Ya Casting Roundup

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 you can count 101 Dalmatians, 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…

We’ll start this one off in a slightly new direction, with a TV movie that just might be the best thing ever created. Descendants will be a Disney project focusing on the lives of the children of the Mouse House’s greatest villains, as they decide whether to be part of the family business. So far, Descendants has attached Kristen Chenoweth (as Maleficent—take that, Angelina), Twilight actor Booboo Stewart, Disney regular Dove Cameron and now Cameron Boyce, who will come on board as Carlos De Vil, son of Cruella. The one thing we’re wondering is, why are they not making this into a giant big budget opus???

LEFT TO RIGHT: KRISTEN CHENOWETH, BOOBOO STEWART, DOVE CAMERON AND CAMERON BOYCE CAST IN DISNEY'S “DESCENDANTS”
Scott EastwoodAs for descendants in the real world, Scott Eastwood (son of Clint!) will be the star of the next Nicholas Sparks book-turned-film. In The Longest Ride, a 91-year-old man ponders his life while trapped in a car wreck, as a young couple miles away fall in love at the same time.

In other big screen news, there is a wild chance that Matt Damon might join the Justice League movie (opposite best bud Ben Affleck’s Batman) as Aquaman. While it’s far from confirmed, we’re just psyched to finally be seeing an aquatic superhero committed to the silver screen!

And let the attack of the superheroes (aka Disney via Marvel) continue with Big Hero 6. Maya Rudolph has signed on to voice another lead in the studios’ attempt to cash in on the superhero craze with an animated movie, this one centering on a young robotics genius who becomes part of a team of very green first-time crime fighters to protect the city.

LEFT TO RIGHT: MATT DAMON RUMORED TO JOIN “BATMAN/SUPERMAN” AS AQUAMAN; MAYA RUDOLPH TO VOICE CHARACTER IN MARVEL'S “BIG HERO 6”

Oh, as if you haven’t heard, the core cast for Star Wars Episode VII has been revealed. Many long-standing rumors have proven true, while there are some surprises as well. Perhaps most exciting is the news that the real ‘old school’ team—including Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher), Han Solo (Harrison Ford), Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) along with R2D2 (Kenny Baker) and C-3P0 (Anthony Daniels)—are all coming back! Joining them are newbies Oscar Isaac (Inside Llewyn Davis), Domhnall Gleeson (last two Harry Potter films, plus About Time with Rachel McAdams), Andy Serkis (Gollum in LOTR!), John Boyega (Becoming Human), the immortal Max Von Sydow and Adam Driver (Adam Sackler in Girls).

LEFT TO RIGHT: OSCAR ISAAC, DOMHNALL GLEESON, JOHN BOYEGA, AND ADAM DRIVER ARE PART OF THE OFFICIAL “STAR WARS: EPISODE VII” CASTNaomi WattsIn other franchise news, Naomi Watts has been mentioned as the latest addition to Insurgent, sequel to Divergent, playing a yet to be specified role.

Halston SageYoung actress Halston Sage is continuing to dominate after appearing in Gown Ups 2 as well as this month’s Neighbors. Next, she’ll be a part of both the highly anticipated YA chiller Goosebumps with Jack Black, and Scouts Vs. Zombies, which is pretty much self-explanatory.

Back on the TV side, Rahart Adams (of the shows Neighbors and Nowhere Boys) has been cast as a rebel wizard on Every Witch Way, a teen show about a girl who doesn’t know she is a witch.

TV sequels to look forward to? How about Teen Beach Movie 2 (starring The Fosters’ Maia Mitchell) and Sharknado 2 and 3 (get excited)!!

LEFT TO RIGHT: “TEEN BEACH MOVIE 2” GREENLIT, STARRING MAIA MITCHELL; “SHARKNADO 2” AND “3” COMING SOON