Raffey Cassidy to Play Child Robot in “Tomorrowland” Opposite George Clooney

April 18, 2013 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting 1 Comment

raffey-cassidy After a major search, British child actress Raffey Cassidy has landed the pivotal role of a child robot in Brad Bird’s highly secretive sci-fi project “Tomorrowland”, which stars George Clooney and Hugh Laurie, according to THR.

Though the plot is being kept tightly under wraps, the casting seem to confirm earlier rumored reports of the movie’s plot. According to Hitfix, the official logline reads as follows: “A teenage girl, a genius middle-aged man (who was kicked out of Tomorrowland) and a pre-pubescent girl robot attempt to get to and unravel what happened to Tomorrowland, which exists in an alternative dimension, in order to save Earth.” Cassidy’s robot has existed for decades and is also a skilled fighter who has a previous relationship with Clooney’s character, also described as “a bitter inventor.” Her inventor? That would be my theory. Filming begins in August and “Tomorrowland” has a December 19, 2014 release date.

Cassidy has made a career thus far of playing younger versions of characters – she played a young Snow White to Kristen Stewart’s grown-up version in “Snow White and the Huntsman” and a young witch Angelique in Tim Burton’s “Dark Shadows”, played as an adult by Eva Green. She currently stars opposite Jeremy Piven in ITV/PBS series “Mr. Selfridge.”

Sam Claflin confirmed for Finnick in “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire”

August 22, 2012 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting 1 Comment

After two months of rumor and speculation, British actor Sam Claflin has finally been officially confirmed for the role of Finnick Odair in “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.” Claflin joins returning stars Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth, as well as new addition Jena Malone in the second installment of the massively popular teen dystopian franchise.

Finnick was a hotly contested role, and everyone had an opinion (including us), but in the end it wasn’t up to the fans, but the filmmakers and particularly director Francis Lawrence. Claflin will now do his best to embody the charismatic, noble and broken Hunger Games victor from District 4 who becomes an invaluable ally to Lawrence’s Katniss. Will Claflin succeed? We certainly have our doubts, but are eagerly anticipating the film nonetheless. Filming begins imminently and the film is already set for a November 23, 2013 release. Elizabeth Banks, Woody Harrelson, Lenny Kravitz and most of the gang from the original film will return, and other new additions include Philip Seymour Hoffman, Lynn Cohen and Meta Golding.

Claflin, while a newcomer, is already no stranger to the franchise game. He got his big break playing opposite Johnny Depp in “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides”, then romancing Kristen Stewart in “Snow White and the Huntsman.” Neither really put him on the map, so will it be third time’s a charm with “Catching Fire”? Judging by how madly these fan loves their stars, we are betting on yes.

Chris Hemsworth may lead the human resistance against Steven Spielberg’s “Robopocalypse”

July 19, 2012 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting 1 Comment

The machines are taking over, and it’s Chris Hemsworth to the rescue (who else?). Deadline reports Thor himself has landed the highly coveted lead role in Steven Spielberg’s long-gestating adaptation of Daniel H. Wilson’s best-selling sci-fi novel “Robopocalypse.”

Wilson’s vision of the ever-popular post-apocalyptic world is one in which the machines that once aided the human race in their everyday lives have taken over. Cars begin to run people over in the street, automated doors trap people inside buildings, and more menacingly, army robots built to do the killing for their human controllers turn their deadly weapons on the US Army. They are all under the new leadership of a supercomputer who calls himself Archos. No word on who Hemsworth will play, as the book is told in anthology format and features a large cast of characters, none of whom resemble a godly 6’3″ Australian. Spielberg first committed to directing the big budget blockbuster back in 2010, but with a April 25, 2014 now set in place and casting underway, it appears he’s finally ready to firmly commit to it as his next project. Drew Goddard adapted the screenplay, which drew Spielberg to the project initially.

Hemsworth’s casting is a big get for the rapidly rising Australian actor, though it shouldn’t be surprising as he continues to prove himself an increasingly bankable action star. After stealing “Star Trek” with one five minute opening scene, the still unknown Hemsworth was given a great responsibility by Kenneth Branagh to bring Marvel superhero “Thor” to the big screen – and he did it effortlessly. An all-star team-up with all of Marvel’s “The Avengers” followed, and Hemsworth held his own against the likes of Robert Downey, Jr and a big green Hulk. “Snow White and the Huntsman” and “Cabin in the Woods” further cemented his leading man status this year, so if all of his past roles are anything to go by, Spielberg has made a great choice in letting Hemsworth lead the fight in “Robocopalyse.”

