Shailene Woodley Confirmed for “The Fault in Our Stars”

March 19, 2013 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting 5 Comments

shailene-woodley 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 in “The Fault in Our Stars.”

EW broke the news, with director Josh Boone enthusing: “During our exhaustive search to find Hazel Grace Lancaster, I saw some stunning auditions by today’s finest young actresses. Over 250 girls read for the part, but it wasn’t until Shailene stepped in front of the camera that I truly saw Hazel for the first time. It was like lightning striking. I can’t wait for the rest of the world to see what I have.”

“I am absolutely thrilled that Shailene will be playing Hazel in The Fault in Our Stars,” the book’s author John Green adds. “It means a lot to me that she is a fan of the book, and I know from our conversations that she has a profound understanding of Hazel. Watching her audition, I felt like Hazel Grace Lancaster was talking to me. It was eerie–and very exciting.”

Woodley will most likely shoot “Fault” after she wraps the soon to begin filming “Divergent”, another hot YA property with “Twilight” and “Hunger Games” franchise potential. She begins “Divergent” after having wrapped a small role in “The Amazing Spider-Man 2″ as Mary Jane Watson, which should segue into the female lead by TASM3. So get ready to see a lot of the talented “The Descendants” star, who is often maligned for also being a part of ABC Family series “The Secret Life of the American Teenager.” But thankfully that show is over and Woodley is clearly moving on to much bigger and better things.

Shailene Woodley may play Hazel in adaptation of hit YA novel “The Fault in Our Stars”

February 15, 2013 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting 6 Comments

shailene-woodley UPDATE (02/19/13): As we suspected, Josh Boone has been confirmed to be the director on this project. Will Woodley be confirmed soon?

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Shailene Woodley is the hottest ticket in town and she may have just landed another major role. Rumors are swirling that Woodley has been cast as the lead in “The Fault in Our Stars”, based on the John Green bestselling YA novel of the same name, and Hypable has come closest to legitimizing the reports, securing a confirmation from her publicist that she “is being considered” for the part, though they caution she has not been cast yet. Officially, anyway.

The film, following the love story between two cancer-stricken teens, has been in active development, with the producers recently telling MTV News that a director would be announced imminently and filming to commence in late summer. We had our suspicions about Woodley taking the role (aside from the fact that she would be perfect for it) when she and Green followed each other on Twitter recently amidst the dealmaking, and today she retweeted Green’s tease that “Big news is forthcoming in re The Fault in Our Stars movie.” So right now it’s looking like she could be our Hazel, but either way, if Green isn’t full of empty promises, we should be finding out very soon.

“The Fault in Our Stars” has no release date yet but should hit sometimes next year, which would mark quite a trifecta of big movies for Woodley in 2014. She’s currently filming the role of Mary Jane in “The Amazing Spider-Man 2″, set for release on May 2, 104, and she’ll then head to Chicago to film the lead role of Tris in YA adaptation “Divergent”, set for release on March 21, 2014. Woodley recently won a Special Jury Award for Acting for her role in “The Spectacular Now” at Sundance, and also recently just wrapped up shooting on indie “White Bird in a Blizzard.”

Shailene Woodley in talks to play Mary Jane Watson opposite Andrew Garfield in “The Amazing Spider-Man” sequel

October 10, 2012 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting 4 Comments

YES! From the beginning, we’ve made no secret of the fact that we would like to see Peter Parker’s One True Love Mary Jane Watson have a role in Marc Webb’s reboot franchise “The Amazing Spider-Man”, and it looks like we will finally get our wish with the recently confirmed sequel. Variety reports “The Descendants” breakout star Shailene Woodley is the studio’s first choice and is in early talks to play the role opposite Andrew Garfield as Peter.

Emma Stone, who played Peter’s first love Gwen Stacey in the first film, is still in negotiations regarding her return, but it’s expected that she will also reprise her role alongside Garfield. As such, it’s not clear if Woodley’s MJ will be a romantic love interest just yet. After all, Gwen and MJ were roommates and friends in the comics, and it’s not until after Gwen’s iconic death that Peter and MJ find comfort and ultimately love with each other. This also certainly bodes well that Gwen’s death, which is so crucial to Spider-Man’s legacy, will indeed be immortalized on screen, as Webb and Stone have hinted towards.

