Julianne Hough to reunite with Diablo Cody for “Time and a Half”

August 7, 2012 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting Leave a comment

Julianne Hough and Diablo Cody must have really enjoyed working together on Cody’s still untitled directorial debut, because Hough has now signed on to headline romantic dramedy “Time and a Half”, which Cody wrote and Ol Parker will direct. Variety broke the news earlier today.

Hough will play a recent college graduate who takes a job at a local trophy store and runs into her sister’s high school boyfriend, with whom she had a one night stand. Variety emphasizes production will not go forward until the right actress is cast to play the sister, and filming is likely to take place after the beginning of 2013.

She was a dancer, not a star when she first appeared on “Dancing with the Stars”, but Hough has made a transition from reality star to movie star that should be enviable to just about everyone else in her profession. After a bit role in “Burlesque”, Hough landed the female lead in Craig Brewer’s “Footloose” remake, followed by the female lead in Adam Shankman’s “Rock of Ages”, then the Nicholas Sparks adaptation “Safe Haven” – a role originally earmarked for Keira Knightley – which is currently filming. Cody’s formerly-titled “Lamb of God” and now “Time and a Half” will make it five for five.

Jessica Lucas and newcomer Elizabeth Blackmore round out new “Evil Dead” cast

March 7, 2012 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting 1 Comment

The new “Evil Dead” has rounded up all of its victims. THR reports recent “Melrose Place” star Jessica Lucas and newcomer Elizabeth Blackmore have rounded out the cast of five young actors who will bring the Sam Raimi horror classic back to life. Shiloh Fernandez, Jane Levy and Lou Taylor Pucci had been previously announced.

The new take on Raimi’s original “Evil Dead” sees five friends – David, Natalie, Eric, Olivia, and Mia – vacationing in a remote cabin in the woods only to discover a Book of the Dead, which unleashes an evil demonic force that possesses each of them until only one is left to survive. Fernandez’s David and Blackmore’s Natalie are engaged, while Levy’s Mia is an ex-drug addict hoping to detox in the cabin. Lucas will play Olivia, who is her best friend while Pucci will play Eric, the one who unleashes the demons upon the group. Diablo Cody rewrote the script for director Fede Alvarez.

Austraian actress Blackmore appeared on cult favorite TV series “Legend of the Seeker” and also on Australia’s famous long-running soap “Home and Away” (the breakout vehicle for Chris Hemsworth, Heath Ledger, Isla Fisher and more). Lucas broke out in Joss Whedon’s brilliant (and brilliantly marketed) sci-fi thriller “Cloverfield” and was a series regular on The CW’s recent “Melrose Place” reboot, which lasted two seasons. she’s now headed back to the network after being cast as the lead on Josh Schwartz’s next offering, “Cult”, a show-within-a-show crime thriller.

Lou Taylor Pucci joins Shiloh Fernandez and Jane Levy in fighting off “The Evil Dead”

February 13, 2012 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting 1 Comment

“Evil Dead” is slowly but surely rounding up its five victims. Variety reports Lou Taylor Pucci is the newest addition to join Jane Levy and Shiloh Fernandez on that fateful, doomed trip to the cabin in the woods. Raimi himself is producing and wrote some of the new screenplay, with Levy (replacing Lily Collins) as the lead character standing in for Bruce Campbell’s Ash.

The new take on Raimi’s original “Evil Dead” sees five friends – David, Natalie, Eric, Olivia, and Mia – vacationing in a remote cabin in the woods only to discover a Book of the Dead, which unleashes an evil demonic force that possesses each of them until only one is left to survive. Fernandez’s David and Natalie are engaged, while Levy’s Mia is an ex-drug addict hoping to detox in the cabin. Olivia is her best friend while Pucci will play Eric, the one who unleashes the demons upon the group. Diablo Cody rewrote the script for director Fede Alvarez.

Pucci caught the attention of the indie world when he starred in Mike Mills’ directorial debut “Thumbsucker” and has remained a steady but low-profile presence on the indie circuit ever since, with roles in “Fast Food Nation”, “Southland Tales”, 2011′s Sundance entry “The Music Never Stopped” and Mills’ current awards contender “Beginners.”

Jane Levy replaces Lily Collins in “Evil Dead” remake

February 3, 2012 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting Leave a comment

“Suburgatory” star Jane Levy has landed the female lead in Sam Raimi’s “Evil Dead” remake after Lily Collins dropped out, Deadline revealed today. She will join Shiloh Fernandez in the retelling of the 1986 horror classic that Raimi hismelf wrote. The male and female leads are now set and casting continues on the three remaining characters.

The new take on Raimi’s original “Evil Dead” sees five friends – David, Natalie, Eric, Olivia, and Mia – vacationing in a remote cabin in the woods only to discover a Book of the Dead, which unleashes an evil demonic force that possesses each of them until only one is left to survive. David and Natalie are engaged, while Levy’s Mia is an ex-drug addict hoping to detox in the cabin. Olivia is her best friend while Eric is the one who unleashes the demons upon the group. Diablo Cody rewrote the script for director Fede Alvarez.

Levy is a total newbie to acting, having only made her small screen debut last year in Showtime series “Shameless.” But it took her no time at all to land the role of Victoria Justice’s BFF in Josh Schwartz’s big screend debut, “Fun Size”, and her own hit TV series, “Suburgatory” on ABC. She was also recently seen in Sundance premiere “Nobody Walks” with Olivia Thirlby and John Krasinski.

