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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peter landesman

Indie actor Mark Duplass joins JFK drama “Parkland” and Stephen King adaptation “Mercy”

February 1, 2013 | Posted by Rebecca Lewis in Casting Leave a comment

2005 Sundance Film Festival - "The Puffy Chair" PortraitsIndie actor Mark Duplass made a name for himself this past year with the surprise hit “Safety Not Guaranteed” and he looks set to continue success, joining the JFK ensemble drama “Parkland” and an adaptation of a Stephen King short novel, “Mercy“.

“Mercy” is a “fantasy-horror project” to be directed by Peter Cornwell and based on the novel titled “Gramma”. It follows two young boys who discover their Grandmother is a witch, and will co-star Frances O’Connor, Chandler Riggs, Joel Courtney, Dylan McDermott, Shirley Knight and Chris Browning.

“JFK”, another adaptation based on Vincent Bugliosi’s “Reclaiming History: The Assassination Of President John F. Kennedy” and to be directed by Peter Landesman, already features an impressive cast including Zac Efron, James Badge Dale, Marcia Gay Harden, Paul Giamatti and Billy Bob Thornton. Deadline reports Duplass will star as Kenny O’Donnell who was Kennedy’s campaign advisor as well as being a personal friend.

“Safety Not Guaranteed” premiered at 2012 Sundance Film Festival to acclaim, and Duplass followed that up by starring in Oscar-nominated film “Zero Dark Thirty“.

Jeremy Renner to “Kill the Messenger” in true life CIA conspiracy thriller

January 31, 2013 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting Leave a comment

After a string of big budget studio blockbusters, Jeremy Renner is set to return to the darker and more serious films that made him a two-time Oscar nominee. Deadline reports Renner will star in “Kill the Messener”, a true life thriller that will be directed by Michael Cuesta this summer.

Renner will play Gary Webb in the film written by Peter Landesman. Webb was a San Jose Mercury News reporter during the Iran-Contra scandal in the 1980s, who published an expose detailing the link between the CIA and Contra rebels in Nicaragua in importing and selling cocaine on the streets of California. Rather than make his career, the expose elicited harsh criticisms which rendered Webb unable to find another job, sending him into a downward spiral that culminated in his suicide in 2004. The film seeks to validate Webb’s side of the story by proposing his findings were correct and he was the victim of a smear campaign in order to hide the CIA’s more morally ambiguous actions taken in the name of the greater good.

After critical success and Oscar nominations following supporting performances in “The Hurt Locker” and “The Town”, Renner moved into the mainstream in rapid succession by starring in “Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol”, “The Avengers”, “The Bourne Legacy” and the currently playing “Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters.” It’s become rather clear, however, he’s much better in more prestigious, intimate films that really showcase his acting. There are no more blockbusters on his plate for the foreseeable future (minus an “Avengers” sequel or two). Instead, he has dramas like James Gray’s “Lowlife” and David O. Russell’s untitled Abscam film (previously titled “American Bullshit”) coming down the pike.

James Badge Dale among cast additions to now-filming JFK assassination drama “Parkland”

January 25, 2013 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting 1 Comment

James Badge Dale, one of our Faces to Watch in 2013, is among a large group of new cast additions to JFK assassination drama “Parkland”, which has begun principal photography in Austin, Texas. Jackie Earle Haley, Colin Hanks, David Harbour and Ron Livingston have also jumped aboard in Peter Landesman‘s directorial debut, which already boasted Zac Efron, Marcia Gay Harden, Paul Giamatti, Billy Bob Thornton, Jeremy Strong and Jacki Weaver in its large ensemble cast.

Landesman wrote the script and will make his feature directorial debut on the film which chronicles the lead-up to President John F. Kennedy’s assassination and its aftermath. Parkland refers to the hospital where JFK was rushed and where his assassin Lee Harvy Oswald (Scott) also died two days later. No word on who amongst the sprawling cast is playing JFK, though Dale or perhaps Livingston seem to have the look for it.Filmmakers are planning a 2013 release to coincide with the 50th anniversary of JFK’s death.

After impressing in supporting roles in critical darlings “The Grey”, “Shame” and “Flight”, Dale is gearing up for a blockbuster year in 2013. First he’ll play a villainous soldier-turned-cyborg opposite Robert Downey, Jr in “Iron Man 3″, then assist Brad Pitt in stopping the zombie apocalypse in “World War Z” before going back in time with Armie Hammer and Johnny Depp in Gore Verbinski’s “The Lone Ranger.”

Stage actor Jeremy Scott to play JFK assassin Lee Harvey Oswald in “Parkland”

January 2, 2013 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting Leave a comment

Primarily a stage actor, Jeremy Scott is poised for a breakthrough on the big screen as he lands a key role in upcoming JFK assassination drama “Parkland”, joining an all-star cast that includes Zac Efron, Jacki Weaver, Marcia Gay Harden, Paul Giamatti and Billy Bob Thornton to play the role of JFK assassin Lee Harvey Oswald. Variety first reported the news.

Peter Landesman wrote the script and will make his feature directorial debut on the film which chronicles the lead-up to President John F. Kennedy’s assassination and its aftermath. Parkland refers to the hospital where JFK was rushed and where Oswald also died two days later. Filming should begin soon as filmmakers are planning a 2013 release to coincide with the 50th anniversary of JFK’s death.

Strong, who studied acting at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, has appeared on and off Broadway and most recently took supporting roles in “Lincoln”, where he played the 16th President’s private secretary opposite Daniel Day Lewis, and “Zero Dark Thirty”, as a fellow CIA operative working alongside Jessica Chastain. He has completed filming on Frank Darabont’s upcoming crime drama series “L.A. Noir.”

Zac Efron joins JFK assassination drama “Parkland”

December 19, 2012 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting 2 Comments

Paging Dr. Efron! Variety reports that in rather unusual casting news, former “High School Musical” teen hearttrhob Zac Efron will play the role of a doctor in ensemble JFK assassination drama “Parkland”, joining a cast that also includes Jacki Weaver, Marcia Gay Harden, Paul Giamatti and Billy Bob Thornton.

Peter Landesman wrote the script and will make his feature directorial debut on the film which chronicles the lead-up to President John F. Kennedy’s assassination and its aftermath. Parkland refers to the hospital where JFK was rushed and where his assassin, Lee Harvey Oswald, also died two days later. Efron will play Dr. Charles Carrico, the first doctor to treat the President on Nov. 22, 1963. Filming should begin soon as filmmakers are planning a 2013 release to coincide with the 50th anniversary of JFK’s death.

Efron, currently seen opposite Nicole Kidman’s Golden Globe nominated and highly controversial role in Lee Daniels’ “The Paperboy”, is gearing up to shoot ensemble rom com “Are We Officially Dating?” opposite Miles Teller, Michael B. Jordan and Imogen Poots. He’s also got Ramin Bahrani’s family drama “At Any Price” releasing early next year and is attached to comedy “Townies” with Seth Rogen, as well as Rob Reiner thriller “You Belong to Me” opposite Harrison Ford.