Stay in the loop on industry and casting news with our write-up on who’s been slated for recent film and television roles.
Please note that shoot dates are subject to state and county restrictions and may change. Refer to Call Sheet for updates, and keep checking Backstage for the latest news on project development during this time.
Untitled Alex Cross Project
James Patterson, the bestselling author in the world, is taking one of his most popular characters to Amazon. The crime novelist is helping to develop a new Alex Cross series, which he’s also executive producing. Dr. Alex Cross, a detective and psychologist with ties to the FBI, has been played by several actors over the years, including Morgan Freeman in 1997’s “Kiss the Girls” and 2001’s “Along Came a Spider,” as well as Tyler Perry in 2012’s “Alex Cross.” Details of the adaptation have yet to be released, including which of the 29 novels featuring the action hero will serve as the basis for the plot. While no actors are currently attached, Kim Coleman Casting is on the case to assemble talent. Production is set to start around January 2023 in Toronto and Washington, D.C.
“Priscilla”
Elvis isn’t the only Presley with a story to tell. A new movie from “Lost in Translation” Academy Award winner Sofia Coppola will tell the story of Priscilla Presley, the King of Rock ’n’ Roll’s still-living ex-wife. The upcoming feature is based on Presley’s 1985 memoir “Elvis and Me,” a candid, intimate account of the couple’s marriage. Bright/Daniels Casting has already brought on Cailee Spaeny (“The First Lady,” “Mare of Easttown”) and Jacob Elordi (“Euphoria,” “Deep Water”) to play the Presleys, but additional roles have yet to be filled. Coppola will write, direct, and executive produce the A24 drama, which is slated to start production later this fall in Toronto.
“Candy Cane Lane”
It may be Halloween season, but for Amazon Prime Video, Christmas isn’t far behind. The streaming service has greenlit “Candy Cane Lane,” a new holiday comedy penned by Kelly Younger (“Muppets Now”) and directed by Reginald Hudlin (“The Last O.G.”). Though plot details of the film have yet to be released, Younger has said the script was inspired by his own childhood Christmases. Eddie Murphy will headline the project, which he’s also producing alongside Imagine Entertainment’s Brian Grazer. Vickie Thomas Casting is bringing on additional actors. While the film is still in preproduction, a potential shoot date has been scheduled for December in and around Los Angeles.
This story originally appeared in the Oct. 13 issue of Backstage Magazine.