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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morten tyldum

Matthew Goode Joining “The Imitation Game” Opposite Benedict Cumberbatch and Keira Knightley

June 13, 2013 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting 1 Comment

matthew-goode Mathematician biopic “The Imitation Game” has added one more braniac to its roster. The Daily Mail reports British actor Matthew Goode has joined lead Benedict Cumberbatch as well as Keira Knightley in the WWII-set biopic of tortured genius Alan Turing.

Norwegian director Morten Tyldum is helming the film about British mathematician Turing (Cumberbatch), who helped the Allies defeat the Germans by cracking the enemy’s “Enigma Code” during WWII, but a decade later was prosecuted by his own government for being a homosexual. Rather than take a prison sentence, he chose chemical castration, an act that would lead him into the pits of depression and ultimately suicide. Goode will play fellow code-hacker Hugh Alexander, while Knightley is lining up the role of Joan Clarke, another co-worker who was briefly engaged to Turing before he came out to her.

Goode, who many of us will forever remember for his role opposite Mandy Moore in “Chasing Liberty”, most recently played Mia Wasikowska’s creepy Uncle Charlie in “Stoker.” He’s wrapped indie British period drama “Belle” with Sarah Gadon, Sam Claflin and Gugu Mbatha-Raw as well as the pilot for potential Showtime series “The Vatican” opposite Kyle Chandler. He’s also been cast as the devious George Wickham (“Why not Darcy?” cried millions of girls, or was it just me?) in “Pride and Prejudice”-themed BBC miniseries “Death Comes to Pemberly.”

Keira Knightley Joining Benedict Cumberbatch in Alan Turing Biopic “The Imitation Game”

June 4, 2013 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting Leave a comment

keiraknightley British actress Keira Knightley is in talks to join Benedict Cumberbatch in “The Imitation Game”, the biopic of tortured mathematical genius Alan Turing, according to Variety. Benedict was cast back in February, taking over the lead role that had once been earmarked for Leonardo Dicaprio.

Norwegian director Morten Tyldum is helming the film about British mathematician Turing, who helped the Allies defeat the Germans by cracking the enemy’s “Enigma Code” during WWII, but a decade later was prosecuted by his own government for being a homosexual. Rather than take a prison sentence, he chose chemical castration, an act that would lead him into the pits of depression and ultimately suicide. There are no details about Knightley’s role, though Variety suggests it’s another prestige project for the Oscar-nominated actress.

Knightley has one of the most diverse portfolios among young actresses her age, having shot to fame thanks to “Pirates of the Caribbean” but quickly proving her acting chops in films like “Atonement”, “Pride and Prejudice” and last year’s “Anna Karenina”, all of which had Joe Wright in the director’s chair. She’s also worked with David Cronenberg on “A Dangerous Method” and recently wrapped up Kenneth Branagh’s action franchise launcher “Jack Ryan” opposite Chris Pine. She’s also wrapped filming on musical drama “Can a Song Save Your Life?” opposite Mark Ruffalo and recently replaced Anne Hathaway in Lynn Shelton’s indie comedy “Laggies.”

Benedict Cumberbatch may play Alan Turing in “The Imitation Game”, taking over for Leonardo Dicaprio

February 1, 2013 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting 1 Comment

Is Benedict Cumberbatch the new Leonardo Dicaprio? Seems like an odd fit, but in fact it is Cumberbatch who will be taking over a high profile role that had once been earmarked for the former teen idol turned respected dramatic actor. Deadline reports Cumberbatch is in deep negotiations to play Alan Turing in “Headhunters” helmer Morten Tyldum’s adaptation of “The Turing Game”, a biopic of the tortured WWII genius.

The British mathematician Turing helped the Allies defeat the Germans by cracking the enemy’s “Enigma Code” during WWII, but a decade later was prosecuted by his own government for being a homosexual. Other than take a prison sentence, he chose chemical castration, an act that would lead him into the pits of depression and ultimately suicide. The film is fully financed but has no studio backing just yet, but Deadline speculates it won’t take long before Oscar-hungry executives bite on distribution rights.

Benedict, the acclaimed star of BBC’s “Sherlock”, will have a hell of a year on the big screen in 2013. He recently wrapped up the villain role in JJ Abrams’ sequel “Star Trek Into Darkness” and will play ‘Little’ Charles Aiken opposite Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts in “August: Osage County”, and he also has a role in Steve McQueen’s “Twelve Years a Slave” opposite Michael Fassbender. He’s currently filming Bill Condon’s “The Fifth Estate”, the Wikileaks origin tale in which he portrays founder Julian Assange.