Chris Hemsworth attached to 19th century maritime actioner “In the Heart of the Sea”

June 11, 2012 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting Leave a comment

Chris Hemsworth seems to have found a nice niche in being an action star with humanity and depth, and looks to be continuing his streak by attaching himself to star in “In the Heart of the Sea”, based on true events that inspired Melville’s “Moby Dick.” Deadline reported the news earlier today, and the project is now out to studios from Hemsworth’s “Snow White and the Huntsman” producers.

Based on Nathaniel Philbrick’s factual retelling “In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex”, Hemsworth will play a first mate aboard whaling ship the Essex, which began a journey from Nantucket bound for the South Pacific in 1819 and was rammed and sunk by a giant sperm whale. The initial crew of 20, to be led by Hemsworth’s character, dwindled as they struggled to survive aboard three lifeboats, facing hunger, disease and inclement weather. Charles Leavitt adapted the book, and the film has been in development in some form or another since 2000, with Ed Zwick attached to direct at one point, though that is no longer the case. With Hemsworth’s skyrocketing star power now part of the package, it seems the film may finally make its way into production.

Hemsworth has had a pretty good start to 2012, appearing in “Cabin in the Woods”, “The Avengers” and “Snow White and the Huntsman”, and he also recently wrapped up playing Formula One racer James Hunt for Ron Howard’s “Rush.” He’s getting ready to head back to Asgard to reprise his titular role in “Thor 2″, and is also attached to Navy SEALs pic “Shadow Runners.”

Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Sam Claflin and Sarah Gadon to star in historical drama “Belle”

May 15, 2012 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting Leave a comment

British rising stars Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Sam Claflin, along with Canadian up and comer Sarah Gadon, will star in historical drama “Belle”, according to Variety. Miranda Richardson, Tom Wilkinson and Matthew Goode will also be part of the ensemble cast.

BAFTA-winning director Amma Asante will direct the film based on the true story about a mixed-race young woman raised as an aristocratic lady in Blighty at the end of the 18th Century. Mbatha-Raw will play the titular Belle while Gadon will play her cousin. The film is out to buyers this week at the Cannes Film Festival.

Mbatha-Raw, one of BAFTA’s Brits to Watch this year, is currently a regular on Fox series “Touch” and can be seen opposite Anton Yelchin in the upcoming “Odd Thomas.” Gadon will be twice represnted at Cannes this year as the star of David Cronenberg’s “Cosmopolis” and Brandon Cronenberg’s “Antiviral.” Claflin was last seen in “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” and will soon be seen as the Prince in “Snow White and the Huntsman.”

Sam Claflin joins Hammer Films’ “The Quiet Ones”

May 11, 2012 | Posted by Rebecca Lewis in Casting Leave a comment

After an impressive performance in last year’s “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” we’ve been excited to see where Brit actor Sam Claflin’s career was going to take him. He lost out to Ben Barnes in “The Seventh Son” last year but soon signed on for a retelling of the Snow White fairytale, “Snow White and the Hunstman.”

Now Variety reports that the actor has joined Hammer Films’ “The Quiet Ones”, a horror film which “follows the story of a charismatic professor who uses controversial methods and leads his best students to take part in creating an poltergeist from negative human energy.”

No word on which character Claflin will play but it would be fair to guess one of the “best students”. “Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows” thesp Jared Harris has already signed on to star in the film, directed by John Pogue from a script by Tom De Ville, Craig Rosenberg, Oren Moverman and Pogue.

Kristen Stewart lines up indie thriller “Cali” from “30 Minutes Or Less” scribe

April 27, 2012 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting 1 Comment

“Twilight” star Kristen Stewart seems to have developed a taste for gritty action roles, as Variety reports the actress will follow up “Snow White and the Huntsman” with indie thriller “Cali”, from a script by “30 Minutes or Less” writer Michael Diliberti. Stewart will also try her hand at producing for the first time here.

Stewart will play Mya, who, along with boyfriend Chris, likes to live dangerously and acclimate income through sometimes less than savory methods. Their latest con is the selling of a fake snuff film starring Mya. They live nicely off the profits, but when her sister gets into trouble years later, Chris and Mya must “return from the dead” to save her. The couple “contends with angry former business partners, homicidal porn stars, stoner vet techs, an unstoppable killing machine in a cowboy hat and their own contentious relationship.” Producers are talking to directors and are eyeing a late summer start.

