Moviefone Editorial

Tag: casting

  • ‘The Little Mermaid’ Remake Adds Awkwafina, Jacob Tremblay

    ‘The Little Mermaid’ Remake Adds Awkwafina, Jacob Tremblay

    Awkwafina; Jacob Tremblay
    Warner Bros. Pictures; Focus Features

    Disney’s live-action remakes keep coming, and now “The Little Mermaid” has made some big moves. The upcoming adaptation has added Awkwafina and Jacob Tremblay to the cast, Variety reports. The actors will star as two of Ariel’s friends, with Awkafina voicing Flounder and Tremblay voicing Scuttle.

    So far, the lead role of Ariel hasn’t been cast, but the villain Ursula may be played by Melissa McCarthy. She is reportedly in talks in spite of earlier rumors that Lady Gaga was being eyed for the role. Regardless, we’d say the cast is coming together nicely.

    The film is a remake of the 1989 animated classic with Rob Marshall directing. David Magee wrote the script after Jane Goldman penned an earlier draft. The movie will feature a mix of old and new songs, with Alan Menken and Lin-Manuel Miranda working on the new ones.

    Awkafina and Jacob Tremblay have both starred in high-profile films recently and have still others on the way. She had a big year last year with roles in “Ocean’s 8” and “Crazy Rich Asians.” Meanwhile, some of his films include “Wonder,” “The Book of Henry,” and “Room.” Coming up for Awkwafina are “The Farewell” and “Jumanji: The Next Level,” and Tremblay stars in the soon-to-be-released “Good Boys.”

    “The Little Mermaid” live-action adaptation is being produced by Marshall, Miranda, Marc Platt, and John DeLuca.

    [via: Variety]

  • Kaley Cuoco to Star in Thriller Series ‘The Flight Attendant’ for WarnerMedia

    Kaley Cuoco to Star in Thriller Series ‘The Flight Attendant’ for WarnerMedia

    Kaley Cuoco in The Big Bang Theory
    CBS

    Kaley Cuoco isn’t leaving Warner Bros. now that “The Big Bang Theory” is over.

    The actress is set to star in and executive produce a thriller series for WarnerMedia called “The Flight Attendant.” It’s part of a new agreement with Warner Bros Television, according to Variety. She signed an exclusive, multiyear deal with a talent holding provision and will develop additional TV projects with her production company, Yes, Norman.

    “The Flight Attendant” is based on the 2018 novel of the same name by Chris Bohjalian. It centers on a hard-drinking flight attendant who wakes up in a Dubai hotel room one morning with a dead man and no recollection of what happened. Steve Yockey (“Supernatural”) is set to adapt the story, and he’ll executive produce alongside Cuoco, Suzanne McCormack, and Berlanti Productions’ Greg Berlanti and Sarah Schechter.

    This isn’t Cuoco’s first post-“The Big Bang Theory” TV project. She’s also set to voice Harley Quinn in Warner Bros.’s upcoming animated series centered on the supervillain. Yes, Norman is again producing, with Cuoco among the project’s executive producers.

    “The Flight Attendant” will premiere on the the forthcoming WarnerMedia streaming service, which is slated to launch in 2020.

    [via: Variety]

  • Henry Cavill Joins ‘Enola Holmes’ Adaptation as Sherlock Holmes

    Henry Cavill Joins ‘Enola Holmes’ Adaptation as Sherlock Holmes

    Henry Cavill in Mission Impossible: Fallout
    Paramount Pictures

    Henry Cavill will join the list of actors who have played the iconic literary detective Sherlock Holmes. He has boarded Legendary Entertainment’s “Enola Holmes” adaptation, Deadline reports. As the character, he’ll star alongside Millie Bobby Brown and Helena Bonham Carter.

    The upcoming film is based on Nancy Springer’s Enola Holmes Mysteries series. Her novels center on another detective named Holmes — Enola, the younger sister of Sherlock. Springer created the character for her books, the first of which debuted in 2006.

