Zoe Kazan, Analeigh Tipton and more vying to join Taylor Swift in female rocker biopic “Girls Like Us”

September 22, 2012 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting 2 Comments

A plethora of rising young actresses are lining up for the chance to star in a biopic of three of the most influential women in music. Country singer Taylor Swift is already attached to the role of Joni Mitchell in “Girls Like Us”, and now Variety reports actresses are being auditioned for the remaining two roles of Carole King and Carly Simon.

For the role of King, filmmakers are reading actresses Analeigh Tipton, Allison Williams and Jessica Pare; while Alison Pill, Olivia Thirlby, Zoe Kazan and Ari Graynor are up for the role of Simon. When Swift became attached to the project, Pill was already in consideration for the role of Simon, but it appears she’s got it far less locked up than Swift. Variety also warns this project is in the exploratory stage, with casting needing to be firmed up – and the chemistry between the three leads passing muster – before it gets the green light at Sony Pictures.

Taylor Swift may play Joni Mitchell in female rocker biopic “Girls Like Us”

April 20, 2012 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting 2 Comments

Joni Mitchell fans, I’m not sure how you’ll take this news, but here it is anyway. Variety reports country singer Taylor Swift may play Joni on the big screen. An adaptation of Sheila Weller’s book “Girls Like Us” – following the lives and careers of Mitchell, Carly Simon and Carole King in the 1970s – is headed for the big screen, and Swift has been circling the role for months.

Weller’s book follows the coming of age and rise to stardom of now-legendary singers Mitchell, Simon and King in the late 1960s and early 1970s. For Mitchell, the daughter of Canadian farmers, epiphanies and inspirations came in the form of Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini and French chanteuse Eith Pilaf. Simon was influenced by the operatic Broadway musicals of Gershwin while King idolized the more accessible and populist Rogers and Hmmerstein. Variety also reports indie actress Alison Pill has auditioned for the role of King, though how close she is to the part is unknown. Swift herself also does not yet have an official offer, though one could be coming soon. The film itself hasn’t even been greenlit, but production is already tentatively scheduled for later this year.

Swift caused quite an internet firestorm when several months ago it was revealed she may be close to landing the role of Eponine in Tom Hooper’s “Les Miserables.” For whatever reason, West End stage actress Samantha Barks got the role instead and Swift maintains she never officially got the role in the first place. She made her big screen debut in Gary Marshall’s ensemble rom-com “Valentine’s Day” and also voiced the year’s first blockbuster smash, “The Lorax.” “Girls Like Us” would mark Swift’s first leading dramatic movie role.

West End Eponine Samantha Barks – not Taylor Swift! – to reprise role for Tom Hooper’s “Les Miserables”

January 31, 2012 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting 2 Comments

First Blake Lively, now Taylor Swift. Despite earlier reports that country singer Swift had been offered and was in negotiations for the role of Eponine in Tom Hooper’s big screen adaptation of “Les Miserables”, producer Cameron Mackintosh made the shocking announcement today that in fact, it is West End musical theatre actress Samantha Barks who will play the iconic role in the film. Barks played the role on the London stage and most memorably in the 25th Anniversary Concert of the show in 2010, and will now reprise it opposite the likes of Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe and Anne Hathaway.

Mackintosh made the announcement live on stage tonight after a performance of “Oliver!”, where Barks is currently playing the role of Nancy. Barks was seemingly unaware of the decision and was just as surprised and excited as the audience in attendance. She tweeted later, “Most incredible moment of my life!!!! X” Barks will presumably go directly into rehearsals, which began yesterday, opposite Eddie Redmayne as Marius, Amanda Seyfried as Cosette and fellow theatre vets Aaron Tveit as Enjolras and George Blagden as Grantaire. Filming begins in March and release is set for December 7, 2012.

Barks trained for musical theatre at the Arts Educational School and gained some name recognition when she finished in the Top 3 of “I’d Do Anything”, a British reality competition series that sought to find the girl to play Nancy in “Oliver!.” She made her debut as Eponine in the West End production of “Les Miserables” last year and was also cast to be immortalized in the role for the 25th anniversary concert. Looks like Barks as Eponine will be iconic on an even larger scale now with Hooper’s film – her feature film debut, no less.

