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!
“Wicked”
After taking on Lin-Manuel Miranda’s “In the Heights,” Jon M. Chu is preparing to defy gravity. The director will reportedly direct Universal’s long-awaited adaptation of the hit Broadway musical “Wicked.” The movie musical has so far been plagued with delays and timing conflicts in its years of development. This past fall, former director Stephen Daldry dropped out of the project after the studio was looking to speed up the process. (At the same time, Chu had to part ways with the upcoming Disney+ series “Willow,” so now, the stars and schedules aligned.) Book writer Winnie Holzman and composer-lyricist Stephen Schwartz will collaborate on the screenplay adaptation with Marc Platt producing. No casting news has been announced yet but Chu worked with Telsey + Company on his last go at a movie musical.
“Fever”
From Marilyn Monroe to Gwen Verdon and now, Peggy Lee. Michelle Williams has reportedly boarded the upcoming Lee biopic “Fever,” directed by Todd Haynes and written by Doug Wright. MGM will reportedly back the film, and Billie Eilish (as well as her mother Maggie Baird and her label CEO Justin Lubliner) are in early discussions to come aboard as executive producers. Haynes and “Fever” have a long life together: the director originally came to the project back in 2014 with Reese Witherspoon attached to star, based on a script by the late Nora Ephron, but that version never moved out of development. This will also be Haynes’ second foray portraying pop culture icons on the big screen after 2007’s Bob Dylan biopic “I’m Not There.” His casting director of choice is Laura Rosenthal.
“Dungeons & Dragons”
The campaign is closer to commencing: Michelle Rodriguez and Justice Smith will reportedly join Chris Pine in the upcoming film adaptation of “Dungeons & Dragons.” As we previously reported back in December when Pine was still rumored, Johnathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley will direct and write the script based on a draft by Michael Gilio. Plot details are currently being kept under wraps, but the live-action flick is expected to feature an ensemble cast and take a subversive approach to the game. Filming is expected to begin in the first quarter of 2021 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. A casting director has yet to be named, but potentially keep an eye on “Game Night” CD Rich Delia.
“Step Up: High Water”
Seven months after the tragic death of Naya Rivera, the YouTube-turned-Starz series adaptation of “Step Up: High Water” that originally starred the actor has found its replacement. Grammy nominee Christina Milian will play the lead role of Collette in the series. The decision was reportedly made to recast her role along with the support of the cast, producers, and Rivera’s family. Says creator and executive producer Holly Sorensen, “Naya’s death was a terrible loss to our world that we will, frankly, never stop mourning. It was almost impossible to consider there could be someone so graceful and loving who could both help us honor our loss, while also bringing a deep reservoir of talent to our show, in so many areas. Christina is an exceptional human and a dazzling performer and we are so happy she has joined our family.” The series, which originally aired on YouTube, began filming in Atlanta this month. In addition to Milian, Ne-Yo returns in his co-starring role, along with returning series regulars Faizon Love, Jade Chynoweth, Carlito Olivero, Terrence Green, Eric Graise, and Kendra Oyesanya, as well as the previously announced Tricia Helfer, who joins the cast in a series regular role. Tamara-Lee Notcutt is the series casting director
“Blade”
“Watchman” writer Stacy Osei-Kuffour is about to make history at Marvel. The writer has been tapped to write the upcoming “Blade,” starring Mahershala Ali in the titular role. Osei-Kuffour is the first Black woman to write a Marvel Studios feature film with Marvel step by step putting its money where its mouth is, having already tapped Nia DaCosta as the first Black woman to direct a Marvel Studios film with “Captain Marvel 2.” The “Blade” movie was announced back in 2019 at San Diego Comic-Con when Marvel Studios confirmed Ali would be playing the vampire hunter. This will be Ali’s second turn in the Marvel Universe after his role in the Netflix series “Luke Cage.” (That appearance reportedly is when the actor began pitching himself to star in a reboot of “Blade.”) The reboot does not have a director attached yet, nor an announced release date, but expect veteran Marvel CD Sarah Finn to lead the casting.
“Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman”
One of the stars of “Schitt’s Creek” will soon get a show of her own. Emily Hampshire, who played Stevie Budd on the award-winning series, has signed on to star as the title character in a new, updated version of Norman Lear’s 1970s hit “Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman.” Hampshire will also executive produce the project and co-write the script with Jacob Tierney, who will serve as showrunner. “Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman” joins the list of recent series remakes in the Norman Lear catalog, including “One Day at a Time” and “Good Times.” The original series, a satire of soap operas, followed a small-town Ohio housewife who reacted to the bizarre goings-on all around her. The remake reunites Hampshire with Tierney, who previously worked together on Tierney’s film “The Trotsky,” as well as “Good Neighbours” and “The Death and Life of John F. Donovan.” Tierney usually works with Rosina Bucci as the casting director on his film projects, but no CD has been named for this upcoming series reboot.
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