Moviefone Editorial

Tag: casting

  • Dylan O’Brien Joins Mark Wahlberg in Action Thriller ‘Infinite’

    Dylan O’Brien Joins Mark Wahlberg in Action Thriller ‘Infinite’

    Dylan O'Brien in Maze Runner: The Death Cure
    20th Century Fox

    Dylan O’Brien is back in action.

    The Maze Runner series star has reportedly taken on a new role. O’Brien will star in the action thriller “Infinite,” according to Variety. Sources told the publication that he and Sophie Cookson (“Kingsman”) are now part of the cast, joining Mark Wahlberg.

    Antoine Fuqua (“Training Day”) will direct the film, and Ian Shorr is set to pen the script. It’ll be an adaptation of “The Reincarnationist Papers” by D. Eric Maikranz, a novel surrounding a centuries-old secret society called the Cognomina. Its members remember their past lives, so when a young man who is troubled by two of his stumbles upon it, he decides to join. The project was originally set to star Chris Evans, but after scheduling conflicts led to his departure, Wahlberg stepped in.

    So far, O’Brien’s character hasn’t been revealed. He has plenty of experience in the action genre, though — not just with “The Maze Runner” and its sequel but also films like “American Assassin” and “Deepwater Horizon.” Additionally, he also starred in the MTV series “Teen Wolf.”

    “Infinite” comes from Paramount and will be produced by John Zaozirny and Di Bonaventura Pictures’ Lorenzo di Bonaventura and Mark Vahradian. Rafi Crohn is set to serve as executive producer.

    Production on “Infinite” is slated to start this fall, with the film due out Aug. 7, 2020.

    [via: Variety]

  • Vince Vaughn, Kathryn Newton to Star in Untitled Blumhouse Thriller

    Vince Vaughn, Kathryn Newton to Star in Untitled Blumhouse Thriller

    Vince Vaughn; Kathryn Newton
    HBO; Jennifer Clasen/HBO

    There’s an untitled Blumhouse thriller on the way that involves a strange, scary tale of body-swapping.

    Vince Vaughn and Kathryn Newton will star in the Chris Landon-directed flick, Deadline reports. Their characters will be the ones who end up swapped. Newton’s, a high school girl, will have the horror of finding out she’s in the body of a deranged serial killer (Vaughn).

    The screenplay was co-written by Landon and Michael Kennedy. It will follow the teen as she discovers she only has 24 hours to switch back. After that point, she’ll be stuck in the serial killer’s body.

    Newton tweeted after the news broke Thursday that “this is going to be so wild!” That sounds like an accurate description to us. The idea of being in a serial killer’s body is scary enough, and it’s even worse when you realize him being in yours could pose a serious threat to your friends and family. Chilling, right?

    Vaughn has played a criminal before. He previously starred in HBO’s “True Detective.” More recently, he starred in “Seberg,” which hits the Venice Film Festival on Aug. 30. He was also in “Fighting With My Family,” which opened earlier this year. Meanwhile, Newton has appeared in two seasons of HBO’s “Big Little Lies” and is one of the stars of the Netflix series “The Society.” She was also in “Detective Pikachu,” which hit theaters in May.

    The upcoming thriller will be produced by Jason Blum. So far, no release date has been announced.

    [via: Deadline]

  • Ben Platt, Beanie Feldstein to Star in Multi-Year Richard Linklater-Directed Film: Report

    Ben Platt, Beanie Feldstein to Star in Multi-Year Richard Linklater-Directed Film: Report

    Ben Platt; Beanie Feldstein
    Netflix; United Artists Rising

    There are plans to adapt the Stephen Sondheim musical “Merrily We Roll Along” to film, and pieces seem to be falling into place nicely.

    “Boyhood” director Richard Linklater will direct a multi-year movie with stars Ben Platt and Beanie Feldstein, according to Collider. The publication’s sources also say Ginger Sledge and Blumhouse’s Jason Blum are on board. For now, there’s been no official confirmation of the news.

    The project sounds like an interesting one, not to mention a huge undertaking. Like the musical, it would follow characters over two decades. Linklater, who has ample experience working with actors over many years, is said to intend to shoot it over an extended time period.

