Young Hollywood Casting News Roundup
Manuel here trying to not to make a big deal out of that “Grace of Monaco will be premiering on Lifetime” news. The Emmy campaign begins now, yes, but gosh, there really is no wrath like a Weinstein scorned, is there? And so, rather than try and come up with a witty headline (maybe something like “DisGrace”?), I figured we’d look onward by checking out some casting news about some of our favorite up and coming (read: young) actresses. In other words, imagine we here at TFE brought all of these talented gals together, shot our very own Vanity Fair-style cover, and this is just a helpful guide as to where to see them next:
Mia Wasikowska
She’s been tormented by Nicole Kidman in Stoker, she’s tormented Julianne Moore in Maps to the Stars, and while I wish I could announce she’ll finish collecting all The Hours ladies with an upcoming Meryl Streep film (we know Meryl loved her in Jane Eyre) she’ll actually be tormented and persecuted by her Lawless co-star, Guy Pearce, in the upcoming Western thriller Brimstone.
Brie Larson
After her head-turning lead role in Short Term 12, Larson has been oddly not busy (let’s not speak of The Gambler). Thankfully, 2015 looks busy enough: we’ll be seeing her next in Trainwreck, while two other films (the claustrophobic sounding Room and the India-set Basmati Blues) feel like fall films. She’s just signed on to Ben Wheatley’s Reservoir Dogs-style flick Free Fire, where she’ll co-star against a trio of hunks: Luke Evans, Armie Hammer and Cillian Murphy.
Anna Kendrick
The now ubiquitous triple threat (she can sing! she can act! she can social media!) is poised to have a great summer with Pitch Perfect 2 and while her follow-up projects see her taking more serious looking roles (a hit-man film with Sam Rockwell and a forensic accountant film with Ben Affleck), those of us who enjoy her in full comedy mode should greet her newest casting - in a rom-com titled Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates alongside Zac Efron! - with open arms.
Keke Palmer
Akeelah and the Bee was clearly just a beginning. Since, Palmer has been making a name for herself, both on Broadway (where she was the first African-American Cinderella) and on TV (with recurring roles in 90210, Masters of Sex and starring roles in Lifetime’s A Trip to Bountiful and VH1’s CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story). Now she’s joined the merry band of Ryan Murphy players in Scream Queens:
Kristen Stewart
Hot off being the first American actress to win a Cesar Award (for Clouds of Sils Maria which opens this weekend; go see it!) and chastising the “big, big, big green monster of cash” that fuels the current celebrity news industry, Stewart has been lined up to star with Brendan Gleeson in a Scottish historical film titled The Great Getaway.
Gabourey Sidibe
I can’t be the only one happy to see Gabourey’s post-Precious career continue to flourish. After parts in The Big C, American Horror Story and Empire, it seems she’s found a footing in television and that’s where we’ll see her next in Billy Eichner and Julie Klausner’s Hulu comedy Difficult People.
Don't you find it refreshing that none of these actress casting notices mention tentpoles, blockbusters or otherwise multiple-film franchise contracts? Which one of these projects are you most excited about?
Reader Comments (15)
Film: The Great Getaway (dumb title for a Scottish historical pic)
Excited about these actresses:
1. Gabby (been pulling for her for a LONG time)
2. Brie (I loved her perf in Short Term 12 so much!)
3. Keke (so charming, but I hope she won't be lost to TV even tho TV is awesome right now)
4. Mia (she was also LOVED by Julianne in The Kids are Alright)
It's gotten to that point where I will blindly and gladly walk into any film that has got Kristen Stewart's name attached to it. Whatever she decides to do next, I'm going to be there for it on opening day.
It's been pretty amazing how Kristen Stewart has been able to reinvent herself now that she's gotten rid of that sparkly vampiric albatross.
Very pleased with all of the shunning soulless blockbusters seems Kristen is the new Jodie Foster taking her career now very serisouly and thank goodness.
Insert Mia Wasikowska into Sebastian's comment. She'd been good before, but she was a revelation in Tracks.
Larson was SO good in short term 12. Surprised she was passed over in terminator for that talentless actress from GOT. Hopefully she has good roles in some of these.
Hey: Well, the director is Alan Taylor, primarily a hired gun who actually directed episodes OF Game of Thrones. (The only show he did the first episode of was Mad Men and it probably took that show at least a season to get bearable BECAUSE the actors were initially coded to his off-key wavelength and needed to get pushed off it.)
Kristen Stewart is up for the female lead in Ang Lee's next film, too! I hope she gets the part.
I loved reading Room and imagining Brie nailing the part. At the very least she can watch and learn from Joan Allen and William H. Macy. But it has serious potential-, layered, moving character arc, the part could go supporting, since the kid is the lead, high degree of difficulty-acting alongside a child, much of the movie is only two people, and it really all rests on the bond between her and her son. I am going to be pissed at A24 if they mess this up and don't give her a proper campaign.
And...when I saw the title of this post, I thought, "This better contain Brie Larson." But then she's the only one you didn't include a picture of!
I'm with i/fwp. I just finished reading Room and really enjoyed it (if one can say that). I had no idea they were making into a movie, but Brie is perhaps the BEST possible casting for the project.
Also, I need that Zac Efron / Anna Kendrick movie immediately.
I can't wait to see Brie Larson in Room! The book is fantastic and will offer her such an amazing role to play!
I really like all these actresses and am glad they keep working, but now I want to know what is Emma Stone going to do next? Besides the Cameron Crowe joint. With Birdman after what felt like years of her doing Gwen Stacy, I want to see more of her. I missed her.
Hmm I'm not too excited about Stone anymore tbh. I was after Easy A but that was ages ago
Hey: I completely agree. Since Easy A it's been down hill with her for me as well, though I still enjoy her as a celebrity.