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 say ‘Want to play a game of Quidditch?‘ 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 week on who’s playing what, who’s not, and who should. The roles and stars everyone can’t stop talking about are all here…
First off, some news about one of our favorite standout stars from this year’s Sundance Film Festival: Hellion actor Josh Wiggins has landed the lead in Max, a family adventure film about a service dog returning from Afghanistan.
How to Train Your Dragon star T.J. Miller has become part of Disney’s Big Hero 6, which marks the studio’s first foray into Marvel territory. This comic centers on a young robotics genius named Hiro Hanada, who creates his own superhero team in an effort to fight back against a supervillain. The voice actor will also be seen in this summer’s Transformers: Age of Extinction.
In a bit of anti-casting news, Nickelodeon was touched by a little bit of scandal recently when they moved to cancel (sorry, not renew) the new hit Sam and Cat. Everyone has been at a loss as to why they would do this, when the series (about two girlfriends who start a babysitting service) has enjoyed such success. Most point to the leak of some illicit pictures of star Jennette McCurdy (who is 21 and appeared in some bikini bottoms).
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And for those exciting new projects announced that don’t yet have stars attached, you heard it here first! Find out about new YA-interest films and TV shows below!
As the entire world knows by now, JK Rowling’s prequel to the world of Harry Potter, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, will be turned into a film. But we now know that the work will be the source of three films, which the author herself plans to write. Seems like they want to follow the model of Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit…and make as much money as possible.
Sony Pictures is going retro, bringing together the worlds of 80s video games, computer animation and live action in a bevy of new projects. In addition to the highly anticipated (and very cool sounding) Pixels, which starts filming in May with Adam Sandler, Josh Gad and Michelle Monaghan, The Raving Rabids is the next project on their docket to be getting big budget treatment. These crazy cartoon rabbits first appeared as characters in the Rayman videogames, but were so popular they inspired their own series of games. Lets see how they fare with their own film!
Last but certainly not least, gifted writer Rainbow Rowell (of the excellent Fangirl) will have her charming teenage love story Eleanor & Park turned into a film. The story, about an everyday girl who falls in love a video game-obsessed Korean-American named Park, was optioned by Dreamworks, and represents the rare YA novel not featuring a supernatural or dystopian element to be turned into a movie.