Welcome to Rumorville! Here you can learn about casting news that’s about to break in Hollywood. These speculations might be only rumors, but that doesn’t mean you can’t follow the trail all the way to the audition room.
“Transformers”
Anthony Ramos’s career is set to get even more explosive. According to Deadline, the “In the Heights” and “Hamilton” actor is in final negotiations to star in an upcoming “Transformers” movie for Paramount directed by Steven Caple, Jr. Executives for the studio are currently looking forward to screen and chemistry tests for the female co-star (which, according to Deadline’s sources, Kiki Layne and Dominique Fishback are among those meeting), but Ramos has reportedly been the top choice since Caple came onboard. As we reported last January, the studio made the decision to give the entire franchise a revamp by having two simultaneous scripts in active development: one by James Vanderbilt and one by Joby Harold. “Snowpiercer” CD Wittney Horton is the casting director for the project—find out how she finds new on-screen talent here at Backstage!
“Game of Thrones” Stage Show
“Game of Thrones” is entering a new realm. A stage production of the hit HBO series is reportedly in the early stages of development from Duncan MacMillian working with series author George R. R. Martin and U.K. director Dominic Cooke set to direct. According to Martin, the play will be set during a pivotal moment in the series and his and the production team’s dream “is to bring Westeros to Broadway, to the West End, to Australia… and eventually, to a stage near you.” At this point, producers are hoping to make good on that and bring the play to the stage in 2023. MacMillian is best known for “Lungs,” “People, Places and Things,” and “Every Brilliant Thing.” Cooke is most well known for the National Theatre’s Olivier-nominated production of Stephen Sondheim’s “Follies,” which he is currently adapting into a film. As we reported a couple of weeks ago, the “Game of Thrones” universe is ever-expanding at HBO with three new prequel series reportedly in the works. And just this week, Martin signed a massive five-year deal with the network to continue to develop his work. There will undoubtedly be more news to come.
“Bear Season”
According to Variety, Luke Evans, Jacob Tremblay, and Olga Kurylenko are all in talks to star in the upcoming coming-of-age immigrant drama “Bear Season.” Adapted by Donald Martin from Bernie Hafeli’s novel, the story follows Chester (who would be played by Tremblay if the deal goes through), an adolescent boy living in post-WWII Detroit with his mother Olona (Kurylenko) and his deceased father’s brother Izzy (Evans), a rough-around-the-edges veteran. The feature will be directed by Simon Aboud (“This Beautiful Fantastic”). No further or official casting has been announced.
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