    The movie adaptation’s script was written by Jack Thorne, and Harry Bradbeer will direct. Brown is set to play Enola Holmes, while Bonham Carter will portray her mother. Brown is also producing alongside Paige Brown via PCMA Productions. Meanwhile, Alex Garcia and Ali Mendes are overseeing for Legendary.

    Cavill has starred in a number of high-profile projects in recent years. Some of his recent films include “Mission Impossible: Fallout,” “Justice League,” and “Sand Castle.” Additionally, he has a main role in the upcoming Netflix fantasy drama “The Witcher.”

    [via: Deadline]

  • Salma Hayek May Join Marvel’s ‘The Eternals’: Report

    Salma Hayek May Join Marvel’s ‘The Eternals’: Report

    Salma Hayek in The Hitman's Bodyguard
    Summit Entertainment

    Another A-list actor may be joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe: Salma Hayek. The studio wants the Academy Award nominee to join the upcoming superhero flick “The Eternals,” a source told TheWrap. She is now in early talks for a role, according to THR.

    Marvel looks to once again be assembling quite the cast. Richard Madden and Kumail Nanjiani are set to star in the film. Meanwhile, Angelina Jolie was reported to be in talks for to join in late March. Those talks are ongoing, per THR on Wednesday.

    Marvel has not commented on the reports, and the character Hayek would play has not been revealed. The film will reportedly center on Sersi, a superhero created by Jack Kirby as part of his Eternals comic book series. The Eternals are a species that was created to defend Earth.

    Hayek earned her Oscar nomination for 2002’s “Frida.” More recently, she has starred in “The Hitman’s Bodyguard,” “The Hummingbird Project,” and “How to Be a Latin Lover.” She’s also set to star in “The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard” and “Limited Partners,” among other projects.

    “The Eternals” is expected to start shooting later this year. The film is being written by Matthew and Ryan Firpo, and Chloe Zhao will direct. Marvel’s Kevin Feige is on board as a producer.

    [via: TheWrap; THR]

  • ‘Castle Rock’ Season 2 Sets Guest Stars Robin Weigert, Sarah Gadon, Greg Grunberg, and Alison Wright

    ‘Castle Rock’ Season 2 Sets Guest Stars Robin Weigert, Sarah Gadon, Greg Grunberg, and Alison Wright

    Robin Weigert; Sarah Gadon; Greg Grunberg Alison Wright
    AMC; Warrick Page/HBO; AMC; FX

    Four guest stars have checked into “Castle Rock.” Robin Weigert, Sarah Gadon, Greg Grunberg, and Alison Wright are all set to appear in Season 2 of the Hulu psychological horror series, Deadline reports. The actors join a cast that already includes Lizzy Caplan, Paul Sparks, Barkhad Abdi, Yusra Warsama, Elsie Fisher, and Matthew Alan.

    The upcoming season centers on a feud between warring clans that gets worse when Annie Wilkes (Caplan), a budding psychopath, ends up waylaid in Castle Rock. Weigert and Gadon will both play characters with ties to her; Weigert is Annie’s mother, Crysilda Wilkes, while Gadon will portray someone from her past, the vengeful Rita Green. Grunberg, on the other hand, will play Castle Rock’s Sheriff Boucher, and Wright is Valerie, a nice local with an interest in the town’s dark history.

    Each of the four newly announced guest stars has a long list of TV credits. Weigert, an Emmy nominee, comes to the project having starred in series like “Deadwood” and “Dietland.” Gadon recently appeared in “True Detective” Season 3 and previously starred in Netflix’s “Alias Grace.” Meanwhile, Grunberg’s resume include the shows “The Flash” and “Geeking Out,” among others. Wright was a regular on “Feud: Bette and Joan” and has a main role in the upcoming “Snowpiercer.”

