning (Super 8), Thomas Horn (Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close), Ezra Miller (We Need to Talk About Kevin) and Shailene Woodley (The Descendants)

Click below for the full list of nominees. The awards ceremony will be televised on VH1 on January 12th 2012.

“True Grit” star Hailee Steinfeld in talks for “Ender’s Game” female lead opposite Asa Butterfield

December 1, 2011 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting Leave a comment

“True Grit” star Hailee Steinfeld’s post-Oscar-nomination career seemed to be unfolding slowly, but she takes a big leap forward now with Variety reporting Steinfeld is now in negotiations to play the female lead role of Petra Arkanian in the highly anticipated adaptation of iconic sci-fi novel “Ender’s Game.” It was made official just yesterday that “Hugo” star Asa Butterfield had been officially locked in for the titular role, after beating out several other young actors.

Author Orson Scott Card has been heavily involved in the big screen adaptation of his novel, which has started and stopped several times since at least 2003. Card has adapted the screenplay, with director Gavin Hood involved with rewrites. Set in a futuristic world where the human race has been all but wiped out by a race of bug-like aliens called Formics, the government recruits the best and brightest children to attend Battle School, where they are trained in the art of war through a series of games, including one in an anti-gravity Battle Room. When Ender’s genius is revealed, he is promoted to Command School to act as a leader of children’s armies to “simulated” wars against the Formics, to largely successful outcomes. Steinfeld’s Petra is the only girl in Ender’s Salamander Army, who quickly becomes his only trusted ally and best friend. Other key characters include Ender’s older siblings, the protective Valentine and cruel Peter. The role of Colonel Hyrum Graff, who trains the young recruits, is said to be targeting Harrison Ford or someone of equal status.

Steinfeld was plucked from obscurity by the Coen Brothers to headline their 2010 remake of western “True Grit” and her big screen debut also led to her first Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress. While studios were quick to snap up starring vehicles for the hot new rising star – with Steinfelds’ name attached to a spec revisionist Sleeping Beauty script and Paramount developing teen novel “Forgotten” for her – neither project has managed to get off the ground thus far. Instead, Steinfeld locked in to play a new version of Shakespeare’s classic tragic heroine Juliet Capulet in Carlo Carlei’s new traditional adaptation of “Romeo and Juliet”, set to begin filming next month. Strangely, a revisionist romantic comedy based on the same tale, but based around Romeo’s jilted lover, the titular “Rosaline”, is also targeting Steinfeld for the Juliet role.

“Ender’s Game” begins filming early 2012 for a set release of March 15, 2013.

Up and Comers Podcast #6: “Hugo”, “We Bought a Zoo” and some of our favorite Aussie rising stars

November 29, 2011 | Posted by Linda Ge and Rebecca Lewis in Podcast 1 Comment

Thank you for joining us again if you listened to our earlier podcasts or if you are new to the program, welcome! Once a week, Linda and Rebecca will take to the internet airwaves to discuss a variety of subjects, including all the latest news, movies we’ve seen recently, the Oscar season and more topics that interest us (or you! Please send us your suggestions for topics to talk about).

• 00:00 – 19:00 – Slow news week, so we dissect each and every one of BAFTA’s Rising Star longlist, as well as the high profile castings of Amber Heard in “Motor City” and Chris Evans in “The Iceman”.

• 19:00 – 25:40 – Linda talks about two movies she saw and loved this week: Martin Scorsese’s “Hugo” and Cameron Crowe’s “We Bought a Zoo.”

• 25:40 – END – We discuss just a few of Australia’s many rising stars making a mark in Hollywood, from the almost-A-listers like Sam Worthington, Chris Hemsworth and Mia Wasikowska, to the barely known names like Bella Heathcote, Elizabeth Debicki and James Frecheville, and plenty in between.

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Up and Comers Podcast #5: “Twilight” takeover! “Breaking Dawn” reviewed; what is the next big franchise?

November 22, 2011 | Posted by Linda Ge and Rebecca Lewis in Podcast Leave a comment

This week we are joined by some special guests who are experts on book to movie adaptations. Special thanks to Kimmy West from PageToPremiere.com, which follows books as they make their way on to the big screen. Apt!

There are some technical, audio issues with this week’s podcast, so many apologies on that front, edited it the best I could!

