Rooney Mara And Adeel Akhtar Joining Joe Wright's PAN

Casting for Joe Wright's (Hanna) Peter Pan origin film Pan is currently underway. TheWrap reports that Rooney Mara (The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo) is in talks to play Tiger Lilly and comedian Adeel Akhtar (Four Lions, The Dictator) has joined taking the role of Hook's fellow pirate buddy Smee. Previously, additions included Garrett Hedlund playing a young Captain Hook, while Hugh Jackman will play a villainous Blackbeard. A search is going out to find a young actor to play Peter Pan.


SOURCE: THEWRAP

Jaume Collet-Serra Talks AKIRA Vision And Reaffirms Trilogy

Spanish director Jaume Collet-Serra's is slowly rising to the level of studio blockbuster. His first batch of films included horror flicks House of Wax and Orphan, the usual type of films a new director get's offered in Hollywood. He's recently found a muse in Liam Neeson directing him in the awfully dull Unknown, this weekend's trapped-on-a-plane thriller Non-Stop and action flick Run All Night.

Non-Stop hits theatres this weekend, and I've actually heard nothing but positive things about it. Bloggers such as Devin (BadassDigest), El Mayimbe (LatinoReview) and Frosty (Collider), have given brief but positive reactions from their recent screenings. Folks like these usually have a good radar for poorly made films, so their keenness for the film is a good sign.

Why it a good sign? Before Non-Stop and Run All Night were put into production, Jaume was attached to direct Warner Bros' live-action Akira adaptation back in 2011. A much beloved manga and anime film, which some consider the best in both mediums. The budget had been reduced a couple of times, but the $90 million was too expensive for the studio. The director would confirm last year that he was still going ahead with directing Akira, after he completed Run All Night. He talked to ComingSoon about his vision for the film, which might win over fans or just anger them (over comments of the "terrible" characters). Jaume also confirms previous talk of Akira being turned into a trilogy.


Collet-Serra: It's great that they're waiting for me. It's different, because you have to be respectful of the source material. Otomo adapted his own work from a manga into an anime and both things are completely different and genius. The only way to do a live version of "Akira" is to take the spirit and adapt it. It will be as different as the anime was from the manga.

CS: What worries myself and a lot of the other fans of the property is you have elements that are commercial and sexy, like the motorbikes or the jaw-dropping futuristic backdrop, but for the most part it's a very cerebral work. How do you maintain the essence of that without diluting it into essentially "Blade Runner: Mark 2"?

Collet-Serra: I think you cannot make a movie about "Akira" and hope that everyone understands it. Like everything else, you have to make three or four movies in one where there's the essence somewhere. If you're a fan, you already know what it's about and you'll see it's part of the same world, but trying to oversimplify it would be a mistake. I think if at some point a character tries to explain it to the audience at the end of the second act, that's a problem. It's more like an existential opera. It's something that can only be explained in the manga, and even in the anime it's hard to follow.

CS: And we all have that original anime, it's there, nothing can sully it, so if you were going to do it in live-action one would hope you would bring something new to the table. What is it you are bringing specifically that is going to make it yours?

Collet-Serra: I hope that I can bring strong characters. In the original source material, I don't think the main characters are the protagonists. What I'm hoping is to bring characters.

CS: That's true. It's one of those strange stories where you literally never see the main character that is the namesake of the film!

Collet-Serra: Nobody's interesting. Tetsuo's interesting because weird sh*t happens to him, and Kaneda is so two-dimensional. That's part of the Japanese culture, they never have strong characters. They're used as a way to move the other philosophy forward.

CS: They're ciphers.

Collet-Serra: Yeah. So hopefully in my version that will be strong, and you'll have a story that happens in that world that will show you a little bit of the mystery. Then, if you're interested, they'll make "Akira 2 & 3" then you can get deeper into it. I love the world, a lot of people love that world, so why wouldn't we indulge in it a little bit and see how it would be if it was real? Like you say I don't have to explain everything, but wouldn't you like to spend two-hours in a world of "Akira" and follow a character and be like, "that's cool"? That's all I want to offer, is two-hours in a world you can actually feel. We're working on it.


