Greenlit means a project is officially a go, so all you have to do is follow these leads to stay up to date. You never know where you’ll find an opportunity to land an audition.
There are several projects that are making headlines this week. On Monday afternoon, it was announced that “Twisted Metal” is the next video game-to-screen adaptation. Deadline broke the exciting news stating that Anthony Mackie would be leading a Peacock series adaptation of the classic Playstation game. Along with this announcmenent, “Indiana Jones 5” director James Mangold has been promoted to “The General” as he’s now set to helm a Buster Keaton biopic for 20th Century Studios. Plus. “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” star Simu Liu is headed back to the silver screen as the latest cast member of the thriller “Hello Stranger.” And, lastly, Marvel’s “Blade” has added Aaron Pierre and Delroy Lindo to its cast in a pair of currently secret roles opposite Mahershala Ali. Check out all the latest casting and project news below.
“Twisted Metal”
“Uncharted,” “The Last of Us,” and now, “Twisted Metal” is getting the live-action treatment. Just announced on Monday afternoon, via Deadline, Peacock has ordered a series adaptation of the popular Playstation game to series with Anthony Mackie set to star. The half-hour live-action “high-octane action-comedy” will be written, executive produced, and showrun by Michael Jonathan Smith (“Cobra Kai”) and will follow “a motor-mouthed outsider offered a chance at a better life, but only if he can successfully deliver a mysterious package across a post-apocalyptic wasteland.” Sony Pictures Television will produce the streaming series with Will Arnett and Marc Forman’s Electric Avenue set to executive produce.
“Blade”
It’s casting news to sink your teeth into: Aaron Pierre and Delroy Lindo have been tapped to join the cast of Marvel’s upcoming “Blade,” starring Mahershala Ali in the titular role, per Deadline. Pierre will play an unknown co-starring role, and while it is unclear who that character will be, Deadline reports that it has been a highly coveted part with months of casting until Pierre emerged as the favorite in recent weeks. (According to Deadline, “Da 5 Bloods” star Lindo was favorite from the start for his role, which is also being kept under wraps.) This will be the second role Pierre has landed within the broader Disney universe after being tapped to voice Mufasa in the upcoming “The Lion King” live-action prequel. As we previously reported, Bassam Tariq will direct the highly anticipated blockbuster that will follow the iconic vampire hunter with Stacy Osei-Kuffour writing the script. Sarah Finn is the casting director for “Blade,” which has yet to announce a release date.
Buster Keaton Biopic
According to Deadline, “Indiana Jones 5” director James Mangold has been tapped to direct a biopic of the legendary Buster Keaton for 20th Century Studios. The picture, which is based on Marion Meade’s book “Buster Keaton: Cut to the Chase by Marion Meade,” is now in development as a top priority with Mangold also producing the film. Deadline reports, the studio currently is meeting with writers to adapt the book and to bring Keaton’s life and work back to life. The project is part of Mangold’s first-look deal with Disney and 20th Century.
“Hello Stranger”
“Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” star, Simu Liu is quickly getting acquainted with a new project, via Deadline. The actor ”is reportedly joining the cast of the upcoming thriller “Hello Stranger” opposite Sam Worthington, Jordana Brewster, Robbie Amell, and Alicia Sanz. Per IMDb, the movie centers on “a humanoid A.I.'s attempt to win over a widow's heart, [placing] it in the path of a government agent trying to stop the rise of machine consciousness.” “Wander” helmer April Mullen is directing from a script by Ryan Christopher Churchill. Samantha Helt, Vienna Hehir, Mercedes Leggett, Christine L. Nguyen, Emmanuel Kabongo, Patrick Stevenson, and others will also appear in the film. Production for “Hello Stranger” is now underway in Toronto. Larissa Mair is the casting director.
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