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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emilia clarke

“Game of Thrones” Star Emilia Clarke to Headline James Franco’s “Garden of Last Days”

May 1, 2013 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting Leave a comment

emilia-clarke James Franco has set “Game of Thrones” badass Emilia Clarke to play the female lead in his next directorial venture, “The Garden of Last Days”, according to THR. Franco will also take a starring role in the adaptation of the Andre Dubus III novel of the same name.

Hanna Weg adapted the novel, which is set at the onset of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, but the screen version will be set in contemporary times. Taking place in and around a strip club in Florida, “Garden of Last Days” follows three central characters, a stripper named April (Clarke) forced to bring her young son to work after his babysitter has a panic attack, an angry and lonely man kicked out of the club (presumably Franco) and “a foreigner with an endless supply of cash on the brink of committing a terrifying act.” A July production start is scheduled.

With only a TV movie and a one-episode guest spot on a British TV series to her credit as of 2010, Clarke won the opportunity of a lifetime when she replaced fellow Brit actress Tamzin Merchant after the pilot for “Game of Thrones” had already been filmed. In her time off from the show, which is now in its third season, she completed work on indie British rock music comedy “Spike Island” and upcoming thriller “Dom Hemingway” opposite Jude Law.

“Game of Thrones” star Emilia Clarke joins Demian Bichir and Jude Law in “Dom Hemingway”

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

Demian Bichir, Emilia Clarke, Jumyan Hunter and Madalina Ghenea are rounding out the supporting cast of indie black comedy “Dom Hemingway”, according to Deadline. Jude Law and Richard E. Grant joined the project back in May.

Law plays the titular Dom Hemingway, described as “a larger-than-life safecracker with a loose fuse who is also funny, profane and dangerous.” After spending 12 years in prison, he’s back on the streets of London and seeking retribution for keeping his mouth shut. Filming under the direction of Richard Shepard begins in the South of France on October 15th.

With only a TV movie and a one-episode guest spot on a British TV series to her credit as of 2010, Clarke won the opportunity of a lifetime when she replaced fellow Brit actress Tamzin Merchant after the pilot for “Game of Thrones” had already been filmed. In her time off from the show, which is heading into its third season next year, she completed work on indie British rock music comedy “Spike Island.” She’s currently vying for the female lead in “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” opposite Chris Evans.

Imogen Poots, Alison Brie, Emilia Clarke and more vying for “Captain America: The Winter Soldier”

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

Imogen Poots, Teresa Palmer, “Game of Thrones” star Emilia Clarke, “Downton Abbey” star Jessica Brown Findlay and “Community” star Alison Brie are vying for “a significant new role” in “Captain America: The Winter Soldier”, according to Deadline. This new report also appears to take the previously-rumored Anna Kendrick and Felicity Jones out of the running.

Chris Evans is reprising his role as the super soldier turned leader of “The Avengers” for the sequel that will take in modern times, with Sebastian Stan set to reprise his role as Bucky Barnes, who becomes the titular Winter Soldier and Scarlett Johansson returning to play the Black Widow, who shares significant history with Bucky in the comics. Anthony Mackie signed on recently to play Falcon, Cap’s longtime partner in crime in the comics, making his Marvel Film Universe debut. Anthony and Joseph Russo will direct “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” next March, with a release already set for April 4, 2014.

It’s unclear what role the young actresses are testing for, though it’s believed to be a new love interest for Steve. Could it be Sharon Carter, great-niece to Peggy Carter, the love Steve left behind in the 1940s and played by Hayley Atwell in “Captain America: The First Avenger”?

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Sam Claflin lands role in “Overdrive” and possibly also in “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire”

July 17, 2012 | Posted by Lindsey Young in Casting 5 Comments

Today is a big day for fans of “The Hunger Games” and for Brit actor Sam Claflin. An exclusive report from Variety states that Claflin is the leading choice to portray Finnick Odair, the godly trident-wielding Tribute in “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire,” sequel to “The Hunger Games.” The role of Finnick is a character who in the past few months has perhaps been subject to an equally rabid level of speculation and interest as last spring’s coveted role of Katniss Everdeen.  Hailing from District 4, Finnick is a previous winner of the Games who found victory at the age of fourteen. Although dazzled by his gorgeousness, Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) finds herself unsure if she should consider Finnick as an ally or an enemy. The second book of the YA-dystopian trilogy penned by Suzanne Collins describes Finnick is as having an athletic build, bronze hair and sea-green eyes. Think beautiful Olympian swimmer—but deadly (he didn’t win The Hunger Games by charm alone, after all). Although Claflin doesn’t exactly fit the books’ description, given this franchise’s previous casting choices, this clearly that won’t be an obstacle if he lands the role.

To date, Claflin is most well known for his roles as the mermaid-adoring clergyman in last summer’s “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” and as Kristen Stewart’s prince charming in last month’s “Snow White and the Hunstman.”  If Claflin is indeed the victor of this coveted role, this will mark his involvement in a third major franchise/ franchise-potential film.

“The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” will hit theatres November 23, 2013, and will be followed by two more films in November 2014 and 2015. Earlier today, Lionsgate announced that Amanda Plummer would be joining the cast as Wiress, another previous winner from District 3. Along with the news of Claflin, Variety also reports that Tony Shalhoub and Melissa Leo are on the shortlist for ex-Tributes Beetee (an inventor who is skilled in electricity) and Mags (Finnick’s mentor), respectively.Yet to be cast for the sequel is Finnick’s girlfriend Annie, also a previous winner of the Hunger Games.

While his status in “Catching Fire” may not be set in stone just yet, another role that Claflin did manage to score is in “Overdrive” alongside Karl Urban (Star Trek) and Emilia Clarke (HBO’s Game of Thrones). Claflin replaces Ben Barnes as one of two auto-thieving brothers. Directed by Pierre Morel and scripted by Michael Brandt and Derek, “Overdrive” is scheduled to film this year.

“Game of Thrones” star Emilia Clarke lands female lead in actioner “Overdrive”

October 25, 2011 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting 1 Comment

It was only a matter of time before the success of HBO’s “Game of Thrones” began paying dividends to its talented young cast. Jason Momoa, Harry Lloyd and Kit Harington have all began venturing into feature films, and now the arguable female lead of the show is following in their footsteps. THR reports Emilia Clarke, who plays badass dragon-rearing queen Daenrys Targaryen, has landed the female lead in action thriller “Overdrive”, while Ben Barnes and Karl Urban will be taking over the male leads that had formerly been filled by Matthew Goode and Alex Pettyfer.

Urban and Barnes will play handsome, jet-setting brothers who are known for being high profile car thieves. When they travel to the South of France in search of their next adrenaline rush, they are thwarted by a tough local crime boss. The film is a passion project for producer Pierre Morel, who directed “Taken”. Antonio Negret is directing “Overdrive” from a script by Derek Haas and Michael Brandt. Filming begins October 29 in Marseilles.

With only a TV movie and a one-episode guest spot on a British TV series to her credit as of 2010, Clarke won the opportunity of a lifetime when she replaced fellow Brit actress Tamzin Merchant after the pilot for “Game of Thrones” had already been filmed. The show, nominated for 13 Emmys after its first season, is currently filming season 2, which will begin airing in the spring of 2012. “Overdrive” will mark Clarke’s feature film debut.