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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effie

First official look at Dakota Fanning in Emma Thompson’s “Effie” biopic

June 8, 2012 | Posted by Rebecca Lewis in Images 2 Comments

She may have taken a couple of years away from the big screen but in 2012, despite attending college in New York, Dakota Fanning looks set to return with a host of new films, including two films in post-production looking at potential 2012 release dates, the Ol Parker directed “Now Is Good” (which we reviewed here) being released in Europe later in the year and the final part in the “Twilight Saga” wrapping up in November.

One of those in post-prod is the Emma Thompson film “Effie”, which shot in England last year and also stars Tom Sturridge (“On The Road”) and Greg Wise. The film is based on the life of Effie Grey, who married young to a much older man, John Ruskin (Wise), only for him to refuse to consummate their marriage. Effie then turned to Ruskin’s more age-appropriate protege, the painter John Everett Millais (Sturridge).

Directed by Richard Laxton from Thompson’s script, we got our first look at Fanning and Sturridge on set last year and now Kinopoisk (via The Playlist) have the first set of official images.

Featuring Fanning and Thompson, who “is revealed as Lady Eastlake, the art historian and critic who was one of Effie’s confidantes”, the images show the two in Victorian garments, and it’s good to see the young actress away from her “Twilight Saga” robes and getting her teeth (pun intended!) into something new.

Still no word on a release date, although we’ll let you know as soon as anything is confirmed. Click below for further images.

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Watch out, Dakota Fanning; Keira Knightley to star in rival Effie Gray biopic “Untouched”

November 7, 2011 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting Leave a comment

Sorry, Dakota Fanning, you’re not the only Effie Gray in town anymore. While Fanning and castmates Tom Sturridge, Emma Thompson and Greg Wise are already deep into filming on “Effie”, which Thompson also wrote, it appears the world simply needs more Effie. Thompson on Hollywood reports Keira Knightley is in negotiations to play the famed “artists’ muse” in a second biopic of Gray, to be directed by Brazilian director Andrucha Waddington.

Unlike other cases in which similarly themed projects take vastly different approaches, or in the case of biopics, focus on different periods in the life of its subject, “Untouched” will apparently tread very similar territory to “Effie”, as it too will revolve around Gray’s unconsummated marriage to older novelist John Ruskin and subsequent running away with his young protege, the painter John Everett Millais. While Knightley is a gifted actress, and especially apt at historical dramas, we can’t help but feel she is a bit older than the role calls for. Fanning is the exact age as Gray was when she married Ruskin, while Knightley is nearly ten years older. Casting is currently taking place for the other key characters in “Untoched.”

The ever busy, twice Oscar nominated Knightley recently wrapped up comedy “Seeking a Friend at the End of the World” opposite Steve Carell and is now in production on her third team-up with Joe Wright, “Anna Karenina”, in which she plays the title role (now there’s a historical drama that suits her!). She can currently be seen as Sabine in David Cronenberg’s “A Dangerous Method” and reportedly has an offer for an unspecified role in “Akira” opposite Garrett Hedlund.

First look at Dakota Fanning and Tom Sturridge on set for Emma Thomspon’s “Effie”

October 26, 2011 | Posted by Rebecca Lewis in Images 2 Comments

UPDATE: Picture of Tom Sturridge on set have surfaced, thanks to Socialite Life.

Thanks go to Just Jared, who have the first images of Dakota Fanning, one of our favorite rising stars, in costume and on the set of “Effie” in London yesterday.

We announced back in August that Fanning had taken on the role of Effie Grey, after Saoirse Ronan dropped out.

Also starring Tom Sturridge (who replaced fellow Brit actor Orlando Bloom), the film is based on the life of Effie Grey, who married young to a much older man, John Ruskin (to be played by Grey Wise), only for him to refuse to consummate their marriage. Effie then turned to Ruskin’s more age-appropriate protege, the painter John Everett Millais (Sturridge).

Emma Thompson has penned the film, and will also star as Lady Eastlake, who takes the heartbroken Effie under her wing. Directed by Richard Laxton, we last heard that the film was hoping to premiere at the Venice Film Festival in 2012. No word on whether that is still the case.

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Dakota Fanning and Tom Sturridge replace Saoirse Ronan and Orlando Bloom in “Effie”

August 16, 2011 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting 4 Comments

Last November, Saoirse Ronan was announced to be taking on the title role in Emma Thompson-penned period romantic drama “Effie”, but as is often the case in long-gestating projects, Ronan, along with co-star Orlando Bloom, has moved on. Deadline reports Dakota Fanning is now in negotiations for the part vacated by Ronan, and British up and comer Tom Sturridge will replace Bloom as her love interest.

Thompson, director Richard Laxton and actor Greg Wise remain on board. The film tells the story of Effie Gray, who marries a much older man, John Ruskin, only to fall in love with and run away with his more age-appropriate protege, the painter John Everett Millais. Sturridge will be Millais and Wise, Ruskin. Julie Walters, Derek Jacobi and Edward Fox have also joined the new cast. The film will begin production soon with the hope of having its world premiere at the 2012 Venice Film Festival.

Fanning recently took a short hiatus from work to finish high school, but has been back on the job with a vengeance. She recently completed work on gritty drama “The Motel Life”, jewelry heist thriller “Mississippi Wild” and is currently filming angsty teen drama “Now is Good” opposite “War Horse” star Jeremy Irvine. Sturridge is part of the impressive ensemble cast of Walter Salles’ adaptation of “On the Road” and will next star opposite Jeremy Irons in pre-WWI family drama “The Tree House”.

Saoirse Ronan to play title role in “Effie”

November 3, 2010 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting 1 Comment

At only 16 years old, Saoirse Ronan might be one of the hardest working actresses in Hollywood. Consistently taking on diverse, challenging roles, it’s no surprise she’s already one of the youngest Oscar nominated actresses ever, and every new film seems to put her back into awards contention. This year she can be seen in the Peter Weir escape epic “The Way Back”, and she is currently in production on teenage assassins caper “Violet and Daisy” for director Jeffrey Fletcher.

Production Weekly is now reporting that Ronan will next take on being the center of a 19th century love triangle as the titular character in the Emma Thompson penned “Effie”. The film will be directed by Richard Laxton and tells the story of Effie Gray, who marries a much older man, John Ruskin, only to fall in love with and run away with his more age-appropriate protege, the painter John Everett Millais. Orlando Bloom, Greg Wise, Imelda Staunton and Thompson will co-star in unspecified roles, though one could logically assume Bloom and Wise make up the other two sides of the triangle.