Oscar Isaac, Domhnall Gleeson in talks to join indie robot pic “Ex Machina”

April 8, 2013 | Posted by Rebecca Lewis in Casting 1 Comment

exmachina Oscar Isaac has a busy 2013 ahead of him! His first lead film “Inside Llewyn Davis” is rumoured to bow at this year’s Cannes Film Festival and now the rising actor is in negotiations, along with former “Harry Potter” star Domhnall Gleeson to join a new indie pic, “Ex Machina“.

The film, scripted by Alex Garland who will also make his directorial debut with the pic, follows “a billionaire programmer who handpicks a young employee to spend a week at his remote estate and participate in a test involving his latest invention – an artificially intelligent female robot.”

The Wrap report that Isaac will play billionaire programmer and Gleeson the employee, and that Felicity Jones and Alicia Vikander are two of several up and coming actresses being considered for the female lead, presumably of the artificially intelligent robot.

One of our Faces to Watch in 2013, Isaac recently joined “Partisan“, will co-star with Jason Clarke in psychological thriller “Mojave”, and play Max Minghella’s brother in “Memorial Day”. Hossein Amini’s thriller “The Two Faces of January” with Viggo Mortensen and Kirsten Dunst, and the period pic “Therese” with Elizabeth Olsen are also both set to be released this year.

Gleeson played Bill Weasley in the final two-parter “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” and recently earned raves for his role as Levin opposite Vikander’s Kitty in Joe Wright’s “Anna Karenina.” Most recently he wrapped up shooting on musical comedy “Frank” opposite Michael Fassbender.

First Look: Jonah Hill And A Very Pregnant Felicity Jones On The Set Of “True Story”

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

truestorysm Filming is now underway on appropriately titled true life crime drama “True Story” in New York and Zimbio have the first images of stars Jonah Hill and Felicity Jones, sporting one giant fake pregnant belly, on set filming a scene.

Rupert Goold is directing the adaptation of former New York Times writer Michael Finkel’s nonfiction book of the same name. Hill will play Finkel, whose memoir revolved around his entanglements with accused murderer Christian Longo (to be played by James Franco). In 2002 Longo was arrested in Mexico for murdering his entire family, but he was living under an assumed name: Michael Finkel. On the very next day, the real Finkel was fired from his writing job after being accused of twisting facts in an earlier story on the African slave trade. After Longo’s arrest, the only reporter he will speak to is Finkel himself. The two begin a months-long face-off via correspondence, phone calls and face to face meetings as Longo insists he can prove his innocence and Finkel seeks to uncover the truth. Jones will play Finkel’s ” long suffering girlfriend, who tries to stand by her guy even after his screw ups cost them everything.”

The two were filmed getting into or out of a taxi with bags in tow, so a logical guess for the scene may be the aftermath of Finkel’s initial firing, after which he took a sabbatical to a country cabin. Of course, there was no pregnant girlfriend in the real story, so big changes are probably afoot in this film adaptation. Filming just began and there is no release date yet. See the first photos of Hill and Jones below and hit up Zimbio for a lot more pics.

Felicity Jones to tell a “True Story” with Jonah Hill and James Franco

February 5, 2013 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting 2 Comments

British rising actress Felicity Jones has landed the female lead role in crime thriller “True Story”, according to Deadline. Jonah Hill and James Franco had been set for the two lead roles a year ago, andru now the project may finally be moving along.

Rupert Goold directs the adaptation of former New York Times writer Michael Finkel’s nonfiction book of the same name. Hill will play Finkel, whose memoir revolved around his entanglements with accused murderer Christian Longo (Franco). In 2002 Longo was arrested in Mexico for murdering his entire family, but he was living under an assumed name: Michael Finkel. On the very next day, the real Finkel was fired from his writing job after being accused of twisting facts in an earlier story on the African slave trade. After Longo’s arrest, the only reporter he will speak to is Finkel himself. The two begin a months-long face-off via correspondence, phone calls and face to face meetings as Longo insists he can prove his innocence and Finkel seeks to uncover the truth. Jones will play Finkel’s ” long suffering girlfriend, who tries to stand by her guy even after his screw ups cost them everything.” For what it’s worth, the book contains no such character, but this is a Hollywood makeover, after all.

After breaking out in 2011′s Sundance Grand Jury Prize winner “Like Crazy”, Jones laid low for a couple of years but now seems to be back with a vengeance. Her second collaboration with “Like Crazy” director Drake Doremus – “Breathe In” – just premiered at Sundance 2013, and she recently landed an unspecified role in Marc Webb’s “The Amazing Spider-Man 2″, prompting speculation it could be recurring supporting player Betty Brant or Marvel superhero Felicia Hardy, aka the Black Cat.

