Taylor Kitsch heads for “Exit 147″

February 26, 2013 | Posted by Rebecca Lewis in Casting Leave a comment

Looks like Taylor Kitsch has been given one more chance. After box office flops “Battleship” and “John Carter“, the actor has signed on to headline horror-thriller “Exit 147” which will be directed by Julian Jarrold (“Becoming Jane”)

Bloody Disgusting (via The Playlist) report that the film is “about a man driving across the desert at night who is arrested by a small town sheriff (Kitsch) and held captive as part of his own sadistic game.” Both The Playlist and Bloody Disgusting use headlines that suggest Kitsch will be fighting the sadistic killer but this quote from Bloody Disgusting sounds to us that it will be Kitsch holding the driver captive. Either way, no word so far on who will be Kitsch’s co-star.

Kitsch broke out on the small screen as Tim Riggins in the critically acclaimed “Friday Night Lights” and although it’s not exactly fair to say that the failure of “Battleship” and “John Carter” can be left at Kitsch’s door, it has proven that Kitsch alone isn’t a box office draw. Next up for Kitsch though is Peter Berg’s ensemble SEAL drama “Lone Survivor“, which Kitsch as been attached to for nearly two years. Also starring Emile Hirsch, Ben Foster and Alexander Ludwig, the film is an adaptation chronicling SEAL Marcus Luttrell’s own experience in Afghanistan.

Fast Track: 15 A-List Newcomers Who First Launched Their Careers on Television

November 15, 2012 | Posted by Up&Comers Contributor in Features Leave a comment

A list by Emiah Gardner

If you’re a Hollywood follower, you know the drill. Small-time star has a bit-part in a big movie and suddenly goes wild. Soon, that star achieves A-list status and is able to choose any part he wants after paying his dues as a walk-on. Well, that’s how it used to be, anyway. With the growing number of movie actors who are TV actors and vice versa, it’s become kosher for TV and movie worlds to collide. In fact, some of the fresh-faced new A-listers are some of the TV show elite, using the small screen to catapult their rise to the silver screen. Check out this list of 15 big screen rising stars who launched their career in television.

“The Hunger Games” star Alexander Ludwig joins Peter Berg’s “Lone Survivor”

August 23, 2012 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting 1 Comment

We thought Peter Berg’s Navy SEAL thriller “Lone Survivor” was all done casting, but apparently not. Deadline reports “The Hunger Games” star Alexander Ludwig has landed yet another SEAL role in the film, joining Taylor Kitsch, Emile Hirsch, Eric Bana, Ben Foster and Mark Wahlberg.

Based on Marcus Luttrell’s book chronicling his own wartime experience, Kitsch will play Luttrell as “he and his Navy SEAL team members fought to stay alive after being ambushed in Afghanistan in 2005 by Taliban forces during a covert mission in the Hindu Kush mountain region, where the team went to kill a terrorist leader.” As the title of the book/film suggests, the mission goes badly. Ludwig will play Navy SEAL Shane Patton. Filming is set to begin on September 25th in New Mexico.

Ludwig, whose fate in “The Hunger Games” (ahem, spoiler alert?) obviously prevents his return for sequels, also recently completed shooting on “Grown Ups 2″, the sequel to the 2010 Adam Sandler/Chris Rock/Kevin James comedy.

Emile Hirsch completes Taylor Kitsch’s SEAL team in “Lone Survivor”

July 23, 2012 | Posted by Rebecca Lewis in Casting 2 Comments

Looks like Taylor Kitsch‘s SEAL team is nearing completion as Variety reports that indie actor Emile Hirsch is in early talks to take the last lead, joining Kitsch, Mark Wahlberg and Ben Foster.

“Lone Survivor” is an adaptation of the book by Marcus Luttrell, chronicling Luttrell’s own experience in Afghanistan. It follows Luttrell (to be played by Kitsch) as “he and his Navy SEAL team members fought to stay alive after being ambushed in Afghanistan in 2005 by Taliban forces during a covert mission in the Hindu Kush mountain region, where the team went to kill a terrorist leader” and will be directed by Peter Berg.

