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.
Aaron and Jordan Kandell pitch
Deadline reported that a comedy pitch from Aaron and Jordan Kandell should be going to a studio very soon. The last project from the team was “Moana,” and they sold a script, “Adrift,” which is in production, to STX with Shailene Woodley starring. This pitch already has “Star Wars” star Daisy Ridley attached, as well as “Beauty and the Beast” costars Josh Gad and Luke Evans. The movie is an “original spin on the superhero genre.” The duo used a team of casting directors to cast “Moana,” so this project will likely take a different approach, but with stars already attached, casting might begin quickly once the project is picked up.
Vivien Leigh biopic
Keeping with the old Hollywood theme, “Feud: Bette and Joan” writers Michael Zam and Jaffe Cohen are taking on the life of Vivien Leigh. It’s their third biographical project currently in the works. The story will come from a biography by Hugo Vickers. The writing team earned an Emmy nod for their writing on the Ryan Murphy series, which was cast by Ulrich/Dawson/Kritzer casting. If Murphy is at all involved in the biopic, it’s likely they’ll be involved in the feature as well.
“Wedding Crashers 2”
In an appearance on “Watch What Happens: Live,” Isla Fisher revealed she got in a little bit of trouble for admitting that Vince Vaughn mentioned a sequel to the 2005 film at a party in passing. It sounds like things are in very early stages, maybe as early as just considering the project in general. Beach/Katzman casting assembled the ensemble cast for the film 12 years ago, and if they join the sequel, they might be tasked with adding some kids to the follow-up project, as it will likely take place in present day, about a decade later.
Riz Ahmed’s “Hamlet”
Riz Ahmed is adapting one of Shakespeare’s most famous works, and it might land with Netflix. His version would take place in present day London, and he’s developing it with college friend Michael Lesslie. Lesslie’s last two films went with Justin Kurzel as director, and Jina Jay handling casting. As with other projects Ahmed is behind, it would address social issues that are part of the larger conversation today.
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