    The musical — itself based on George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart’s play of the same name — centers on Franklin Shepard, a Broadway musical composer who left his friends and songwriting ambitions behind to produce Hollywood movies. It moves backward, showing the moments and decisions that altered his path. In order to capture the many years the story covers, Linklater will shoot in reverse chronological order, Collider’s sources say.

    Platt’s character is reportedly Shepard, while Feldstein will portray Mary Flynn, his close friend and a film critic. The two both appeared in “The Female Brain,” and each has a series on the way. Platt will star in “The Politican” on Netflix, while Feldstein has a main role in “American Crime Story: Impeachment.” Recent films for him include “Drunk Parents” and “Run This Town,” and hers include “Booksmart” and “Lady Bird.”

    For now, we’d better get used to waiting for this movie, because it sounds like it won’t be released for a long, long time.

    [via: Collider]

  • Diane Keaton, Jeremy Irons Will Star in ‘Love, Weddings & Other Disasters’

    Diane Keaton, Jeremy Irons Will Star in ‘Love, Weddings & Other Disasters’

    Diane Keaton; Jeremy Irons
    Paramount Pictures; Warner Bros. Pictures

    A pair of Academy Award winners have teamed up for “Love, Weddings & Other Disasters.” Diane Keaton and Jeremy Irons will star in the upcoming romantic comedy from director Dennis Dugan, Deadline reports. The cast also includes Veronica Ferres, Jesse McCartney, and DNCE’s JinJoo Lee.

    Dugan (“Grown Ups”) is both the film’s director and screenwriter. His story is about people who work on weddings and strive to create the perfect day for couples yet have not-so perfect relationships themselves. So far, we don’t know any specifics about individual characters.

    Keaton and Irons are both acclaimed actors with long lists of credits behind them. She won her Oscar for 1977’s “Annie Hall,” and he won his for 1990’s “Reversal of Fortune.” More recently, she starred in “Poms” and “Book Club,” and he was one of the stars of “Justice League” and “Red Sparrow.”

    “Love, Weddings & Other Disasters” has producers Mike Rachmill, Dan Reardon, Adrian Politowski, and Martin Metz on board. Meanwhile, Lisa Wolofsky, Frank Buchs, Al Munteanu, and Santosh Govindaraju are serving as executive producers. Gersh and Endeavor will handle U.S. rights as Fortitude presents the film to buyers during the 2019 Toronto Film Festival.

    [via: Deadline]

  • Anna Kendrick Joins Bharat Nalluri Crime Thriller ‘Unsound’

    Anna Kendrick Joins Bharat Nalluri Crime Thriller ‘Unsound’

    Anna Kendrick in A Simple Favor
    Lionsgate

    Add fictional crime-fighter to Anna Kendrick‘s resume.

    The Academy Award nominee has joined the upcoming crime thriller “Unsound,” Deadline reports. Her character is a New England state trooper who is secretly dealing with hearing loss, not to mention a tough mission. The script was written by Matthew Ross and Christopher Edwards, and Bharat Nalluri (“The Man Who Invented Christmas”) is set to direct.

    The story centers on Kendrick’s law enforcement character. She is assigned the most dangerous case of her career: digging into a notorious gang leader’s prison break. Her investigation will uncover a conspiracy, and between that and her ongoing hearing loss, she’ll find her career and life in jeopardy.

    Kendrick is an Oscar nominee for 2009’s “Up in the Air.” Since then, she’s starred in a number of high-profile films, including the Pitch Perfect movies and “Trolls.” Additionally, she was one of the leads in “A Simple Favor” and has two movies coming out before the end of the year — “The Day Shall Come” and “Noelle.”

    “Unsound” will be produced by ShowKat Production’s Jonathan Shukat, Untapped’s Andrew Corkin, and XYZ’s Aram Terzakian and Nate Bolotin. XYZ and CAA Media Finance are backing the film and will handle sales during the 2019 Toronto Film Festival.