I wasn't convinced when Doug Liman (Bourne Identity, Mr And Mrs Smith) was hired to direct Edge of Tomorrow, which is another manga adaptation based on All You Need Is Kill. The recent trailer has sold me on the film. I'll hold off judgements on Jaume making Akira, until we see some footage and images from the project. Because it could be a very similar situation, and he might actually have an unique vision for the film. 

Casting has always been a bit of a hot-topic with Akira, as Warner Bros. was exclusively looking at young white actors. Whitewashing the cast and relocating the Japanese-set (very important to the story) story to Manhattan. At one point Garrett Hedlund (Tron Legacy, On The Road, Mojave, Unbroken, Inside Llewyn Davis) was offered the lead role (via Twitch) with Gary Oldman (Robocop, Dark Knight Trilogy, Dawn of The Planet of The Apes, Lawless) and Helena Bonham Carter (King's Speech, Terminator Salvation, Fight Club, Lone Ranger) also in the mix.

Hedlund recently tried to nab the John Connor role in Termination: Genesis, which would include a three-picture deal. He instead signed-on for the part of Hook in WB's Peter Pan origin film Pan from director Joe Wright (Hanna, Atonement), alongside Hugh Jackman as Blackbeard. Some are saying that Garrett might still be attached for Akira, but I'm not entirely convinced.


SOURCE: COMINGSOON

Emilia Clarke And Brie Larson Still Front-Runners For Sarah Connor In TERMINATOR 5

Deadline is reporting that actresses Emilia Clarke (Game of Thrones) and Brie Larson (Scott Pilgrim, 21 Jump Street) have tested for Terminator 5. They were previously linked with actresses Tatiana Maslany (Orphan Black) and Margot Robbie (The Wolf of Wall Street), in the mix for the role of Sarah Connor. This update sounds like the pair are close to landing the lead role. While Tatiana and Margot aren't mentioned (lack of information on them?). Alan Taylor (Game of Thrones, Thor: The Dark World) is attached to direct with a release date of June 1st,  2015.

Arnold Schwarzenegger is expected to return for the film in an unnamed role (possibly human). According to other sources Tom Hardy (Inception, Mad Max: Fury Road, Dark Knight Rises), Garrett Hedlund (Tron Legacy, On The Road), and Boyd Holbrook (The Host) are being looked at for John Connor. Also, Taylor Kitsch (Savages, John Carter) and Nicholas Hoult (X-Men: First Class, X-Men: Days of Future Past) have tested for the role of Kyle Reese.

SOURCE: Deadline 

Ty Simpkins Takes Lead In JURASSIC WORLD, Jake Johnson In The Mix For Role

Deadline reports that Iron Man 3 breakout star Ty Simpkins (Insidious 1-2, Little Children, War of The Worlds) has landed the lead in Colin Trevorrow's Jurassic World. While Bryce Dallas Howard (50/50) was confirmed a couple of weeks back. The site also mentions that New Girl's Jake Johnson could take a role in the film. Johnson previously worked with Colin on Safety Not Guaranteed, so it might end up a reunion. Other names previously linked for roles include Josh Brolin, David Oyelowo and Garrett Hedlund.

Director Jaume Collet-Serra In Talks To Resurrect Live-Action AKIRA Film

Variety reports that Warner Bros. is looking to bring their Akira live-action film out of development limbo with a little help from director Jaume Collet-Serra (Unknown, Non Stop). The director is currently in talks with the studio to helm the troubled project. It's reported that production on Akira could begin as early as Spring 2014. Garret Hedlund was attached in the lead but it's unknown if he'll stay on as the film's lead.