“The Descendants” star Nick Krause to star in indie thriller “White Rabbit”

June 28, 2012 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting Leave a comment

Another “The Descendants” star in another movie referencing a white animal? While Shailene Woodley is flying off to Gregg Araki’s “White Bird”, co-star Nick Krause will headline “White Rabbit”, reports THR. The indie psychological/supernatural thriller will co-star “True Blood” star Sam Trammell.

Written by Anthony Di Pietro and to be directed at the end of July in New Orleans by Tim McKann, “White Rabbit” revolves around an often bullied high school student (Krause), who begins to have visions of a white rabbit he killed when he was nine. “The rabbit, along with other imaginary characters, turn menacing in the hopes of pushing him over the edge and luring him into one last fatal act of revenge.” Trammell will play his father.

Krause, who ironically made his acting debut playing a teen who bullied Logan Lerman on the WB’s short-lived drama “Jack & Bobby”, played Woodley’s laid back friend Sid in Alexander Payne’s “The Descendants” and has since appeared in ABC series “CGB” and Nick at Nite’s “Hollywood Heights.” He’s currently filming Richard Linklater’s “Boyhood” opposite Ethan Hawke and Patricia Arquette.

Shailene Woodley to headline Gregg Araki’s “White Bird”

June 28, 2012 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting 1 Comment

Shailene Woodley will star in Gregg Araki’s next feature, “White Bird”, according to Variety. “The Descendents” star will play a troubled young woman whose life is upended when her mother disappears. Araki, who has a cult following as the filmmaker behind “Mysterious Skin”, “Smiley Face” and most recently “Kaboom”, wrote and will direct, and will now cast the film around Woodley, searching for actors to play her parents and the lead detective on the case.

Woodley is the star of ABC Family’s long-running “The Secret Life of the American Teenager”, now in its 5th season, and was chosen by Alexander Payne from over 500 girls to play George Clooney’s rebellious daughter in “The Descendants.” It was a role she was widely acclaimed and awarded for, nearly landing an Oscar nomination. She’s chosen her follow-up to her breakout role as the star of coming-of-age dramedy “The Spectacular Now” opposite Miles Teller and Brie Larson. James Ponsoldt will direct the adaptation of Tim Tharp’s award-winning novel.

Shailene Woodley picks “The Spectacular Now” as follow-up to “The Descendants”

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

Shailene Woodley has been wisely picky about a follow-up to her breakout role in Alexander Payne’s Oscar-winning “The Descendants.” Now Variety reports that the rising actress has chosen that all-important follow-up, and it will be coming-of-age dramedy “The Spectacular Now”, based on the award-winning novel by Tim Tharp.

The coming of age dramedy, to be directed by James Ponsoldt, follows party-hard high school senior Sutter Keely, who has no ambitions beyond high school except to have as much fun as possible. When he wakes up on a random front lawn and meets shy, introverted Aimee – to be played by Woodley – she begins to turn his world upside down as he does hers. The search is now on for a young actor to play Sutter, though rumors have pegged Nicholas Hoult for the role.

Woodley, one of our Breakout Stars of 2011, has been the star of ABC Family’s teen melodrama “The Secret Life of the American Teenager” for five years, but didn’t break out on the big screen until Alexander Payne cast her as George Clooney’s rebellious daughter in last year’s “The Descendants.” It was a revelatory role that won her many accolades and almost an Oscar nomination (we think she was robbed) and she’s inevitably being bombarded with offers now. While she had committed to star in an essay-writing-contest comedy “A Thousand Words Or Less” for “Descendants” studio Fox Searchlight last July, it appears that has now fallen through.

Up and Comers Presents: Our Top 10 Movies of 2011

December 31, 2011 | Posted by Linda Ge and Rebecca Lewis in Features, Lists 3 Comments

As with all such year end lists, the hardest part may be choosing only a few from many worthy contenders. It’s a fun problem to have, but it can also make writers fickle. Such is the case here with our top 10 movies of 2011. Those of you who listened to our podcast a few weeks back may be slightly befuddled. Yes, indeed, both of our top 10 lists have changed somewhat in the weeks since.

Our lists still remain delightfully different, with 17 movies represented between our two lists of 10. Check them out below and let us know what your favorite movies of the year were!