After several years away from film, Hirsch has recently been seen in Oliver Stone’s “Savages” and the dark thriller “Killer Joe”. He secretly filmed a new indie also starring Paul Rudd and directed by David Gordon Green earlier this year, and filming for the adaptation of Nick Hornby’s “The Long Way Down” begins in September.

Neither Garrett Hedlund nor Armie Hammer are involved in “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire”, producer confirms

June 6, 2012 | Posted by Rebecca Lewis in Casting Leave a comment

Looks like the casting process for “The Hungers Games” sequel “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” is still underway, as reports today confirm that no-one has yet been cast in fan favourite Finnick – and those rumours around Armie Hammer and Garrett Hedlund are in “no way true”.

Taylor Kitsch already took himself out of the running, and despite reports that director Francis Lawrence had “his mind set on” Hammer, Nina Jacobson, one of the producers for the sequel has told 24 Frames that things are “not narrowed things down by any means.”

The character of Finnick is a fan favorite from the entire series, a handsome, charming District 4 victor who becomes one of Katniss’s most trusted allies throughout “Catching Fire” and the third novel, “Mockingjay”.

And Jacobson admits that producers and Lawrence are not taking in to consideration the fan wishes, admitting that “It means something that people can see [an actor] in that light, so you know [the actor] will be accepted by a lot of people [but] the other hand, you have to kind of ignore it.”

Our open letter to director Francis Lawrence back in April featured Hammer and Hedlund, as well as Hunter Parrish, Harry Lloyd and Jesse Williams, five actors “who have demonstrated all the strength and charm and swagger and heartbreaking sadness that would make them more than suited to join Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth and step into Finnick’s shoes”. But with a November 23, 2013 release date and production set to start this summer, there’s sure to be an unveiling soon.

Armie Hammer reportedly the front-runner for Finnick in “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire”, but does he want the job?

June 1, 2012 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting 9 Comments

No, there’s still nothing official yet, but are we one step closer to meeting our Finnick? Lainey Gossip (she who broke the news of Jennifer Lawrence’s initial front-runner status for Katniss) reports “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” director Francis Lawrence has his mind set on Armie Hammer to play the dashing District 4 tribute and fan favorite Finnick Odair and that “if he could start tomorrow with his dream cast, Armie would be Finnick”.

But don’t celebrate just yet, ArmieForFinnick supporters. The difference between Lainey’s report this time and the one written at the time of Lawrence’s casting, is that there seems to be a lot of doubt as to whether Hammer is even interested. As we said as well, Hammer is an increasingly in demand young actor, and he and his people could simply decide committing his heavily scheduled time to a teen franchise for potentially three more movies is not the best move for him. In the meantime, fellow rumored maybe-Finnick Taylor Kitsch has apparently taken himself out of the running, telling The LA Times point blank: “Not going to happen.” Not a peep from Garrett Hedlund’s camp, which is probably smart if he is actually interested in the job.

Hammer is currently filming the titular role in “The Lone Ranger” opposite Johnny Depp for director Gore Verbinski, a feat that perhaps had seemed a much a bigger deal pre-”Dark Shadows”, and he has a couple of indie thrillers lined up: “By Virtue Fall” with Eric Bana and “Cut Bank” with Teresa Palmer, both potentially shooting this fall, so he may not even be available. There’s still a big question mark hanging over this one, but we’ll be keeping an eye on it as closely as you will.

The search for “Catching Fire”‘s Finnick down to Armie Hammer, Garrett Hedlund and Taylor Kitsch?

May 29, 2012 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting 4 Comments

It’s just about that time. With “The Hunger Games” sequel “Catching Fire” set to film this fall (and rehearsals beginning as soon as July), fans – us included – have been waiting with baited breath to hear news of who will be joining Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth and the rest of Panem’s citizens, with one character at the forefront of everyone’s minds: Finnick Odair, the handsome, charming District 4 victor who becomes one of Katniss’s most trusted allies throughout the two remaining sequels. Today, E! Oline reveals that the top three contenders currently “being bantered about” at Lionsgate are familiar and popular names that have come up in many discussions among fans: Armie Hammer, Garrett Hedlund and Taylor Kitsch.

