It would seem that casting news for Young Adult Hollywood revolves around just a few hot and very in-demand names, and what a busy bunch they are! But because things change in showbiz faster than it takes Chloe Grace Moretz to get a call from casting agents, the names on that list are changing all the time. So to that end, we here at YA Mag will undertake the hefty task of keeping you up to date each month on who’s playing what, who’s not, and who should. The roles and stars everyone can’t stop talking about are all here…
James Bond’s new Agent Q, Ben Whishaw, will be the voice of Paddington Bear in Paddington, replacing Colin Firth. Based on the beloved children’s book of a talking teddy lost in London, Whishaw will voice the one animated element in the film; the rest of the cast is live action, and includes Hugh Bonneville, Nicole Kidman, Sally Hawkins, Julie Walters, and Jim Broadbent.
Twilight’s Kellan Lutz will star in Smart Bullets, based on the exclusive comic book series. The film will focus on a scientist fleeing from criminals who want the technology she possesses.
Another Twilight alum, Cam Gigandet, is set to star in Broken Vows along with Hunger Games’ Wes Bentley, Thor’s Jaimie Alexander and American Horror Story’s Alexandra Breckenridge. The film follows a young man rejected by his seductive new love, only to grow delusional and vengeful towards her.
YA stars Charlie Plummer, Cory Nichols, and Erin Davie have all signed on to new film King Jack, about a teen delinquent (Plummer) who is charged with looking after his young cousin for the weekend, while he at the same time must fight back against a neighborhood bully.
Kyle Gallner has signed on to join the comedy/horror The Master Cleanse, with the dream cast of Anjelica Huston, Johnny Galecki, Chloe Sevigny, Oliver Platt and Anna Friel. The story follows a heartbroken man who arrives at a spiritual retreat only to discover that the ‘cleanse’ is not at all what he was expecting…
Reining YA goddess Chloe Grace Moretz and Glee’s Darren Criss are attached to the English-language remake of the Japanese The Tale of Princess Kaguya. The manga film tells the story of an old man who discovers a tiny girl inside a bamboo shoot, raising her as his own. They join Lucy Liu, James Marsden, and Beau Bridges in the new cast.
Two exciting names are attached to the film Michael, based on a true story (written up in The New York Times Magazine) about a gay man so distraught over homophobic rants directed at him, he becomes an anti-gay Christian pastor in response. Zachary Quinto will play the pastor’s ex-boyfriend, while Emma Roberts portrays his current girlfriend. The pastor in question will be played by the sorely overexposed James Franco.
Douglas Smith is making some casting waves, with two big projects set to start filming in the near future. The star of Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters and upcoming Ouija will also be a part of the upcoming reboot Terminator: Genesis, joining Emilia Clarke, Jai Courtney and (you bet) Arnold Schwarzenegger. He is also set to star in the indie Evan’s Crime, about a college student who is caught with a small amount of drugs but is nonetheless put away for years by an ambitious prosecutor.
Michael Cera and Tye Sheridan will be a part of Entertainment, following a comedian going through a rough time who tours the American southwest in search of his daughter.
Game of Thrones’ Rose Leslie has signed on to be a part of The Last Witch Hunter, starring Vin Diesel. The fantasy actioner brings witch-hunting to contemporary NYC.
Neil Gaiman fans finally have a reason to be joyous – casting news is in regarding John Cameron Mitchell’s adaptation of the Gaiman short story How to Talk to Girls at Parties, and it’s good: Elle Fanning is attached to star. The period sci-fi drama centers around a bunch of English teens who meet some interplanetary foreign exchange students.
For dance fans, it’s time to get excited for Center Stage 3. Details have yet to be released, but with a director and producers attached, here’s hoping it fares better than the TV movie second sequel.
In a round of Disney updates, both The Little Mermaid and Dumbo are being resuscitated, but in different ways. The former story is being adapted into the foreign film Little from the Fish Shop, based directly on the Han Christian Andersen fairytale. The latter is being retooled by Disney itself, with an aim for a live action adaptation.
The movie version of YA author Colleen Hoover’s novel Slammed is moving ahead into production, telling the story of a teenage girl who moves to a new city and falls in love with the man who lives next door–only to discover that he is the young new teacher at her school. How very Pretty Little Liars of her.
Embattled X-Men director Bryan Singer is developing the action fantasy film Age of Heroes, based on the 90s comic series (also the source material for the recent novel by James Hudnall). The series follows a group of rebels in a fantastical land overruled by gods. When their leaders disappear, the group must protect their home against the monsters and ancient evil that now roam loose.