    “Castle Rock” comes from Bad Robot Productions in association with Warner Bros. TV. It is based on characters and settings from work by Stephen King and was developed for TV by Sam Shaw and Dustin Thomason. The duo executive produce alongside King, J.J. Abrams, Ben Stephenson, Vince Calandra, and Liz Glotzer.

    “Castle Rock” was renewed for Season 2 in August, but so far, no premiere date has been announced.

    [via: Deadline]

  • Constance Wu Joins ‘Goodbye, Vitamin’ Adaptation

    Constance Wu Joins ‘Goodbye, Vitamin’ Adaptation

    Constance Wu in Fresh Off the Boat
    ABC

    Constance Wu has picked out another book adaptation to star in.

    The “Fresh Off the Boat” and “Crazy Rich Asians” star is set for the upcoming film based on Rachel Khong’s 2017 novel “Goodbye, Vitamin.” Sources told Variety that Wu will play protagonist Ruth Young, a woman who moves back home as her father suffers from Alzheimer’s and then tries something unconventional to help him maintain his sense of self-worth. Khong confirmed Wu’s casting via Twitter, writing that she’s “hopefully past the point of jinxing it now.”

    Wu has had plenty of success with adaptations in the past. She currently stars in the TV series “Fresh Off the Boat,” which is loosely based on Eddie Huang’s memoir of the same name. ABC just renewed the show for its sixth season. Additionally, Wu starred in the hit rom-com “Crazy Rich Asians” and will return for its upcoming sequel; both films are based on books by Kevin Kwan.

    Jennifer Yee McDevitt has boarded “Goodbye, Vitamin” as the screenwriter. So far, no director has been announced. Dylan Clark will produce, and Wu is  set to executive produce alongside Dylan Clark Production’s Brian Williams and Universal’s Lexi Barta.

    [via: Variety]

  • Zachary Levi Is in Talks for Action Comedy ‘Spy Guys’: Report

    Zachary Levi Is in Talks for Action Comedy ‘Spy Guys’: Report

    Zachary Levi in Shazam!
    Warner Bros. Pictures

    Next up for “Shazam!” star Zachary Levi might be the action comedy “Spy Guys.” He’s in talks for the film and would play a spy, Deadline reports. New Line Cinema recently brought on director Jeff Tomsic (“Tag”) and is said to be fast-tracking the film.

    The “Spy Guys” script was written by Adam Sztykiel (“Rampage”). It centers on a super spy who finds himself in a bind during an impossible mission. He has to get help from his not-so-brilliant college buddies that happen to be with him. There’s no word yet on which actors will play his friends.

    Levi has starred in a number of action-heavy films in the past. In addition to his role in “Shazam!,” he is known for playing Fandral in multiple MCU movies. He also has more action ahead, as there are plans for a “Shazam!” sequel.

    “Spy Guys” producers include John Rickard and Lonely Island’s Andy Samberg, Jorma Taccone, and Akiva Schaffer. So far, no released date has been announced, but the flick may be here sooner than you expect. It will reportedly be made prior to “Shazam! 2.”

    [via: Deadline]

  • Demi Moore Set for Recurring Role in ‘Brave New World’ Series

    Demi Moore Set for Recurring Role in ‘Brave New World’ Series

    Demi Moore in Blind
    Vertical Entertainment

    USA Network’s “Brave New World” has added a two-time Golden Globe nominee. Demi Moore is set for a recurring role in the book-inspired series, Variety reports.

    The series is written by David Wiener, Grant Morrison, and Brian Taylor, based on the classic Aldous Huxley novel. It takes place in a utopian society where there is peace and stability thanks to the prohibition of monogamy, privacy, money, family, and history. Moore will play Linda, a woman from that World State who was left behind on trip to a so-called Savage Reservation. That also makes the actress the onscreen mother of Alden Ehrenreich, who will portray John the Savage.

    The series follows Harry Lloyd (Bernard Marx) and Jessica Brown Findlay (Lenina Crowne) as they journey to the Savage Reservation and get into a dangerous situation. They’re rescued by John, leading them to bring him back to the World State. The cast also includes Kylie Bunbury, Hannah John-Kamen, Sen Mitsuji, Joseph Morgan, and Nina Sosanya.