Felicity Jones joining “The Amazing Spider-Man 2″ in unspecified role

January 28, 2013 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting Leave a comment

Marc Webb is not done assembling his already impressive cast for “The Amazing Spider-Man 2″ just yet. Already boasting the return of Andrew Garfield, Sally Field and Emma Stone and welcoming aboard newbies Shailene Woodley, Dane DeHaan and Jamie Foxx, now comes word via THR that Paul Giamatti is negotiating to play the villain known as The Rhino and British actress Felicity Jones is also in talks for an unspecified role.

Filming begins this month on the sequel that has no specified plot just yet, but will feature Garfield back to web-slinging as Peter Parker, Stone as his first (doomed?) love Gwen Stacey, Woodley as his flame-haired future wife Mary Jane Watson and DeHaan as bestie-eventually-turned-villain Harry Osborn. Foxx is playing the villainous Electro, while Giamatti’s Rhino started out life in the comics as “a thug from a Soviet Block country who wore a superhuman suit that made him invulnerable while giving him super-strength and super-speed. It also had a deadly horn on top.” All these new kids on the block, and they still haven’t cast Harry’s dad Norman Osborn, aka iconic Spidey villain Green Goblin yet. “The Amazing Spider-Man 2″ will be released on May 2, 2014.

Jones broke out in Drake Doremus’ 2010 Sundance Grand Jury Prize-winning “Like Crazy”, and recently premiered their second collaboration, “Breathe In”, at Sundance 2013. She recently completed work on Ralph Fiennes’ Charles Dickens biopic “The Other Woman”, and is attached to Warren Beatty’s long-gestating Howard Hughes biopic, along with Nancy Meyers’ ensemble dramedy “The Chelsea.”

Sundance out of competition premieres announced; first look images from “The East”, “Stoker” and more

December 3, 2012 | Posted by Rebecca Lewis and Linda Ge in Images Leave a comment

Just last week Sundance Film Festival announced their 2013 picks, the films that will be competing against each other to win the coveted Grand Jury prizes and hopefully go on to bigger box office and critical success. Now today Sundance have announced the Out of Competition premieres and there are a lot of familiar and exciting rising stars in attendance.

Some of our most anticipated films of 2013 are included in today’s released line up, including Park Chan-Wook‘s English language thriller “Stoker” starring Mia Wasikowska, and “Breathe In“, the second directorial effort from Drake Doremus. Doremus, who hit the 2010 festival with “Like Crazy” which won him the Grand Jury prize, reunites with Felicity Jones in this new film – which again stars Jones as a foreign exchange students in America.

Brit Marling and writing partner Zal Batmanglij are back again with “The East“, starring Marling as an operative whose loyalties are tested when she goes undercover to infiltrate a mysterious anarchist collective attacking major corporations. The pic also features Alexander Skarsgård, Ellen Page, Toby Kebbell and Shiloh Fernandez.

Noir film “The Necessary Death of Charlie Countryman” with Shia LaBeouf and Evan Rachel Wood will also premiere at the 2013 festival, as will the Amanda Seyfried-starrer “Lovelace“. Mary Elizabeth Winstead, who starred in the 2012 festival hit “Smashed“, will be back again in “A.C.O.D“.

For Brie Larson and Elizabeth Olsen, Sundance 2013 will be especially busy, as both have films in and out of competition – “The Spectacular Now” and Joseph Gordon-Levitt‘s directorial debut “Don Jon’s Addiction” for Larson, and Beat pic “Kill Your Darlings” and the Naomi Foner helmed “Very Good Girls“, also starring Dakota Fanning and Boyd Holbrook for Olsen.

Click below for the first images from these films and the official synopses for the featured films.

Anna Kendrick, Felicity Jones, Imogen Poots front-runners for “Captain America 2″ female lead?

August 19, 2012 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting 9 Comments

Now that “Iron Man 3″ filming is underway and “Thor: The Dark World” is well on its way to production, attention turns to casting on “Captain America: The Winter Soldier”, the sequel to Joe Johnston’s hit Marvel “Avengers” prequel that saw Chris Evans as the quintessential American soldier and superhero leader.

With Evans back on board and Sebastian Stan most likely reprising his role as Bucky Barnes, who eventually becomes the titular Winter Soldier, as well as Anthony Mackie joining the team as Falcon, the search now turns to the female lead. The identity of the role is not revealed but has been speculated to be that of Sharon Carter, SHIELD agent and love interest to Evans’ Rogers, and descendant of his first love Peggy (played by Hayley Atwell in the first film). Page Six reports three young actresses who are considered front-runners for the role are Anna Kendrick, Felicity Jones and Imogen Poots. Anthony and Joseph Russo will direct “Captain America: The Winter Soldier”, with a release already set for April 4, 2014.

Jones and Poots are no strangers to shortlists. Jones, who broke out in Drake Doremus’ improv romance drama “Like Crazy”, most recently lost out on the female lead role in Kenneth Branagh’s “Jack Ryan” reboot to Keira Knightley, though she did win out over Poots – who has appeared in “Fright Night” and currently shot footage for Terrence Malick’s “Knight of Cups” – for the lead role in Ralph Fiennes’ Charles Dickens biopic “The Invisible Woman.” Kendrick, though critically lauded, has seemed to have a hard time breaking into leading lady status, often playing quirky, supporting roles in comedies instead. One of those roles – opposite George Clooney in Jason Reitman’s “Up in the Air” – did win her an Oscar nomination, so it’s obviously working for her, but the female lead role in “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” would still certainly be a major breakthrough for her.

