Nina Arianda joins Paul Newman’s final film “Lucky Them” with Toni Colette

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

Tony Award winner Nina Arianda is continuing her big screen takeover, with Deadline reporting the budding movie star has joined the cast of “Lucky Them”, the final film legendary actor Paul Newman had been working on at the time of his death in 2008. Toni Colette leads the cast that also includes Thomas Haden Church, Oliver Platt, Ryan Eggold and Ahna O’Reilly.

Emily Wachtel and Huck Botko wrote the script and Botko is directing the film about a female rock journalist (Colette) who, on assignment, goes on a journey to track down her musician ex-boyfriend (Church). The semi-autobiographical story is described as a “late bloomers coming-of-age quirky romantic comedy” and will see Colette’s character living in New York and finding herself while most of her friends have already settled down. Arianda will play Colette’s best friend. Filming began last weekend in Seattle.

Arianda, a recent Tony winner for “Venus in Fur” on Broadway, recently landed a string of big screen projects, the most high profile of which being the role of Janis Joplin in Sean Durkin’s biopic of the late singer. Screen credits thus far include Sundance premieres “Higher Ground” and “Win Win”, and Woody Allen’s Oscar-winning “Midnight in Paris.”

“The Help” and “Fruitvale” star Ahna O’Reilly joins Paul Newman’s final film “Lucky Them”

January 29, 2013 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting Leave a comment

Paul Newman had been working on “un-romantic comedy” “Lucky Them” when he passed away in 2008, and his wife Joanne Woodward signed on to executive produce the film last year in order to see it get made. Now, it looks like it finally will, with a cast that includes Thomas Haden Church, Toni Colette, “The Help” star Ahna O’Reilly and “90210″ star Ryan Eggold and Oliver Platt. Deadline reports the film began filming in Seattle last weekend.

Emily Wachtel and Huck Botko wrote the script and Botko is directing the film about a female rock journalist (Colette) who, on assignment, goes on a journey to track down on musician ex-boyfriend (Church). The semi-autobiographical story is described as a “late bloomers coming-of-age quirky romantic comedy” and will see Colette’s character living in New York and finding herself while most of her friends have already settled down. Eggold, O’Reilly and Platt play unspecified supporting roles.

O’Reilly is fresh off her first trip to the Sundance Film Festival, where she was part of Ashton Kutcher-led Apple origin tale “jOBS” and the Grand Jury Prize-winning film “Fruitvale”, which stars Michael B. Jordan and Octavia Spencer. O’Reilly and Spencer previously worked together in last year’s Oscar-winning “The Help.” She has wrapped up filming in James Franco’s adaptation of Faulkner’s “As I Lay Dying” and rock club drama “CBGB.”

First official image from Nick Hornby adaptation “A Long Way Down” starring Aaron Paul and Imogen Poots

September 18, 2012 | Posted by Linda Ge in Images 1 Comment

We’ve seen one scene being filmed on the set of Pascal Chaumeil’s adaptation of Nick Hornby novel “A Long Way Down”, but today The Playlist have unveiled the first official still image from the currently shooting film, and it brings the whole quartet of Aaron Paul, Toni Colette, Imogen Poots and Pierce Brosnan together in one harmonious and happy-looking group shot.

Very happy, considering the four play suicidally sad individuals who meet one another when they all coincidentally choose the same rooftop to plunge to their deaths from one fateful New Year’s Eve. Instead, the four make a pact to stay alive and stay together through Valentine’s Day. Let’s hope this sunny portrait is a sign that they’re able to keep the pact. Rosamund Pike and Sam Neil have also recently joined the cast in unspecified roles.

The film has no formal release date just yet, and you can see the first official image below.

First look at Aaron Paul and Imogen Poots on the set of Nick Hornby adaptation “A Long Way Down”

September 7, 2012 | Posted by Linda Ge in Images 2 Comments

Aaron Paul and Imogen Poots look sufficiently angsty in our first look at photos from the set of “A Long Way Down”, the adaptation of the Nick Hornby novel currently filming on location in London. Just Jared snapped the pictures of Paul dressed all in black and toting a guitar case, while Poots appears to be stalking him before getting into a kerfuffle with an automobile.

French director Pascal Chaumeil is making his English-language film debut on the project from a script by Jack Thorne, and Paul and Poots, along with Pierce Brosnan and Toni Colette, play a quartet of desperate and depressed people who all coincidentally choose the same rooftop to make a New Year’s Eve suicide jump from. Upon meeting each other rather than their deaths, they make a pact to stay alive and stay together through Valentine’s Day. Hard to tell if this Paul/Poots scene takes place before or after they make an acquaintance, as they don’t seem to actually interact.

See the photos of Paul and Poots below, and head over to Just Jared for even more.

Aaron Paul replaces Emile Hirsch in “A Long Way Down” opposite Imogen Poots

August 13, 2012 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting 1 Comment

Emile Hirsch is out, Aaron Paul is in for the big screen adaptation of Nick Hornby novel “A Long Way Down”, according to Deadline.

The “Breaking Bad” star, who will play a pizza delivery man, joins Pierce Brosnan (a TV talk show host), Toni Colette (the mother of a disabled boy) and Imogen Poots (a depressed teenage girl) in the dark comedy about a quartet of down on their luck people who all coincidentally choose the same rooftop to commit suicide from one New Year’s Eve. After running into each other, they decide to make a pact to stay alive and stay together through Valentine’s Day. French director Pascal Chaumeil will make his English-language film debut on the project from a script by Jack Thorne. Filming is set to begin in September on location in London.

Paul went from an acclaimed role on HBO series “Big Love” to an even more acclaimed (indeed, Emmy winning) role as Jesse Pinkman on AMC series “Breaking Bad.” He starred opposite Mary Elizabeth Winstead in Sundance hit “Smashed”, which generated positive buzz and is set for release later this year, and was also shortlisted for the role of John McClane, Jr. in “A Good Day to Die Hard”, ultimately losing out to Aussie newcomer Jai Courtney. He recently wrapped up indie “Decoding Annie Parker” opposite Helen Hunt and Samantha Morton.

Imogen Poots goes “A Long Way Down” with Emile Hirsch

May 16, 2012 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting 2 Comments

British rising star Imogen Poots has signed on to Nick Hornby adaptation “A Long Way Down”, reports THR from Cannes.

The actress joins Pierce Brosnan, Toni Colette and Emile Hirsch in the relationship drama about a quartet of strangers who meet one another by coincidence when they all climb to the top of the same London rooftop on New Year’s Eve with the intention of committing suicide. Instead of jumping, they make a pact to stay alive and stay together through Valentine’s Day. French director Pascal Chaumeil will make his English-language film debut on the project from a script by Jack Thorne. Filming is set to begin in September on location in London.

Poots recently wrapped up Jeff Buckley biopic “Greetings from Tim Buckley” opposite “Gossip Girl” actor Penn Badgley and will tackle Jimi Hendrix next in biopic “All Is By My Side.” She also recently wrapped on “Filth” opposite James McAvoy and Jamie Bell and is currently filming “The Kings of Soho” about London’s porn baron Paul Raymond. Poots was last seen on the big screen opposite Anton Yelchin in the “Fright Night” remake.

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