• 00:00 – 17:30 – We digest some recent news, including a redux on the Battle of the Snow Whites, in light of the “Mirror Mirror” trailer; Kit Harington finally landing “Arthur and Lancelot” and more.

• 17:30 – 43:30 – We review “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn” in depth, quickly touch upon “The Descendants” and gush over “Shame.”

• 43:30 – END – Linda and Kimmy are joined by Stephanie (PoetryToProse.com) and Lindsey (AStormOfWords.net) to discuss book to movie adaptations, including “Harry Potter”, “Twilight”, “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo”, “The Hunger Games” and more. Discussion mainly hinges on big franchises and what makes them successful, and what’s the Next Big Thing.

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Official: “Hugo” star Asa Butterfield to star in Orson Scott Card’s “Ender’s Game”

November 17, 2011 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting 1 Comment

UPDATE: Via Butterfield himself on Twitter, his deal has now closed and he will indeed be boy genius Andrew “Ender” Wiggin in “Ender’s Game.”

Young actor Asa Butterfield could be going from one big project to an even bigger one. Headlining Martin Scorsese’s Thanksgiving release, “Hugo”, Butterfield now has the offer to star as the lead in one of the most highly anticipated book adaptations in years, “Ender’s Game.” Deadline reports after testing several young actors, director Gavin Hood chose Butterfield to star as boy genius Andrew “Ender” Wiggin in the adaptation of the seminal Orson Scott Card sci-fi book series.

The author has been heavily involved in the big screen adaptation of his novel, which has started and stopped several times since at least 2003. Card has adapted the screenplay, with Hood involved with rewrites. Set in a futuristic world where the human race has been all but wiped out by a race of bug-like aliens called Formics, the government recruits the best and brightest children to attend Battle School, where they are trained in the art of war through a series of games, including one in an anti-gravity Battle Room. When Ender’s genius is revealed, he is promoted to Command School to act as a leader of children’s armies to “simulated” wars against the Formics, to largely successful outcomes. Other key characters include Ender’s older siblings, the protective Valentine and cruel Peter. The film already has a March 15, 2013 release date.

The 14 year old British thesp Butterfield has already headlined major feature films, including the well received dark comedy “Son of Rambow” and less well received Holocaust drama “The Boy in Striped Pajamas”, but his big break should come next Friday, when Martin Scorsese’s 3-D family film “Hugo” is released in theaters. Butterfield stars alongside fellow prolific child actor Chloe Moretz. Even “Hugo” can’t compare with “Ender’s Game” though, and 2013 should propel Butterfield to yet another level of his career if this deal closes. All this before he can get his driver’s license.

New look at Martin Scorsese’s “Hugo” starring Chloe Moretz and Asa Butterfield, NYFF’s surprise screening

October 10, 2011 | Posted by Linda Ge in Videos Leave a comment

There’s been wild rumors and speculation over a secret, surprise screening of a work-in-progress film from a “legendary director” at this week’s New York Film Festeival. Will it be Stephen Daldry’s “Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close”, with its very New York connections? “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” from David Fincher, who forewent bigger festivals to premiere last year’s “The Social Network” at NYFF? Stephen Spielberg’s “War Horse”, Cameron Crowe’s “We Bought a Zoo” or even, inexplicably, Jason Reitman’s “Young Adult”? Well, the day of the screening is upon and it is actually “Hugo”, the first 3-D family-friendly adventure from Martin Scorsese that will be shown tonight to audiences who purchased the “mystery” tickets in advance.

Newcomer Asa Butterfield shines as a recently orphaned kid living in the walls of a Parisian train station who gets wrapped up in a mystery revolving around a robot/music box left by his recently deceased father (Jude Law) and Chloe Moretz, who happens to possess the heart shaped key that unlocks the machine. A magical adventure kicks off and a colorful troupe of supporting characters, including Sacha Baron Cohen as a grouchy train conductor and Ben Kinsley as a mysterious shop owner, create trouble and mischief for the youngsters. As Moretz’s character self-references, “it’s like Neverland and Oz and Treasure Island all wrapped into one” in Scorsese’s first family film. The director speaks of the film and previews tons of new scenes ahead of its premiere tonight in the video below.

The rest of us not invited tonight will get to see “Hugo” on Thanksgiving weekend.

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