Click here for Linda’s Top 10 | Click here for Rebecca’s Top 10

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“The Help” leads SAG Awards nominations; Jonah Hill in, Shailene Woodley out

December 14, 2011 | Posted by Linda Ge in Awards 3 Comments

The 18th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards have announced the nominees for the 2011 year in film. Summer blockbuster drama “The Help” leads the way with four well deserved nominations, including breakout stars Jessica Chastain and Octavia Spencer for Best Supporting Actress. “The Artist” also continues to dominate, with Jean Dujardin (Best Actor) and Berenice Bejo (Best Supporting Actress) both landing nods, as well as the entire ensemble. Snubbed in the Supporting Actress category is Shailene Woodley, who gave a brave and powerful performance in Alexander Payne’s “The Descendants.” The film did garner two nominations, and Woodley is still represented in its Best Ensemble nomination.

Looking less and less like a longshot every day and with every new announcement, Melissa McCarthy landed another Best Supporting Actress nod, but the big surprise may be “Bridesmaids” itself, which also landed on Best Ensemble, to the snub of plenty of other, perhaps more serious, Oscar hopefuls. Another surprise but welcome inclusion is Jonah Hill, a formerly broadly comedic actor himself, landing a Best Supporting Actor nomination for his dramatic turn in “Moneyball” opposite Brad Pitt (Best Actor nominee). Also showing up unexpectedly is Armie Hammer for his role in Clint Eastwood’s critically panned “J. Edgar.” It perhaps shows some strong support within the industry for the film, as Leonardo DiCaprio landed a Best Actor nomination as well, to the frustration of Michael Fassbender/”Shame” fans everywhere (including here).

The full list of nominations, including TV categories, are below.

San Diego Film Critics Society nominate Shailene Woodley, Brit Marling and more

December 13, 2011 | Posted by Rebecca Lewis in Awards Leave a comment

Another day and another set of announcements from film critics – this time around, the San Diego Film Critics Society and their nominees for this year’s “excellence in film”.

We have the usual suspects leading the pack with The Artist and Hugo both picking up a slew of nominations – eight for The Artist including Best Film, Director for Michel Hazanavicius and Actor for Jean Dujardin, and seven for Hugo with Best Film, Director for Martin Scorsese and Adapted Screenplay – but also several surprises, including Brit Marling for Best Actress in one of our favorite films of the year, Another Earth.

One look at the Best Actress category shows us that we could be looking at a rising star winner there. Alongside Marling is another Sundance breakout, Elizabeth Olsen (Martha Marcy May Marlene), as well as Michelle Williams (My Week With Marilyn) and Viola Davis (The Help).

We’re also pleased to see Shailene Woodley nominated for her supporting role in The Descendants, furthering her Oscar chances after garnering several other nominations from the Gotham Awards and Indie Spirits, a well as a win from NBR.

Jessica Chastain (The Help), Melanie Laurent (Beginners), Carey Mulligan (Shame) and Bérénice Bejo (The Artist) round out the Supporting Actress category, guaranteeing the winner will definitely be a rising star.

Click below for a full list of nominees, and check back tomorrow for a full list of the winners.

NBR names “Hugo” Best Film, Rooney Mara and Felicity Jones Breakthrough Performers

December 1, 2011 | Posted by Linda Ge in Awards 2 Comments

So early into the 2012 Award Season and already so many unexpected twists and turns. The National Board of Review, traditionally the first group to announce their winners but upstaged this year by the New York Film Critics, have released their list of the best movies and filmmakers of the year, and there are, once again, some surprises.

Martin Scorsese’s family-friendly 3D love letter to filmmaking, “Hugo”, takes Best Picture honors, with the director also taking Best Director, putting the film firmly into the hunt for a repeat at the Oscars. David Fincher’s highly anticipated and still barely-seen “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” also makes its first showing, listed in NBR’s Top 10 Films of the Year as well as a Breakthrough Performance award for star Rooney Mara. Mara will share the award with Felicity Jones, who lands another Breakthrough award (and another win over “Martha Marcy May Marlene”‘s Elizabeth Olsen) for “Like Crazy.” Jessica Chastain is left out in the cold this time around after dominating early, NBR instead choosing to give Best Supporting Actress to Shailene Woodley for “The Descendants.” Unable to choose between his four incredible performances this year, Michael Fassbender will get a special Spotlight Award for “Jane Eyre”, “X-Men: First Class”, “Shame” and “A Dangerous Method.”

Full list of winners and lists via press release below, thanks to Awards Daily.

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