Shiloh Fernandez lands male lead in “Evil Dead” remake and indie “Deep Powder”

February 2, 2012 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting 2 Comments

The almost Edward Cullen didn’t exactly hit Twilight heartthrob status with “Red Riding Hood”, but it appears Shiloh Fernandez is finding more success in darker projects. Variety reports Fernandez has booked two new roles, first taking the highly coveted male lead in Sam Raimi’s own “Evil Dead” remake/reboot, and in indie “Deep Powder.”

Raimi wrote the script for the new take on his original “Evil Dead”, and this time five friends – David, Natalie, Eric, Olivia, and Mia – vacation in a remote cabin in the woods and discover a Book of the Dead, which unleashes an evil demonic force that possesses each of them until only one is left to survive. David and Natalie are engaged, while Mia is an ex-drug addict hoping to detox in the cabin. Olivia is her best friend while Eric is the one who unleashes the demons upon the group. Lily Collins had originally been cast as the female lead Mia, but had to drop out due to scheduling conflicts so now the hunt is back on for that vacant role, as well as the three others. Diablo Cody did revisions on the script and Fede Alvarez will direct.

Mo Ogrodnik wrote and will director “Deep Powder”, but plot details are being kept under wraps. Sounds like some kind of ski/snowboard actioner just based on the title, if we were to venture a guess. Fernandez is expected to film “Deep Powder” first, later this month in New York. “Evil Dead” will follow later in the year.

Fernandez recently wrapped up shooting Brit Marling’s new eco-terrorist thriller, “The East” opposite Marling, Ellen Page and Alexander Skarsgard, as well as “Syrup” opposite Amber Heard and Brittany Snow. He’s also attached to comedy “Adult World” with Emma Roberts and “Regular Boy” with “The Social Network”‘s Josh Peck.

Lily Collins: from Snow White to drug addict in “Evil Dead” remake

January 4, 2012 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting Leave a comment

Looks like Lily Collins is getting to that stage in her career where she wants to start distancing herself from that kid-friendly, good-girl image that’s made her a rapidly rising star in the last couple of years. Bloody Disgusting reports the actress is the first to sign on to the remake of Sam Raimi horror classic “Evil Dead”, and she will be playing an ex-drug addict whose past erratic behavior makes her something of an unreliable “girl who cried demonic monsters” to her friends.

Raimi wrote the script for the new take on his original film, and this time five friends – David, Natalie, Eric, Olivia, and Mia – vacation in a remote cabin in the woods and discover a Book of the Dead, which unleashes an evil demonic force that possesses each of them until only one is left to survive. David and Natalie are engaged, while Collins’ Mia is an ex-drug addict hoping to detox in the cabin. Olivia is her best friend while Eric is the one who unleashes the demons upon the group. Collins’ Mia is recovering from a recent overdose and has trouble convincing people when she begins seeing weird stuff again this time around. Diablo Cody did revisions on the script and Fede Alvarez will direct.

Collins, daughter of Phil Collins, made her big screen debut in 2009′s Sandra Bullock Oscar contender “The Blind Side” and has been on an upward swinging career trajectory ever since. She headlines Tarsem Singh’s Snow White redo “Mirror Mirror” in March and has long been attached to the lead in potential teen genre franchise “The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones.” She recently completed work opposite Michael Anagarano and Julianne Moore in indie dramedy “The English Teacher.”

“The Help” breakout star Octavia Spencer heads to Vegas for Diablo Cody’s directorial debut

October 5, 2011 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting Leave a comment

Octavia Spencer may be heading to Las Vegas with Julianna Hough and Russell Brand, reports Variety. The breakout star of this summer’s monster blockbuster hit “The Help” is in early negotiations to take on the role of a card dealer in “Juno” scribe Diablo Cody’s directorial debut, which is currently untitled but previously labored under “Lamb of God.”

The film revolves Hough’s character, a conservative young woman who loses her faith after a plane crash and goes 180 in the opposite direction, reveling in “the decadence of Las Vegas.” There she meets an unlikely companion (Brand) who aids her on her journey to find herself.

Spencer, who has been toiling in supporting roles since 1996, landed the role of a lifetime when longtime friend Tate Taylor cast her as scene-stealing maid Minny Jackson in “The Help”, a character that, as it turns out, was partly inspired by Spencer herself, after Taylor introduced her to author Kathryn Stockett, who he grew up with in Mississippi. It’s been widely speculated that Spencer could be in line for an Oscar nomination for the role. She recently signed on to star alongside Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Aaron Paul in indie dramedy “Smashed.”

“Rock of Ages” stars Julianne Hough and Russell Brand reunite for Diablo Cody’s directorial debut

September 27, 2011 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting Leave a comment

Julianne Hough and Russell Brand are confirmed to be the stars of “Juno” scribe Diablo Cody’s directorial debut, Deadline reports.

Formerly titled “Lamb of God”, the film revolves Hough’s character, a young woman who loses her faith after a plane crash and goes 180 in the opposite direction, reveling in “the decadence of Las Vegas.” There she meets an unlikely companion, presumably played by Brand, who aids her on her journey to find herself.

Hough and Brand recently wrapped up shooting on Adam Shankman’s big screen adaptation of hit Broadway musical “Rock of Ages”, alongside an all-star cast that includes Tom Cruise, Alec Baldwin, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Russell Brand, Mary J. Blige and Malin Akerman. Hough, a dancer who got her first taste of fame on ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars”, will next be seen as the female lead in Paramount’s remake of Kevin Bacon classic “Footloose”, while British comedian Brand is thus far most known for “Get Him to the Greek” and “Arthur”.

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