With DreamWorks’ announcement earlier this month that it has picked up film rights to Rainbow Rowell’s 2013 hit YA romance “Eleanor & Park” (and hired the author on as screenplay writer!), 1980s romance buzz is in the air!
Two misfits.
One extraordinary love.
Eleanor… Red hair, wrong clothes. Standing behind him until he turns his head. Lying beside him until he wakes up. Making everyone else seem drabber and flatter and never good enough… Eleanor.
Park… He knows she’ll love a song before he plays it for her. He laughs at her jokes before she ever gets to the punch line. There’s a place on his chest, just below his throat, that makes her want to keep promises… Park.
Set over the course of one school year, this is the story of two star-crossed sixteen-year-olds – smart enough to know that first love almost never lasts, but brave and desperate enough to try.
While Rainbow is entrenched in writing yet another sure-to-be-amazing book (“adult with a sci-f twist” says the author), that means that filming won’t start on the E&P film until 2015!
Odds are pretty good whoever is cast as the romantic leads hasn’t even been discovered yet… but it doesn’t mean we can’t throw out some wish fulfillment casting choices, RIGHT? (Sadly, we don’t own a time-machine to go snatch up a teenaged Rebel Wilson or we would!)
Who is YOUR dream cast?
ELEANOR DOUGLAS
Ingrid R. Taller – Ingrid Taller, the fashion blogger with the rock ‘n roll taste, came recommended by the bloggers over at ForeverYoungAdult.com and we couldn’t agree more! Ingrid isn’t an actress… yet. But maybe Eleanor could be the Bitchtopia.com founder’s breakout role! We think her punk-size attitude and totally-her-own style would be a perfect fit, too.
BK Cannon – While BK Cannon isn’t a redhead, we know the magic that Hollywood is capable of casting. You may recognize BK as Mary Beth from “Switched at Birth” on ABC Family. She’s guest starred in plenty of shows, such as “House”, “ER”, “Grey’s Anatomy”, “Law & Order”, and “Glee”. Time for BK to hit the big time with Big Red, we say!
Ami Metcalf – Ami Metcalf might be from the other side of the pond, but this English actress is an English actress has already been noted as a talented newcomer to film and television in her home country. Best known for her appearances on Doctors, Upstairs Downstairs, and Walking and Talking, Ami is super cute and seems she’d bring the right amount of fun to this role.
Sharon Rooney – Another Brit topping out list, Sharon Rooney was most recently seen in the first season 3 episode of the BBC drama “Sherlock”—yes, that Sherlock. As the protagonist of “My Mad Fat Diary”, Sharon had to portray body image and mental health issues for her character, Rae. Just dye that hair and give it some curl!
Hannah McIalwain – Hannah McIalwain already knows what it’s like to rock that amazing red hair and freckles, so she’s sure to connect instantly with Big Red. A contestant on “Made” and “The Glee Project”, she’s funny, fiery, and loves music! Let’s go, DreamWorks; get this gal signed!
PARK SHERIDAN
Jay Park – Another that came to our attention through ForeverYoungAdult.com, Jay Park is a Seattle-based singer, dancer, actor and more. Known for his charisma and stage presence, Jay could easily steal Eleanor’s heart as Park!
Justin Lee – Justin Lee is most famously known for his work in the hit comedy series “Arrested Development” as Annyong Bluth, the adopted son of Lucille and George Bluth. Justin might be in his mid-twenties, but he would certainly bring the right level of sensitivity and soft-spokeness to the role of Park, plus a little comedic timing.
Justin Chon – A “Twilight” alum, Justin Chon played Eric Yorkie, a love-struck classmates of Bella’s. Though likely aged-out from the running if Eleanor is cast young, Justin has the perfect smile and self-aware nerdiness for this role.
Booboo Stewart – Booboo Stewart first burst onto the YA movie scene in 2010 as Seth Clearwater in the “Twilight” movie franchise—meaning it’s high time he branched out into a leading role. We’ll next see Booboo on the silver screen as Warpath in the upcoming “X-Men: Days of Future Past”.
Andre Kim – Not to be confused with the South Korean fashion designer André Kim, this Andre Kim is a young actor and model who portrays Winston Chu in “Degrassi” starting in Season 13. Andre’s young, adorkable, and—as a self-described “pretty boy”—would so rock the guyliner.