Actors Testing For Marvel's GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY

Deadline reports that Marvel is currently looking to cast actors in James Gunn's Guardians of The Galaxy. Deals have been made to have Joel Edgerton (Zero Dark Thirty, Star Wars, Animal Kingdom, Warrior), Jack Huston (Boardwalk Empire), Jim Sturgess (Cloud Atlas), Lee Pace (Hobbit, The Fall, Lincoln) and Eddie Redmayne (Les Miserables) test for Peter Quill/Star-Lord. While Peter Quill aka Star-Lord will be the main role there are still key parts left to fill which could include Drax, Nova and Adam Warlock. I wouldn't be shocked that these actors will also be considered for supporting parts in the franchise which will hit theaters on August 1st 2014.

Joel Edgerton has the best chance here with Zero Dark Thirty gathering a massive amount of attention and could land some serious awards consideration. He had been previously linked to speaking with Marvel for a role which very well could have been Peter Quill all along.

While they aren't confirmed for tests, actors such as Garrett Hedlund (Tron Legacy), Sullivan Stapleton (Strike Back, Animal Kingdom) and James Marsden (X-Men 1-3, Superman Returns) are also interested in the project. Sullivan is already heading up a comic book film with the prequel to 300. Garrett apparently turned down a chance to play Captain America to land Tron Legacy, something the actor regrets? A name that seems to be the odd man out is James Marsden best known for playing Cyclops in the original X-Men trilogy. Like Chris Evans, James has roots already in the Marvel film universe but doesn't seem like a good fit among these choices.

Jessica Brown Findlay Takes Female Lead In Winter's Tale

Deadline reports that British actress Jessica Brown Findlay (Downton Abbey, Albatross) has beat out a slew of other actress for the lead in Winter's Tale. Garrett Hedlund and Aaron Johnson are the current frontrunners for the male lead. It's been previously reported that Russell Crowe and Will Smith will have small roles as well. The film centers around a dying young woman who falls in love with a thief who breaks into her home, a palatial West Side mansion, in a drama that takes place in 19th Century and contemporary Manhattan. Shooting will start on October 15th in New York.

Christian Bale Joins Out Of The Furnace With Scott Cooper Directing

HeatVision reports that Christian Bale has signed on for the lead in Scott Cooper's (Crazy Heart) revenge fueled thriller Out The Furnace. It focuses on Slim (Bale) a man released from prison after serving time for murder in 1986 Indiana. Silm tries to set his life in the right direction for the sake of his girlfriend but when his brother is murdered he's out for revenge. The film previously titled The Low Dweller was originally a film setup with Leonardo DiCaprio  as the star and Ridley Scott directing. In the years since that announcement it hadn't had any traction. There is now movement and some rather large names are pursing roles. Variety reports that Viggo Morten sen could end up playing the film's villain along with Robert Duvall up for the role of Slim's uncle.

Another meaty role seems to be Slim's brother which has a group of young talented actors in the running. They include Casey Affleck (Gone Baby Gone), Taylor Kitsch (Savages), Channing Tatum (Haywire) and Gerrett Hedlund (Troy). The latter previously worked with Cooper on Crazy Heart and Hedlund's role in Akira is now in question with the project getting the axe. Affleck is in similar situation as WB also killed Paradise Lost which had Casey set to play an angel warrior. Kitsch's profile is about to blow up with John Carter releasing next month but seems to be perfect after a performance in the hard boiled Savages. Channing also seems like he could do the film justice but the other names seem more interesting in my opinion.

RUMOR: Taylor Kitsch Also In The Mix For Daredevil?

MovieHole has briefly mentioned that Taylor Kitsch has been added to the candidates for the Daredevil reboot. 20th Century Fox has set David Slade (Hard Candy, 30 Days of Night) to direct and write which will be based on the gritty Frank Miller (300, Sin City) runs of the comics. Kitsch is going to have a make or break year with massive blockbusters John Carter and Battleship heading to theaters. If successful there is already a John Carter sequel expected to go into production with the working title Gods of Mars. Disney hasn't greenlit the sequel so it could leave an opening for Taylor to make Daredevil sometime this year. Considering there doesn't seem to be a source listed I would take this as just a rumor.