Keira Knightley wins female lead in “Jack Ryan” reboot opposite Chris Pine

August 10, 2012 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting 4 Comments

Keira Knightley has emerged victorious and is in negotiations to star opposite Chris Pine in Kenneth Branagh’s reboot of the “Jack Ryan” franchise, according to THR. Knightley had been vying for the part of Caroline Muller along with “Lost” actress Evangeline Lilly and Sundance breakout star Felicty Jones, but she had been the frontrunner all along and now it’s just about official.

The character of Jack Ryan first appeared in Clancy’s novel “The Hunt for Red October” and he was portrayed in the film of the same name by Alec Baldwin. The ex-soldier, CIA operative and all-around American superhero has also been played by Harrison Ford (“Clear and Present Danger”, “Patriot Games”) and Ben Affleck (“Sum of All Fears”). Each incarnation features a slightly different version of the prolific action hero, and Pine’s is an ex-Marine who’s working as an analyst in Moscow. There, he “discovers a plot by his employer to finance a terrorist attack designed to collapse the U.S. economy, and must race against time to save America and his wife.” Branagh will also be playing the villain role in addition to directing Pine and Knightley.

Knightley shot to fame as the star of Disney’s “Pirates of the Caribbean” franchise, though she has mostly stuck to high profile prestige projects since, and has earned many accolades, including an Oscar nomination, working with Joe Wright in “Atonement” and “Pride and Prejudice.” The duo are teaming up for a third time in the releasing-this-fall “Anna Karenina”, though it appears Knightley is ready to dip her toe back into studio fare.

Keira Knightley, Felicity Jones and Evangeline Lilly vying for “Jack Ryan” female lead opposite Chris Pine

August 1, 2012 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting 1 Comment

The next Next Big Role for young actresses is up for grabs and some familiar names are vying for it. Deadline reports Kenneth Branagh’s “Jack Ryan” franchise relaunch, which stars Chris Pine, is looking at Keira Knightley, Felicity Jones and Evangeline Lilly for the female lead. Knightley is reportedly in the lead for the role of Caroline Muller, love interest and eventual wife to the Tom Clancy created character.

The character of Jack Ryan first appeared in Clancy’s novel “The Hunt for Red October” and he was portrayed in the film of the same name by Alec Baldwin. The ex-soldier, CIA operative and all-around American superhero has also been played by Harrison Ford (“Clear and Present Danger”, “Patriot Games”) and Ben Affleck (the ill-fated reboot attempt “Sum of All Fears”). Each incarnation features a slightly different version of the prolific action hero, and Pine’s is an ex-Marine who’s working as an analyst in Moscow. There, he “discovers a plot by his employer to finance a terrorist attack designed to collapse the U.S. economy, and must race against time to save America and his wife.” [Read more

Felicity Jones moving into “The Chelsea” for Nancy Meyers ensemble dramedy

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

British breakout star Felicity Jones is the first to sign on to ensemble dramedy “The Chelsea”, according to Deadline. Rom com queen Nancy Meyers is directing the film about the intersecting lives of occupants of The Chelsea Apartments in New York City. Meyers’ daughter Hallie Meyers-Shyer wrote the script, and Meyers is expected to put the cast together before approaching distributors.

Jones starred in Drake Doremus’ Sundance hit “Like Crazy” – earning her raves during awards season – and has completed a second film with the director, which is still untitled. After a long search, Warren Beatty chose Jones to star in his long-gestating Howard Hughes biopic, but it looks like that project still has some gestating to do. She also won the role of Nelly Ternan in Ralph Fiennes’ Charles Dickens biopic “The Invisible Woman”, which has also yet to start filming.

Let’s Stay Together: Five recent onscreen couples we would like to see reunited ASAP

February 17, 2012 | Posted by Linda Ge and Rebecca Lewis in Features 2 Comments

We’ve said it before, but there is certainly a trend happening right now amongst the rising stars in Hollywood, and we, for one, love it. Great chemistry is like capturing lightening in a bottle, so it stands to reason that when you pair up two actors who have that elusive indefinable quality, you should hold onto it. There used to be a good ol’ Hollywood tradition of popular, iconic screen couples reuniting again and again to the delight of audiences and we would welcome it back with open arms.

Lawrence and Cooper, Gosling and Stone, Hedlund and Stewart, Edgerton and Chastain, they’re all bucking with recent industry playbooks and reuniting on screen almost immediately after doing one movie together. Who says you have to wait 10+ years like DiCaprio and Winslet?

In that spirit, we present five other recent onscreen couplings that we loved and that we are already eagerly anticipating reunions for.

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