“Kristen is a talented and dynamic actor, with a proven box office draw,” producer Craig J. Flores tells Variety. “Her role in ‘Cali’ will be edgy and sexy. It will no doubt push the envelope on the public’s view of Kristen’s wide-ranging abilities. Voltage is thrilled to have her as a partner on this fantastic film.”

Stewart has stuck mainly to small, dark and indie outside her role as Bella Swan in the “Twilight” saga, which concludes this November with “Breaking Dawn Part II.” This May she is headed to Cannes for the first time with Walter Salles’ “On the Road”, in which she stars opposite Garett Hedlund and Sam Riley. “Snow White and the Huntsman”, in which she plays the titular princess, opens in June, and plans are already underway for a sequel.

Watch: Second trailer for “Snow White and the Huntsman” promises a darker tale

March 19, 2012 | Posted by Rebecca Lewis in Videos 1 Comment

It’s been one of our most anticipated films of the year since news first broke, but “Snow White and the Huntsman”‘s latest trailer just pushed it higher up the must-see list.

Starring Kristen Stewart and Chris Hemsworth as the titular characters, SWATH takes the story away from Disney’s telling and back into Grimms Brother land. Charlize Theron‘s Queen continues to dominate the story, as per the first trailer that was released late in 2011, but the latest unveiling from Universal reveals more of the plot and promises a much darker tale than the soon-to-be-released “Mirror Mirror”. We also finally get to hear Stewart’s English-accent (we’re impressed), and there’s a first glimpse at the seven dwarves.

Still missing however, is Sam Claflin’s Prince William, and we’re wondering if this film will take us away from a traditional princess/prince pairing, and allow the audience to root for an nontraditional relationship.

We also have five minutes of footage that was shown at WonderCon this past weekend, where the cast sat down with director Rupert Sanders. Check out the trailer, behind the scenes footage and official synopsis below, and head over to the offical Snow White and the Huntmsn website for download and images.

Sullivan Stapleton and Jamie Blackley to lead the battle in “300″ sequel

February 17, 2012 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting Leave a comment

A couple of relative unknowns are gearingup to take over for Gerard Butler in leading a group of oiled-up, nearly naked men into battle. Deadline reports young British actor Jamie Blackely has landed the co-lead in the “300″ sequel opposite fellow rising star Sullivan Stapleton, who landed the other lead role of Themosticles – that had been initially offered to Joel Edgerton – last week.

In the Noam Murro-directed follow-up to Zack Snyder’s 2007 hyper-realistic ancient Greek epic, Eva Green is Artemisia, and Blackley will be Calisto, a teenager who idolized his heroic father and leads him to stepping up into a leadership role among the new group of soldiers. The film had been working under the title “300: Battle of Artemisia” but it’s unclear if that’s still the case. Also unclear is whether “300″ original cast member Rodrigo Santoro will reprise his role of Xerxes here as well.

Stapleton co-starred with Edgerton in 2010′s “Animal Kingdom”, a movie that’s proven to be quite a starmaker, having also outsourced Oscar nominee Jackie Weaver and young up and comer James Frecheville. He’ll be seen later this year opposite Ryan Gosling and Anthony Mackie in “Gangster Squad.” Blackley has appeared on hit teen British series “Misfits” and starred opposite Colin Farrell and Keira Knightley in “London Boulevard.” He also has a (seemingly) small role in this summer’s fairy tale rewrite “Snow White and the Huntsman.”

First Look: Sam Claflin as the Prince on “Snow White and the Huntsman” set

November 28, 2011 | Posted by Linda Ge in Images 2 Comments

We’ve had plenty of looks at Snow White, the Huntsman, and the Evil Queen, but up until now, the fourth pivotal character in Universal’s “Snow White and the Huntsman”, the handsome and charming Prince who wakes Kristen Stewart from her slumber with a kiss, had been conspicuously missing. Well, hide no further, Sam Claflin. Pop Sugar has the first images of the British actor in costume and on the snowy forest set of the Rupert Sanders fairy tale epic and he looks every bit as gritty and ready for battle as his co-stars in our past glimpses of the production.

Unfortunately, they’ve apparently named him Prince William. Yes. Like that Prince William. That hokey misstep aside, Claflin looks great, albeit perhaps a bit shrimpy next to Chris Hemsworth’s rugged Huntsman, but hey, who doesn’t? After that disastrous first trailer for Relativity’s rival Snow White picture “Mirror Mirror”, our expectations now fully rest on the visually stunning (and much tamer) “Snow White and the Huntsman”, and can only hope that it lives up to expectations when it’s released on June 1, 2012. So far so good.

Check out the first pictures of Claflin below and Pop Sugar for more from the set.

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