Dane DeHaan, Jack O’Connell, Alexander Dreymon Testing for Angelina Jolie’s “Unbroken”

June 13, 2013 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting 1 Comment

Angelina Jolie has began searching for the right young actor to play the lead in her adaptation of the incredible true story of Louis Zamperini, and Deadline reports Dane DeHaan, Jack O’Connell and Alexander Dreymom will test for the role in “Unbroken”, based on the best-selling book by Laura Hillenbrand.

Born in 1917 to Italian immigrant parents, Zamperini was picked on in school for his lack of English skills, but a troubled youth was turned around when he got involved in his high school’s track team. He went on to qualify for the 1936 Olympics in the 5000 metres race. He finished 8th in the race at the Olympics, but a fast finish time garnered him a personal meeting with Adolf Hiter. And that’s just the beginning of Zamperini’s epic journey as he then enlisted in the army in 1941 and was caught in a plane crash, landing in the middle of the Pacific Ocean with two other soldiers, managing to survive for 47 days, before they were found and then immediately captured by the Japanese Navy. As a POW, Zamperini and pilot and fellow survivor Russel Allen “Phil” Phillips were beaten and starved for over three years before being discovered alive. Suffice to say, this is a juicy role and could be career-making for the right young actor. Deadline cautions Jolie, who has already met with an extensive list of young actors, may be testing others beyond the three reported here.

DeHaan is the most recognizable here and the one whose career seems to be absolutely on fire these days, currently on screen in Derek Cianfrance’s “The Place Beyond the Pines” opposite Ryan Gosling and Bradley Cooper and currently shooting the Harry Osborn role in “The Amazing Spider-Man 2″ opposite Andrew Garfield. O’Connell is known for UK series “Skins”, to which he returns as Cook for a special season 7, which catches up on past fan favorite characters, also featuring Kaya Scodelario’s return as Effy. He gave up the male led role in “Beautiful Creatures”, but landed one of the leads of “300: Rise of an Empire” instead. Not much is known about newcomer Dreymon, but he was born in 1983, making him the oldest contender here, and his credits include “Resistance” opposite Andrea Riseborough and the upcoming “Blood Ransom.”

Michael B. Jordan May Be the Human Torch in Josh Trank’s “Fantastic Four” Reboot

May 2, 2013 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting Leave a comment

In an unexpected but not unwelcome development, “Fruitvale Station” breakout star Michael B. Jordan is being seriously considered for the role of Johnny Storm, aka the Human Torch in Josh Trank’s reboot of Marvel comic book franchise “Fantastic Four”, according to The Wrap.

Trank and Jordan obviously have a good working relationship after collaborating on surprise sci-fi hit “Chronicle” last year, and The Wrap further details that Jordan has had no less than four meetings with Fox, the studio behind the reboot, the last one as recent as last week, so this is obviously still an ongoing conversation and very much a possibility. Chris Evans played the wise-cracking, playboy hothead who can turn himself into a ball of fire and fly in the 2005 version of the film, but even though it generated enough profits for a sequel, it was widely considered a misfire and Evans has gone on to much greater success as Marvel Studios’ Captain America.

“Fruitvale” Star Michael B. Jordan Joins Anton Yelchin and Imogen Poots in Josh Boone’s “Pretenders”

April 5, 2013 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting 1 Comment

Future “The Fault in Our Stars” director Josh Boone has taken to Twitter once again to announce a new cast member for the film that he will shoot after that one. “Pretenders” already stars Anton Yelchin and Imogen Poots, and now hot rising star Michael B. Jordan has joined them, Boone announced today.

There are no plot details available for “Pretenders”, but it will be Boone’s third feature after TIFF-premiered “Writers” (or “Stuck in Love”) starring Logan Lerman and Lily Collins, which comes out in June. Boone moves on to direct Shailene Woodley in the adaptation of John Green’s massively popular young adult novel “The Fault in Our Stars” next, and then “Pretenders” will follow.

Jordan, a veteran of two of TV’s most critically acclaimed dramas “The Wire” and “Friday Night Lights”, was seen in surprise breakout sci-fi hit “Chronicle” along with Alex Russell and Dane DeHaan and most recently as the star of “Fruitvale”, which won both the Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival. He most recently wrapped up shooting ensemble rom com “Are We Officially Dating?”, also starring Poots along with Zac Efron and Miles Teller.

Up and Comers Presents: Our Top Ten Movies of 2012

December 31, 2012 | Posted by Linda Ge and Rebecca Lewis in Features, Lists Leave a comment

Another end-of-year list upon us, and just like last year, the two of us once again appear to have disparate taste when it comes to the year in movies. Sixteen different movies populate our two Top 10 lists, though we did both love “Beasts of the Southern Wild”, “Moonrise Kingdom”, “Silver Linings Playbook” and “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” enough to list them. What movies were our favorites of the year? Which were yours?

Without further ado, below are our Top 10 Movies of 2012.

Click here for Linda’s Top 10 | Click here for Rebecca’s Top 10

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“Chronicle” star Dane DeHaan joins Andrew Garfield to play Harry Osborn in “The Amazing Spider-Man 2″

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

Peter Parker’s expanding class of friends and foes are nearly complete. Director Marc Webb announced via Twitter today that “Chronicle” star Dane DeHaan (one of our favorites!) has landed the pivotal role of Harry Osborn in the sequel to “The Amazing Spider-Man”, which sees Andrew Garfield returning as the webbed crusader, as well as Emma Stone as Gwen Stacy. Jamie Foxx was also recently cast as villain Electro.