See below for video of Barks singing “On My Own”, the most famous of Eponine’s songs from the show.

EXCLUSIVE: Newcomer George Blagden joins Tom Hooper’s “Les Miserables” as Grantaire

January 29, 2012 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting 2 Comments

Casting is quickly firming up on Tom Hooper’s adaptation of international blockbuster musical “Les Miserables”, but while some of the major roles are still being negotiated, a strong supporting character has been finalized. Little known stage and screen actor George Blagden has been cast as student revolutionary Grantaire, the actor’s reps confirmed to us today. Blagden will share the screen with the likes of Hugh Jackman, Anne Hathaway, Russell Crowe and Amanda Seyfried.

Blagden will share most of his screentime with Eddie Redmayne and Aaron Tveit, whose Marius and Enjolras are close friends and fellow revolutionaries alongside Grantaire, who Jackman’s Jean Valjean encounters in the second act of the story. It was also revealed recently that “Les Mis” original London cast members Colm Wilkinson (Valjean) and Frances Ruffelle (Eponine) will have small roles in the film. Wilkinson will play a Bishop Valjean meets in the beginning of his journey who sets him on the right path with his kindness, and Ruffelle will play a “fabulous whore” during one of Fantine’s ensemble musical numbers, “Lovely Ladies.” Meanwhile, Taylor Swift, Sacha Baron Cohen and Helena Bonham Carter still remain in negotiations for the roles of Eponine, Thenardier and Mme Thenardier, respectively. Those deals better come together fast, with rehearsals beginning this week and filming set for March, all towards a release date of December 7, 2012.

Blagden is a neophyte to the big screen, with his first credits set for release this year, in “Clash of the Titans” sequel “Wrath of the Titans” with Sam Worthington and Liam Neeson, and indie “The Philosophers”, starring some of the hottest rising talent including Rhys Wakefield, Sophie Lowe, “Harry Potter”‘s Bonnie Wright and “W.E.”‘s James D’Arcy. “Les Miserabls” should be a nice breakout for Blagden, a tenor who has also appeared on stage in “Kiss Me Kate”, “The Blue Room” and more.

Up and Comers Presents: 24 Faces to Watch in 2012

January 18, 2012 | Posted by Linda Ge and Rebecca Lewis in Features 16 Comments

2011 saw some great new talent rise to stardom, but now let’s turn our attention to who may be following in their footsteps.

Again, we’ve chosen a group of fresh talent who we believe will be appearing in some interesting and high profile movies this year, which may or may not propel them to another level in their career. Some may be familiar to you already, some may be completely new. You may cheer at some inclusions, rage at who we left off (it was hard for us too, trust us!), but for better or worse, here are twenty-four actors and actresses that we will be keeping our eyes on this year.

>> 24 Faces to Watch in 2012 < <

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Country singer Taylor Swift offered the role of Eponine in “Les Miserables”

January 3, 2012 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting 24 Comments

Well, that was fast. Literally minutes after we learned that Amanda Seyfried has been offered the role of Cosette in Tom Hooper’s big screen adaptation of “Les Miserables”, Twitch Film breaks even more big news, reporting that country singer Taylor Swift has emerged as Hooper’s choice and has the offer to take the role of Eponine. If earlier reports are to be believed, Swift beat out Evan Rachel Wood, Scarlett Johansson and “Glee” star Lea Michele for the role, quite a coup for the singer who has only dabbled briefly in acting – and not all that successfully.

Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Sacha Baron Cohen and Anne Hathaway have signed on for the “adult” roles in the musical, and now it seems the cast is rounding out with youngsters who will populate the second half of the story. Fans and even non-fans of the musical know Eponine is a pivotal character in that climactic second act, as the poor street urchin who befriends and falls for Eddie Redmayne’s Marius, and more importantly, sings perhaps the most famous song from the musical, “On My Own.” Swift has her critics, for both singing and acting alike, but certainly being so young and new (especially to acting) lends credence to the conclusion that she has some hidden potential that Hooper was able to elicit from her during auditions. If she accepts, she will join an impressive cast of up and comers that also includes Broadway vet Aaron Tveit as Enjolras.

