“Games of Thrones” Star Richard Madden Will Be Prince Charming for Lily James’ “Cinderella”

May 8, 2013 | Posted by Rebecca Lewis in Casting Leave a comment

British actress Lily James last week won the coveted titular role in Disney’s new live-action adaptation of “Cinderella” and now Disney have confirmed over Twitter that “Games of Thrones” actor Richard Madden has been cast as her Prince Charming.

There was a long process as Disney looked for their princess, but Madden has been the only name formally announced during the casting process for her Prince, so it’s clear that he made an impression. Kenneth Branagh will be directing from a script by Aline Brosh McKenna and Chris Weitz, with Cate Blanchett starring as Cinderella Evil Stepmother. Production is currently scheduled to begin this fall for a 2014 release.

Scottish actor Madden currently plays Robb Stark on the HBO hit show “Games of Thrones”. A stage actor for many years, he has recently starred in several BBC TV mini series including “Birdsong.” He has wrapped filming on “A Promise” with Rebecca Hall and is attached to indie romantic comedy “Long Nights Short Mornings.”

British Actress Lily James is Disney’s “Cinderella”

April 30, 2013 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting 3 Comments

lily-james British actress Lily James has landed the coveted titular role in Disney’s new live-action adaptation of “Cinderella”, the studio announced today. James beat out competition from fellow up and comers Bella Heathcote and Margot Robbie to play the iconic Princess for director Kenneth Branagh.

Cate Blanchett will play Cinderella’s Evil Stepmother in the film which will shoot this fall. Aline Brosh McKenna and Chris Weitz wrote the screenplay and the search will now presumably turn to finding James her Prince Charming. Last we heard, “Game of Thrones” actor Richard Madden was the first name to surface in connection to the role, but if the search for Cinderella herself was anything to go by, he won’t be the last.

James played Korrina in “Wrath of the Titans” and appeared as Lady Rose MacClare in the third and fourth season of “Downton Abbey”, making this quite the coup for the relatively unknown young actress.

Three Actresses Testing for “Cinderella”, “Game of Thrones” Actor Up for Prince

April 3, 2013 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting 2 Comments

Since Emma Watson won’t put on that glass slipper, Disney and director Kenneth Branagh are moving on in their search for “Cinderella.” Today Deadline reports three relatively unknown young actresses will be auditioning for the role this week in London, while a “Game of Thrones” actor is one of the names being bandied about for the role of the handsome Prince.

British actress Lily James and Aussies Bella Heathcote and Margot Robbie will be testing for the titular role this week, and Deadline seems confident one of the three is likely to emerge as the winner. Before offering the role to Watson, Disney had considered more known rising stars Saorise Ronan, Alicia Vikander and Gabriella Wilde for the part, though due to scheduling and other issues, none of them could be locked down.

After the poor girl turned Princess is chosen, the search will begin in earnest for her Prince. At the moment, the only name to surface in connection to that role is Richard Madden, who plays boy king Robb Stark on HBO series “Game of Thrones.” Meanwhile, Cate Blanchett is still attached to the role of Cinderella’s evil stepmother, which surely proves to be a major draw for young actors to this potentially star-making project. A fall production start is being eyed.

Heathcote has gone down the fairy tale princess route before, as she first caught our attention when she was shortlisted for the lead in “Snow White and the Huntsman.” She’s landed on plenty of shortlists for high profile young female roles since, and has worked steadily in films like “Dark Shadows” and “Not Fade Away.” Robbie was the star of ABC’s short lived series “Pan Am” before landing a major break as the female lead opposite Leonardo Dicaprio in Martin Scorsese’s upcoming “The Wolf of Wall Street.” James played Korrina in “Wrath of the Titans” and appeared as Lady Rose MacClare in the third and fourth season of “Downton Abbey.”

UPDATED: Emma Watson Will NOT Star as Disney’s “Cinderella”

February 28, 2013 | Posted by Araceli Roach in Casting 2 Comments

Emma Watson MARCH 11TH UPDATE: Watson has decided to pass on playing Cinderella for Disney. The search continues.

ORIGINAL POST: “Harry Potter” may have made Emma Watson a household name, but the young star’s next potential role is poised to continue that trend. Variety reports Watson is in early talks to play the lead in Disney’s live-action adaptation of “Cinderella”, to be directed by Kenneth Branagh from a script by Chris Weitz.

Curiouser and curiouser, this film is just the latest in a line of recent live-action fairytales, including “Alice in Wonderland,” “Oz: The Great and Powerful,” and next year’s “Maleficent”. Disney apparently considered other actresses for the iconic character, such as favorites Alicia Vikander (“Anna Karenina”), Imogen Poots (“Need for Speed”) and Gabriella Wilde (“The Three Musketeers”), but ultimately decided Watson was their best choice to fill the glass slipper. Cate Blanchett has already been cast as the evil stepmother. “Cinderella” is scheduled to begin production this fall for a 2014 release.