DeHaan beat out not one but two shortlists of other young actors vying for the part, but we think Webb made absolutely the perfect choice in the end. Shailene Woodley is also joining the cast to play Mary Jane Watson, with both newcomers presumably having supporting roles in this first sequel but to be greatly expanded in the conclusion of the trilogy. Filming begins early next year with a release date already set for May 2nd, 2014.

Last seen on the big screen in “Lawless” opposite Tom Hardy and Shia Labeouf, DeHaan heads to Sundance next January with Beat generation origin pic “Kill Your Darlings” alongside Elizabeth Olsen and Danielle Radcliffe, and also has Derek Cianfrance’s “The Place Beyond the Pines” opposite Ryan Gosling and Bradley Cooper awaiting release.

See Webb’s Twitter announcement below.

“Chronicle” star Michael B. Jordan joins Zac Efron and Miles Teller in “Are We Officially Dating?”

November 12, 2012 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting Leave a comment

“Chronicle” star Michael B. Jordan rounds out the trio at the center of rom com “Are We Officially Dating?”, joining Zac Efron and Miles Teller, according to Deadline.

The three actors will play best friends who make a pact to stay single and relationship-free, just as they each begin to fall in love. On the receiving end of those complicated feelings will be Imogen Poots and “True Blood”‘s Deborah Ann Woll, presumably with a third actress to be cast. Tom Gormican wrote the script and will direct this month in New York.

Jordan, a veteran of two of TV’s most critically acclaimed dramas “The Wire” and “Friday Night Lights”, was seen this year in “Red Tails” and surprise breakout sci-fi hit “Chronicle” along with Alex Russell and Dane DeHaan. He recently wrapped up filming on true life crime/legal drama “Fruitvale”, in which he played Oscar Grant, an unarmed man who was shot and killed by police on New Year’s Day 2009. “The Help” stars Octavia Spencer and Ahna O’Reilly co-starred.

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.

Dane DeHaan in early talks to join “The Devil’s Knot”

June 13, 2012 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting Leave a comment

One of our favorite up and comers Dane DeHaan is in early, tentative talks to join the cast of West Memphis Three drama “The Devil’s Knot”, according to Variety. Amy Ryan is also in early talks for a role, though in both actors’ cases, scheduling still needs to be finalized, and as DeHaan is set to be married around the same time shooting takes place, his place amongst the cast is far from firm. Colin Firth and Reese Witherspoon lead a cast that also includes Alessandro Nivola, Mireille Enos and newcomers Kristopher Higgins and Justin Castor, who will be playing two of the three accused teens at the center of the court case.

Atom Egoyan is directing “The Devil’s Knot” based on the bestselling book by Mara Leveritt, which follows Firth’s private detective Ron Lax, who took the case of Damien Echols, James Baldwin and Jessie Misskelley pro bono and was one of their earliest supporters, and eventually provided key evidence that led to the three men’s release in 2011, 17 years after their conviction. Higgins and Castor play Miskelley and Baldwin, respectively, while the role of Echolls remains to be announced. DeHaan is eyeing the role of a teenager who had a connection to the three young murdered boys the West Memphis Three were accused of killing. Shooting begins on June 25th in Georgia.

DeHaan starred in this year’s low budget sci fi hit “Chronicle” and recently made his first appearance at the Cannes Film Festival with John Hillcoat’s prohibition era actioner “Lawless.” He recently wrapped up Beat Generation origin pic “Kill Your Darlings”, in which he played Lucien Carr, and Derek Cianfrance’s “The Place Beyond the Pines”, in which he plays the son of Ryan Gosling’s character.

“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.

“Chronicle” star Michael B. Jordan to play Oscar Grant in “Fruitvale”, Octavia Spencer also in negotiations

April 17, 2012 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting 1 Comment

Amidst the controversy surrounding the death of Florida teenager Trayvon Martin comes a timely dramatization of a similar incident that took place in Northern California in 2009. THR reports “Chronicle” star Michael B. Jordan is in talks to take on the role of Oscar Grant in “Fruitvale”, the indie drama that will seek to tell the story of how Grant was detained by police and then shot in the back and killed on New Years Day 2009. Recent Oscar winner Octavia Spencer is in talks to play his mother.

Grant was one of several passengers of the Oakland, CA sunway system detained by police at the Fruitvale BART station after reports of fighting in the early hours of New Years Day 2009. With Grant prostrate and bound on the ground, police officer Johannes Mehserle stood back and shot him in the back, fatally wounding him. The incident was captured by various recording devices and cell phones and widely seen after being disseminated to the media. Mehserle was charged with murder but pleaded not guilty, insisting he meant to shoot Grant with his taser and not his pistol. When he was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter but not premeditated murder, demonstrations and eventually violent riots broke out in protest.

The film, marking the writing and directing debut of Ryan Coogler, will follow Grant throughout his last day. A July production in Northern California is scheduled.

Jordan, a veteran of two of TV’s most critically acclaimed dramas “The Wire” and “Friday Night Lights”, was seen this year in “Red Tails” and surprise breakout sci-fi hit “Chronicle.” Spencer won her first Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in February for her role as Minny Jackson in “The Help.” She was part of Sundance hit “Smashed” with Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Aaron Paul and is currently filming Diablo Cody’s directorial debut opposite Julianne Hough and Russell Brand, previously titled “Lamb of God.” She’ll next film Bong Joon-ho’s English directorial debut “Snow Piercer” opposite Chris Evans and Jamie Bell.

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