    It’s unclear how many episodes Moore has signed on for. Prior to this project, her most recent recurring TV roles were on “Animals” and “Empire.” She has also continued to star in films, including “Blind” and the upcoming “Corporate Animals.”

    “Brave New World” comes from UCP and Amblin Television. Weiner is the showrunner and is executive producing alongside Morrison, Darryl Frank, Justin Falvey, and Owen Harris. Taylor will be credited as an executive produce for the first episode and then as a consultant beyond that.

    [via: Variety]

  • ABC’s ‘Mixed-Ish’ Adds Mark-Paul Gosselaar in Recasting

    ABC’s ‘Mixed-Ish’ Adds Mark-Paul Gosselaar in Recasting

    Mark-Paul Gosselaar in The Passage
    Fox

    A door closed for Mark-Paul Gosselaar when “The Passage” was canceled in May, but now another has opened.

    The actor has joined ABC’s upcoming “Black-ish” spinoff, “Mixed-ish,” Deadline reports. He’ll star as Paul Johnson, the father of Rainbow, who is played by Tracee Ellis Ross in “Black-ish.” Gosselaar is stepping in to replace Anders Holm, who portrayed Paul in the pilot.

    The series is a prequel to “Black-ish” that was written by Peter Saji and Kenya Barris. It follows a younger Rainbow (Arica Himmell) and her family as they move from a hippie commune to the suburbs. With Gosselaar and Tika Sumpter playing Bow’s parents, it shows the experience as a mixed-race family in the ’80s.

    Gosselaar is coming off a season starring in “The Passage.” Over the years, he has had several notable TV roles, starting with his stint as Zack Morris on “Saved by the Bell” in the late ’80s and early ’90s. The actor went on to be a regular on shows like “NYPD Blue,” “Raising the Bar,” and “Franklin & Bash.”

    Saji and Barris are executive producing “Mixed-ish” alongside showrunner Karin Gist, Ross, Anthony Anderson, Randall Winston, Artists First’s Brian Dobbins, and Cinema Gypsy’s Laurence Fishburne and Helen Sugland. The show comes from ABC Studios.

    “Mixed-ish” will premiere this fall.

    [via: Deadline]

  • Viola Davis, Chadwick Boseman to Star in Netflix’s ‘Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom’ Movie

    Viola Davis, Chadwick Boseman to Star in Netflix’s ‘Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom’ Movie

    Viola Davis; Chadwick Boseman
    20th Century Fox; Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

    Netflix’s upcoming movie adaptation of the play “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” has some high-profile stars.

    The streamer announced the project Wednesday, and it boasts stars Viola Davis and Chadwick Boseman. Their cast mates include Glynn Turman, Colman Domingo, and Michael Potts. They’ll all be directed by George C. Wolfe.

    The story centers on Ma Rainey, the “Queen of the Blues,” as she makes a record in a studio in Chicago in 1927. In the process, tension boils between her, her white agent and producer, and her band mates. Ruben Santiago-Hudson has been tasked with adapting it for screen. He’s working from the award-winning play by August Wilson.

    This project adds to Davis and Boseman’s ever-growing lists of credits. He is well-known for starring in the MCU as T’Challa and will be seen in the upcoming “21 Bridges.” Davis, an Academy Award winner, recently starred in “Widows” and has a key role in the upcoming “Troop Zero.”

    “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” will reunite Davis with Denzel Washington. They previously shared the Broadway stage in 2010 for the revival of “Fences,” another play written by Wilson. Davis then went on to star in Washington‘s 2016 movie adaptation of the work. He’s now producing “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” alongside Todd Black and Dany Wolf. Constanza Romero will serve as an executive producer.

    The project is set to begin shooting in July in Pittsburgh. No release date has been announced yet, but we can look forward to the film will eventually making its way onto Netflix.

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