    [via: Deadline]

  • ‘Halloween Kills’: Anthony Michael Hall to Star Alongside Jamie Lee Curtis

    ‘Halloween Kills’: Anthony Michael Hall to Star Alongside Jamie Lee Curtis

    Anthony Michael Hall in War Machine
    Netflix/YouTube

    Another original “Halloween” character is coming back, but a new actor will take over the role in the next installment in the horror franchise.

    Anthony Michael Hall has been cast as Tommy Doyle, Variety reports. He’ll star alongside Jamie Lee Curtis as the grown-up version of the bogeyman-fearing boy she babysat the night Michael Myers went on his chilling 1978 rampage. The role was first played by Brian Andrews.

    As a follow-up to 2018’s “Halloween,” the upcoming movie will ignore the sequels that came before it, including 1995’s “Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers.” In that film, Paul Rudd played Tommy. Another version of the character was portrayed by Skyler Gisondo in 2007’s “Halloween.” Hall’s Tommy is part of a script that director David Gordon Green and Danny McBride will co-write.

    While this is Hall’s first film in the famed horror franchise, he’s had a long and notable career. He has starred in classics such as “National Lampoon’s Vacation,” “Edward Scissorhands,” “The Breakfast Club,” and more. More recently, he was seen in the films “Bodied” and “War Machine” as well as the series “Murder in the First.”

    “Halloween Kills” will lead to more scares; another sequel, “Halloween Ends,” will shoot directly after. The two films are set to open on Oct. 16, 2020 and Oct. 15, 2021, respectively.

    [via: Variety]

  • ‘Mortal Kombat’ Movie Casts More Leads

    ‘Mortal Kombat’ Movie Casts More Leads

    Mortal Kombat's Kano and Sonya Blade
    NetherRealm Studios

    More actors are ready to stand and fight.

    Casting for New Line’s “Mortal Kombat” movie continues, and three more leads have been found. Josh Lawson has signed on to play Kano, while Jessica McNamee is in final talks to star as Sonya Blade, according to THR. Additionally, Lewis Tan is reportedly in final negotiations as well, but his role hasn’t been revealed.

    The movie is based on the video game series, which features numerous fighter characters. Kano and Sonya Blade were introduced in the original Mortal Kombat, which came out in 1992, and were also part of the 1995 movie, played by Trevor Goddard and Bridgette Wilson, respectively. The two characters have long feuded, as she has a military background and he’s a mercenary and fugitive. Plot details for the new movie, however, remain under wraps. The most recent script was written by Greg Russo.

    Lawson, McNamee, and Tan may be new to “Mortal Kombat,” but acting is not new for them. Lawson has had roles on shows like “House of Lies” and “Superstore” and will appear in the upcoming drama film “Bombshell.” Meanwhile, McNamee had roles in the 2018 movies “The Neighbor” and “The Meg,” and Tan, a martial artist and actor, stars in the series “Wu Assassins” and appeared in “Deadpool 2.”

    The cast of “Mortal Kombat” already includes Mehcad Brooks (Jackson “Jax” Briggs), Ludi Lin (Liu Kang), Joe Taslim (Sub-Zero), Sisi Stringer (Mileena), and more. The movie is set to hit theaters on March 5, 2021.

    [via: THR]

  • Netflix’s ‘Cowboy Bebop’ Adds Elena Satine as ‘Sultry Beauty’ Julia

    Netflix’s ‘Cowboy Bebop’ Adds Elena Satine as ‘Sultry Beauty’ Julia

    Elena Satine in The Gifted
    Fox

    We’re getting closer to Netflix’s live-action “Cowboy Bebop” series, and casting decisions are being made. Elena Satine has boarded the show, according to a new Deadline report. She joins John Cho, Mustafa Shakir, Daniella Pineda, and Alex Hassell, who were previously cast.

    The series is based on the original Japanese anime and it’s described as a “jazz-inspired, genre bending story.” It follows a group of bounty hunters — including Spike Spiegel (Cho), Jet Black (Shakir), Faye Valentine (Pineda), and Radical Ed (to be cast) — who hunt down the most dangerous criminals in the solar system. Satine will play Julia, a “sultry beauty” that Spike has his eye on, per Deadline. She’ll reportedly find survival difficult in their violent world.