Some might be skeptical about this rumor because he once played Gambit in Fox's Wolverine. However, it looks like Fox has scrapped previous incarnations of the X-Men characters with Matthew Vaughn's First Class reboot. This leads me to believe that we'll see all new actors portraying our favorite mutants (minus Wolverine of course) in future First Class sequels. The raging Cajun seems like he could be great addition to Vaughn's swinging 60's era X-Men universe. There were rumblings that Aaron Johnson (Kick-Ass, Savages) could be playing either a new Gambit or Cyclops. Even the Wolverine sequel will be a one-off and likely won't have any connection to the first film. Not leaving room for Gambit to return for the sequel. I expect that we could see a completely re-shot origin for Wolvie to further separate the two films.

There is a new trend of actors playing multiple comic book roles like Chris Evans (Fantastic Four, Captain America), Ryan Renyolds (Blade 3, Green Lantern, Deadpool, R.I.P.D.), Ray Stevenson (Thor, Punisher, G.I. Joe) and Idris Elba (Thor, Losers, Ghost Rider). I wouldn't be too concerned that Kitsch played a supporting character in a terrible comic book film. It doesn't exclude him from playing other heroes or villains in the future. That being said a few other actors have been previously linked to the project which includes Xavier Samuel, Garret Hedlund (Troy, Tron Legacy) and Bradley Cooper (Hangover, Limitless). Warner Bros. recently put an axe to both Akira and Paradise Lost which could give Hedlund and Cooper an opening to make the film as well.

Warner Bros. Can't Decide On Akira's Second Lead Actor

Deadline reports another reason Warner Bros. has put Akira on hold is that they can't figure out who should play Tetsuo and the actors are free to walk from the project if they want to. The two actors in question are Michael Pitt (Boardwalk Empire, The Dreamers) and Dane DeHaan (In Treatment, True Blood, Chronicle) their testing options have expired so they are currently free to go after other projects.

The character is basically the meatiest role of the picture as Tetsuo goes from nerdy gangland biker to a psychotic villain with overwhelming superpowers. Yet, I'm unsure what bastardized version of Tetsuo we'll end up seeing in the film since Kaneda is now a bartender/bar owner instead of a punk biker. Out of the two I have to go with Pitt as he's been wonderful on the first two seasons of Boardwalk Empire. However, Dane DeHaan's upcoming superpower film Chronicle is gathering a lot of buzz.

Akira In Trouble, Script Issues And Budget Cuts

HeatVision reports that Warner Bros. is putting another project on ice until a new budget is worked out. Previously Aurthur And Lancelot had been on hold until a new budget was agreed upon. Akira is undergoing the same budget review. The project already had it's original budget (when director Albert Huges was attached) cut in half to a rather slim $90 million. Most tentpole comedies have a budget similar to that number. They report the studio wants that number trimmed to $60-70 I'm sure that is to cover marketing and advertising costs. Variety has it on good authority that the project-freeze is also because of Steve Kloves' (Harry Potter franchise) script which needs reworking and more development.

I can see where the studio is coming from Garrett Hundland is the only locked in actor and it's deviation from the source material has become volatile to the fanbase. I'm unsure Akira can be a success without support from fans of the manga/anime who are talking of boycotting the movie. Cutting the budget this aggressively gives the impression that the special effects budget of the film will be will likely suffer. I wouldn't be surprised to see this film look more contemporary and the science fiction elements also scaled back. Basically I assume this movie won't look anything like we understand to be from Akira.

Casting other roles has become another problem as names like Ken Watanabe, Kristen Stewart, Helena Bonham Carter have been mentioned but nobody has signed on. The biggest issue is that they haven't nailed down an actor for Testuo. Micheal Pitt (Boardwalk Empire), Toby Kebbell (RockNRolla), Paul Dano (There Will Be Blood) and Logan Marshall-Green (Prometheus) were linked for testing for the part but nothing has come from it yet. There have been rounds and rounds of casting tests which haven't been that productive.