Watson has had no problem moving on from her breakout role as Hermione Granger. She recently received rave reviews for “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” and will next star in Seth Rogen’s “This Is the End,” Sofia Coppola’s “The Bling Ring” and Darren Aronofsky’s “Noah”.

It’s Chris Pine to the rescue in our first look at Keira Knightley on the set of Kenneth Branagh’s “Jack Ryan” reboot

September 18, 2012 | Posted by Linda Ge in Images Leave a comment

What’s the point of being an action hero if there’s no beautiful damsel in distress to rescue? Keira Knightley provides ample motivation for Chris Pine as CIA operative Jack Ryan to spring into action in our first look at the British actress filming the female lead role in Kenneth Branagh’s reboot of the popular spy action franchise.

Lainey Gossip has the first photos from what appears to be the reunion scene after a dramatic action sequence between Pine’s Ryan and Knightley’s Caroline Muller, who eventually becomes his wife. In this new incarnation of Tom Clancy’s famed literary figure, previously played by Harrison Ford, Alec Baldwin and Ben Affleck on the big screen, Pine plays Ryan who’s an ex-Marine and works in Moscow, where 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.”

Filming is now underway on location in Liverpool (it was in Manhattan previously, where we got our first glimpse of Pine as Ryan), with the still untitled reboot set for a December 25, 2013 release. See the full photos below and head to Lainey Gossip for more.

First Look: Chris Pine springs into action as “Jack Ryan” in first official photo

August 31, 2012 | Posted by Linda Ge in Images 1 Comment

Now that they’ve locked down a leading lady and a release date, it seems Paramount is eager to move fast on Kenneth Branagh’s reboot of Tom Clancy franchise “Jack Ryan”, this time with Chris Pine in the titular role, following in the footsteps of Alec Baldwin, Harrison Ford and Ben Affleck.

Branagh himself will also play the villain in the reboot, and Kevin Costner is on board as Ryan’s CIA liaison, as well as Keira Knightley as Ryan’s love interest and eventual wife. Today the first official photo from the film has been released, and shows Pine as Ryan pretty casually speeding down a busy street on a motorcycle, not at all dressed according to safety regulations. Cool guys don’t look at explosions or wear helmets.

Filming is demonstrably now underway in Manhattan, with the still untitled reboot set for a December 25, 2013 release. See the full photo below.

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

Watch: Michelle Williams enchants Eddie Redmayne in first “My Week with Marilyn” trailer

October 5, 2011 | Posted by Linda Ge in Videos 1 Comment

Here it is, world. Our first glimpse of two-time Oscar nominee Michelle Williams doing her best blonde bombshell impression in the first trailer for “My Week with Marilyn”. Does she pass muster? We aren’t so convinced just yet, but the film does look great. Eddie Redmayne is Colin Clark, whose “week with Marilyn” as an assistant director on the set of “The Prince and the Showgirl” is the basis of the film. Emma Watson, fresh off eight “Harry Potter” movies, plays Lucy, a young wardrobe assistant slash love interest to Clark. Simon Curtis directed the film which also stars Kenneth Branagh as Sir Laurence Olivier, Julia Ormond as Vivien Leigh and Dominic Cooper as famed Marilyn photographer Milton H. Greene.

Despite our reservations (which, to be a honest, are actually a bit more pronounced after seeing the footage below) about Williams in the lead role, our anticipation for this film is still very high. We’ll all get our chance to see the entire thing when it’s released on November 4th, following a premiere at the New York Film Festival this weekend.

New look at Eddie Redmayne and Emma Watson in “My Week with Marilyn”

September 22, 2011 | Posted by Linda Ge in Images Leave a comment

“My Week with Marilyn” is one of our most anticipated fall movies of 2011, and as we’ve said all along, while most eyes are on how two-time Oscar nominee Michelle Williams will embody iconic screen goddess Marilyn Monroe, our attention is on a couple of other young stars who will appear in the film with her. Eddie Redmayne is Colin Clark, whose “week with Marilyn” as an assistant director on the set of “The Prince and the Showgirl” is the basis of the film. Emma Watson, fresh off eight “Harry Potter” movies, plays Lucy, a young wardrobe assistant slash love interest to Clark. Simon Curtis directed the film which also stars Kenneth Branagh as Sir Laurence Olivier, Julia Ormond as Vivien Leigh and Dominic Cooper as famed Marilyn photographer Milton H. Greene.

“My Week with Marilyn” was financed from the beginning by Harvey Weinstein, so we can expect a heavy Oscar push, particularly for Williams, precluding a disastrous reception when it premieres at the New York Film Festival next month. General audiences will get to see it on November 4th. Perhaps a bit surprisingly, there is no trailer for the film yet. Fan site Eddie Redmayne Online snagged the image below, our first look at Redmayne and Watson together in what looks like a promotional photoshoot for the film.

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