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.
“American Horror Stories”
Ryan Murphy isn’t ready to lay one of his biggest franchises to rest just yet. In partnership with FX on Hulu, Murphy is unveiling a new horror series that will tell short tales in lieu of a season-long arc. “American Horror Stories” will comprise 16 stand-alone episodes that span a range of topics from creepy and dystopian to murderous and ghostly, featuring talent seen in the original anthology. Murphy will create and executive produce the spinoff, with “American Horror Story” stalwart Sarah Paulson on board to direct at least one episode. The creator has tapped his go-to team, Ulrich/Dawson/Kritzer Casting, which has almost exclusively cast the “American Horror Story” collection as a whole. Following a series pickup, the project is in the casting phase of pre-production. No shooting dates or locations have been announced.
“White Bird”
Lionsgate, which distributed the film adaptation of R.J. Palacio’s “Wonder” in 2017, is taking on another of the author’s works with “White Bird.” The period piece, set in the same universe as “Wonder,” is an adaptation of the author’s 2019 graphic novel. The World War II–set story follows the life of a young Jewish girl who is taken in by a gentile family in Nazi-occupied France. While in hiding, she forms a friendship with a boy who has been shunned by his classmates. Marc Forster is set to direct the movie, which is being produced by Mandeville Films. Casting is underway with Stephanie Holbrook, though no actors have been officially announced. Production is scheduled to start this month in Prague.
“Confess, Fletch”
Jon Hamm is stepping into the shoes formerly occupied by Chevy Chase in his latest film. While Chase went snooping as the sharp-tongued Irwin M. “Fletch” Fletcher in the original 1985 film and its 1989 sequel, “Fletch Lives,” this modern-day reboot will see Hamm taking on the investigative reporter role. The adaptation of Gregory McDonald’s 1976 novel will find Fletch investigating several murders despite the fact that he’s the prime suspect in one of them. Tasked with solving a disappearance and recovering his fiance’s stolen art collection to boot, Fletch solves multiple crimes and still finds time to clear his own name. Hamm, who is also producing, is currently the only actor attached to the film, which Ellen Chenoweth is casting. Production is set to begin in early May in New York City, with filming also taking place in Italy.
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This story originally appeared in the Jan. 21 issue of Backstage Magazine. Subscribe here.