Ken Watanabe Offered Role In Akira

Twitch reports that Gary Oldman has turned down the role of the Colonel in Akira. Oldman had also been offered the Merlin role in Arthur And Lancelot. The studio has now offered the part to another Christopher Nolan regular Ken Watanabe (Inception, Batman Begins, Last Samurai). Garrett Hedlund and Kristen Stweart have been linked for the leads.

What's interesting about this move by Warner Bros. is that Ken is the first Japanese actor to ever be linked the to the project. Akira has been getting a lot of hate from fans that the casting has been mostly whitewashing. This hopefully could be the first step to casting more Japanese actors in the film.

WB Still Searching For Akira's Tetsuo, More Actors Linked

I swear that Akira has to be one of the messiest casting searches I've seen since Captain America. The studio seems to be scrambling to find their Tetsuo before Akira starts production early next year. We've heard names like James McAvoy, Andrew Garfield, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Robert Pattinson and Ezra Miller (We Need To Talk About Kevin) previously all linked for the role but nothing has come of it. Currently Garrett Hedlund (Tron Legacy) is in place for role of Kaneda. Other actors such as Gary Oldman, Kristen Stewart, Keira Knightley and Helena Bonham Carter have been mentioned being in the mix as well.

HeatVision has word another batch of actors will screentest for the part of Tetsuo. The new list includes Tobey Kebbell (Wrath of The Titans, RockNRolla), Michael Pitt (Dreamers, Boardwalk Empire), Richard Madden (Game of Thrones), Rami Malek (The Pacific), Logan Marshall-Green (Prometheus), D.J. Controna (G.I. Joe 2) along with retests from Paul Dano (Cowboys And Aliens, There Will Be Blood) and Alden Ehrenreich. Out of this bunch I feel that Kebbell and Pitt have the best chances too pull off Tetsuo properly. While names like Malek and Madden shouldn't be overlooked as both are becoming excellent actors.

Kristen Stewart Could Play Kei In Akira

Warner Bros. has been having a really tough time nailing down it's male leads for their adaptation of Akira. Not much can be said for the few female roles as there haven't been too many names being mentioned. Now Twitch reports that Kristen Stewart is now in the mix for the role of female protagonist Kei. I'm still on the fence about Stewart in general with her terrible performances in Twilight but Huntsman could change my opinion.

A rumored offer has gone out to Helena Bonham Carter (Dark Shadows, Deathly Hollows, Fight Club) for the role of Lady and Keira Knightley (Pirates 1-3) had been linked for an unknown role. Garrett Hedlund (Tron Legacy, Troy) is up for the hero role of Kandea and Gary Oldman (Dark Kight) has been offered the role of the Colonel. While Ezra Miller (We Need To Talk About Kevin) and Alden Eherenreich are up for Tetsuo.

Ezra Miller & Alden Eherenreich Up For Tetsuo In Akira

HollywoodReporter says that Warner Bros. has two actors in mind to play Tetsuo in Akira. Previously there had been names mentioned like James McAvoy, Andrew Garfield, Robert Pattinson and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Yet, two new actors are testing for the role they are Ezra Miller and Alden Eherenreich. Both are relatively unknown but are gathering quite an amount of cinema geek-cred. Miller is currently getting rave reviews for his performance in the thriller We Need To Talk About Kevin. Alden is best known for working with Francis Ford Coppola (Godfather) in films like Tetro and Twixt. He was also in the running to play the new Peter Park in Marc Webb's The Amazing Spider-Man.

I think Ezra Miller might be the best of the two choices since his brooding Kevin is very similar to the latter stages of Tetsuo's descent into power-driven madness. Other names that have been circling the project include Garrett Hedlund, Gary Oldman, Helena Bonham Carter and Keira Knightley.