Swift has had two hit country/pop albums and countless music awards under her belt, but as an actress, has only appeared on one episode of “CSI” and in a supporting role in Gary Marshall’s ensemble rom-com “Valentine’s Day”, which is the source of much of the derision for her acting abilities. She has also voiced a role in the next Dr. Seuss movie, “The Lorax”. Certainly, there is much room for growth and the potential to surprise.

“Les Miserables” begin rehearsals this month and filming in March. It has a sooner-than-you-think release date of December 7, 2012.

Up and Comers Podcast #7: “Les Miserables”, “My Week with Marilyn” and checking in on our 2010 Breakout Stars

December 6, 2011 | Posted by Linda Ge and Rebecca Lewis in Podcast 1 Comment

Thank you for joining us again if you listened to our earlier podcasts or if you are new to the program, welcome! Once a week, Linda and Rebecca will take to the internet airwaves to discuss a variety of subjects, including all the latest news, movies we’ve seen recently, the Oscar season and more topics that interest us (or you! Please send us your suggestions for topics to talk about).

• 00:00 – 16:15 – Some big news to discuss, including some “Les Miserables” casting, the Sundance line-up and more.

• 16:15 – 25:45 – We parse through the first wave of awards from the Gotham Awards, Indie Spirits, New York Film Critics and National Board of Review. How does it affect the Oscar chances of Felicity Jones, Elizabeth Olsen and others?

• 25:45 – 35:15 – Movies reviewed: “Young Adult” (great acting but mixed message), “The Ides of March” (solid) and “My Week with Marilyn” (big split in opinion). No spoilers.

• 35:15 – END – Checking in on our Breakout Stars of 2010. What are Andrew Garfield, Chloe Moretz, Aaron Johnson, Mia Wasikowska, Emma Stone, Jeremy Renner, Noomi Rapace, Tom Hardy and Jennifer Lawrence up to one year after breaking out on the big screen?

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Scarlett Johansson, Evan Rachel Wood, Lea Michele and Taylor Swift vying to play Eponine in “Les Miserables”

November 30, 2011 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting 17 Comments

An eclectic and unexpected (to put it lightly) shortlist has emerged from the ongoing casting of Tom Hooper’s big screen adaptation of blockbuster musical “Les Miserables.” According to The NY Post, Scarlett Johansson, Evan Rachel Wood, singer Taylor Swift and “Glee” star Lea Michele are vying for the role of the tragic street urchin Eponine.

Fans and even non-fans of the musical know Eponine is a pivotal character in the second act of the story, and more importantly, sings perhaps the most famous song from the musical, “On My Own.” This means the actress chosen must be able to sing her butt off, and each of the four actresses in contention certainly can sing, but are they up to the task of singing the demanding music of Claude-Michel Schönberg? The decision appears to be completely up in the air still, with sources telling NY Post that while Michele “knocked it out of the park” at her audition, Johansson “brings acting ability, and she can really sing” and Wood “brings her indie cred.”

The inclusion of Swift is odder than most, with the singer not exactly proving her acting chops in her first big movie role in Gary Marshall’s ensemble rom-com “Valentine’s Day.” Michele can and has sung Broadway, but her acting, also, doesn’t seem quite up to par with the all-star cast of Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway, and more importantly, Eddie Redmayne, whose Marius will be Eponine’s scene partner for most of her time on screen. If it must be out of these four young ladies, we have to heavily favor Wood (great acting and a perfect Eponine singing voice) and, to a lesser extent, Johansson (great acting with slightly lesser musical ability). The other two just seem completely off the mark.

Meanwhile, rumors indicate filmmakers are having a hard time locking down a famous actress to play Cosette, and have widened the field to audition unknown actresses/singers. Rehearsals begin in January and filming in March. Looks like we’ll get our full cast sooner rather than later.

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