    Satine has had numerous TV gig in the past. She most recently had recurring roles on “Strange Angel” and “The Gifted.” Additionally, she previously was a regular on “Revenge” and “Magic City.”

    “Cowboy Bebop” is produced by Tomorrow Studios, Midnight Radio, and Sunrise. Chris Yost is set to pen the first episode, and he and showrunners Josh Appelbaum, Andre Nemec, Jeff Pinker, and Scott Rosenberg will also serve as executive producers. They’re joined by Marty Adelstein, Becky Clements, Yasuo Miyakawa, Masayuki Ozaki, Shin Sasaki, Tetsu Fujimura, and Matthew Weinberg. Meanwhile, original “Cowboy Bebop” director Shinichiro Watanabe is on board as a consultant.

    Netflix has not yet announced the series premiere date.

    [via: Deadline]

  • Luke Wilson Joins ’12 Mighty Orphans’ Adaptation

    Luke Wilson Joins ’12 Mighty Orphans’ Adaptation

    Luke Wilson in Roadies
    Showtime

    The upcoming film adaptation of Jim Dent’s novel “12 Mighty Orphans” has found its Coach Rusty Russell.

    Luke Wilson has boarded the Great Depression-era drama, Deadline reports. He’ll star as a Texas football coach who leads a team of 12 orphans. Ty Roberts is directing the film from a script he adapted with Lane Garrison.

    Wilson’s character is a WWI vet and an orphan himself. His mother left him as a child, ultimately leading him to take a job coaching at a high school/orphanage as an adult. Coach Russell will turn his team into a contender for the Texas state championship.

    Wilson has had a busy acting career for the last two-plus decades. He was part of the ensemble cast of “Berlin, I Love You,” out earlier this year, and has multiple films on the way, including “The Goldfinch” and “Zombieland: Double Tap,” among others. He also has a recurring role in the upcoming DC series “Stargirl” and previously starred in Showtime’s “Roadies.”

    “12 Mighty Orphans” will be produced by Mike De Luca, Houston Hill, Angelique De Luca, and Greenbelt Films’ Brinton Bryan. Executive producers will be George Young Jr., Rhett Bennett, Greg McCabe, and J. Todd Harris. The project will begin production in the fall in Fort Worth, Texas.

    [via: Deadline]

  • Demi Lovato to Play Icelandic Songstress in Netflix’s ‘Eurovision’

    Demi Lovato to Play Icelandic Songstress in Netflix’s ‘Eurovision’

    Demi Lovato
    Demi Lovato/Facebook

    Prepare the spotlight — another big talent has joined Netflix’s “Eurovision.”

    With the comedy film in production, Will Ferrell has officially welcomed two-time Grammy nominee Demi Lovato to the cast. He made the announcement in an Aug. 20 birthday message that also showed off “a wonderful cake” he claimed to have made for her from scratch. Ferrell’s video also showed the singer-slash-actress blowing out the candles.

    Lovato has taken on the role of Katiana, “one of the best and most angelic singers in all of Iceland,” according to Netflix. She’ll star alongside Ferrell, Rachel McAdams, Pierce Brosnan, and Dan Stevens. The film follows aspiring musicians Lars (Ferrell) and Sigrit (McAdams) as they get the chance to represent their country at the world’s biggest song competition. Brosnan plays Lars’s dad, the most handsome man in Iceland, and Steven is a Eurovision contestant from Russia.

    Lovato started acting as a child and her breakout role was as Mitchie in the 2008 Disney Channel Original Movie “Camp Rock.” Her acting and music career took off from there, and her most recent film was 2018’s “Charming.” She also kicked off her “Tell Me You Love Me” world tour in 2018. “Eurovision” will give her another chance to share her acting and singing skills.

    “Eurovision” is written by Ferrell and Andrew Steele, and David Dobkin is directing. Ferrell is producing via Gary Sanchez Productions alongside Jessica Elbaum and Chris Henchy, while Adam McKay serves as executive producer. The comedy is in production now in the U.K. and Iceland.

    [via: Netflix Is a Joke/Twitter; h/t: EW]