Four Possible Actors In The Running For Akira's Tetsuo

Now that Garrett Hedlund is likely taking the role of Kaneda in Akira there is the possibility we already know who might be up for the second lead of Tetsuo. Hedlund was apart of casting group for his part and there was a second smaller group testing for Tetsuo. That group included James McAvoy (Wanted, X-Men First Class), Andrew Garfield (Amazing Spider-Man, Social Network) and Robert Pattinson. Joseph Gordon-Levitt had been linked for the role when it was originally reported Warner Bros. was going to develop the project.

I wouldn't count Joseph out of the race until an actual name is attached. He's been quietly gathering steam at the studio starring in Christopher Nolan's Inception and The Dark Knight Rises. Not to mention working with DiCaprio (who is a producer) on two films including Quentin Tarantino's upcoming Django Unchained. James McAvoy might be a good fit but he has sequels on the horizon that include Wanted 2 and a X-Men First Class sequel. Andrew Garfield might have a little more leeway than James as he only has Amazing Spider-Man 2 coming up which might go into production until the first film's box office numbers come back. It's expected that Akira will be starting production soon. While I don't entirely count out Robert Pattinson he is going to turn off the male audiences who attribute him to the quality bankrupt Twilight franchise. Not a good idea since there is already enough hate on this project without terrible casting choices.

Keira Knightley Also Linked For Akira

HeatVision is confirming previous reports that both Gary Oldman (The Colonel) and Garrett Hedlund (Kaneda) are wanted by Warner Bros. for Akira. Twitch and HeatVision both report Helena Bonham Carter is involved, she's been rumored for Lady Miyako. There are still a bunch of large parts still up for grabs and a fourth actor is now in the mix.

Someone new mentioned is Keira Knightley who is likely in mind for the role of Kei. A revolutionary who ends up helping Kaneda when his friend and fellow biker gang member Tetsuo is mixed up with military medical experiments. Knightley is best known internationally for her role as Elizabeth Swan in the original Pirates of The Caribbean trilogy. She's been itching for a new blockbuster as she's been testing for films like The Dark Knight Rises and Captain America The First Avenger recently. Keira previously played a rough and fast-talking bounty hunter in Tony Scott's Domino, so she might fit well in this role.

Warner Bros. Wants Gary Oldman For Akira And Arthur

Deadline reports that Warner Bros. is pursuing Gary Oldman for two roles in upcoming tentpoles. They confirm the previous report that Gary is wanted for the role of the Colonel in Jaume Collet-Serra's  Akira alongside front-runner Garrett Hedlund. The studio is also pursing him for the role of Merlin in David Dobkin's Arthur And Lancelot in which Joel Kinnaman is a favorite for Lancelot. There is a strong chance that Oldman could end up with an Oscar nomination for his performance in Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy. So it seems like a smart move on the part of Warner Bros. to lock him up for a bunch of projects. 

Garrett Hedlund Now In Official Talks For Akira

Variety reports that front-runner Garrett Hedlund (Tron Legacy, Troy) has been offered the role of Kaneda in Akira and is now in talks with Warner Bros. Hedlund had been in the running since the original group of actors were revealed. Twitch previously mentioned that Gary Oldman and Helena Bonham Carter could be up for roles as well. It will be directed by Jaume Collet-Serra with a script from Steve Kloves (Amazing Spider-Man) who is best known for writing a majority of the Harry Potter screenplays.

Gary Oldman & Helena Bonham Carter Offered Roles For Akira?

Twitch is reporting that Warner Bros. have offered another two roles for Akira. This time is it's Gary Oldman for the role of the Colonel and Helena Bonham Carter as Lady Miyako. Neither are strangers to genre based projects and are darlings at the studio. Oldman and Carter previously worked together in the Harry Potter franchise. It's not out of the question that these heavy weight actors will end up in the film but it's simiply a rumor at this point. Morgan Freeman had long been rumored for the role that Oldman is being offered. Garrett Hedlund (Tron Legacy) apparently is the front-runner for one of the leads.