E! Online’s sources go on to say that filmmakers are also keeping an eye out for a discovery of an unknown, ala Brad Pitt in “Thelma and Louise.” Not a bad goal to strive for. Furthermore, an official announcement could come as soon as this week.

If you ask us, any of the three would be terrific in the role, and we said as much here in an open letter to new director Francis Lawrence. Sorry for the exclusion, Mr. Kitsch, purely an oversight, we can assure you. However, Kitsch may have already taken himself out of the running, if we believe an MTV interview from earlier this year during “John Carter” press rounds. In any case, this shortlist, whether it ends up being any of the three, is a good indication that filmmakers’ view of the much beloved character is very much in line with fans’.

“The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” has already been set for a November 23, 2013 release so the real Finnick should be unveiled sooner rather than later. And then can we talk about Johanna Mason?!

Taylor Kitsch, Blake Lively and Aaron Johnson featured on first “Savages” poster

April 2, 2012 | Posted by Linda Ge in Images Leave a comment

We’re just a couple of months away from the release of one of our most anticipated films of the year, and today we finally have our first look at the poster for Oliver Stone’s drug cartel thriller “Savages.” The trio of young stars, Taylor Kitsch, Aaron Johnson and Blake Lively are joined on the hyper colorful and dramatic poster by John Travolta, Salma Hayek and Benicio Del Toro, playing various friends and foes of the two pot-growing best friends, Ben and Chon, played by Johnson and Kitsch, respectively. Lively plays O, the wild child girlfriend the boys both love – and unlike other love triangles, unselfishly share between them. When Hayek’s Mexican drug cartel decide the boys should work for her, she unleashes her brutal enforcer Del Toro to kidnap the girl for ransom.

“Savages”, based on the best-selling novel by Don Winslow, will be released on July 6th, and will coincide with the publication of “The Kings of Cool”, a prequel novel that traces the beginnings of Ben, Chon and O’s unusual friendship.

JoBlo had the exclusive reveal of the poster, which you can see below, and also report the trailer will be released on Thursday.

It’s a Friday Night Lights reunion in the third trailer for “Battleship”

March 14, 2012 | Posted by Rebecca Lewis in Videos Leave a comment

It’s a “Friday Night Lights” reunion in the recently unveiled third trailer for Universal’s “Battleship”!

We’ve already seen Taylor Kitsch in action, and now we have Kitsch and Jesse Plemons back on screen and in front of the camera together with Peter Berg (FNL writer/producer) in the director’s chair. Also getting some screen time is Rihanna and Brooklyn Decker, and we get to see some more of the devastation that the (SPOILER ALERT!) alien armada are causing on Earth.

The film is a big-screen adaptation of the classic board game, and follows Kitsch’s Alex Hopper, a rebellious naval officer who comes face to face with an unidentified floating piece of machinery in the ocean, forcing the US Navy into battle.

Set for release in Europe on April 11th 2012, and in the US May 18th 2012, we’re guessing Universal are going to be hoping and praying that it can perform better than Disney’s “John Carter” (which Kitsch also headlined) did this past weekend – it’s so far made just over $100 million worldwide back, from a reported budget of over $300 million.

Taylor Kitsch, Garrett Hedlund and more in contention to play Christian Bale’s brother in “Out of the Furnace”

February 24, 2012 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting 4 Comments

Christian Bale has found his follow-up to “The Dark Knight Rises” and now the search is on to find his co-stars. Bale will headline revenge thriller “Out of the Furnace” for director Scott Cooper. Based on Brad Ingelsby’s story “The Low Dweller,” Bale will play a man recently released from prison, intent on avenging the death of his younger brother, and the film is being envisioned as “a gritty throwback to pics of the 1970′s.” Is it just me or do all of the new revenge thrillers heading into production begin with a man getting out of prison? Hollywood sure loves trends.

With Bale most likely locked in, Variety reports Viggo Mortensen is being eyed for the villain, Robert Duvall as Bale’s character’s supportive uncle and the aforementioned dead younger brother will likely be one of the following rising stars: Casey Affleck, Channing Tatum, Taylor Kitsch or Garrett Hedlund.

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