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.
“Star Wars” Series
Though at this point production seems like it will take place again in a galaxy far, far away, Disney is blasting ahead with a new project. First reported by Variety, “Russian Doll” showrunner Leslye Headland is currently working on an all-new series at Disney+. Details of the plot are being kept under wraps, but sources tell the publication that it will be a female-centric series that is set in a different part of the “Star Wars” timeline than we’ve seen before. Headland is attached to write and serve as showrunner on the series, with the project currently staffing. While the series is still in early development, look to Sarah Finn to likely head the casting team in the future.
“Middlesex”
One of the top novels of the century is getting a life on the small screen. Paramount Television Studios has reportedly acquired the television rights to “Middlesex” by Jeffrey Eugenides, according to Variety. First published in 2002, the novel follows three generations of the Greek-American Stephanides family as they travel from their tiny village to Prohibition-era Detroit, ending with Cal Stephanides, who discovers he is intersex and traces his family history. This is the second time a series based on the book has been in development, first back at HBO in 2009. No network or streaming service is attached at this time, but David Manson (“Ozark,” “Bloodlines,” “House of Cards”) is attached to write with Sam Taylor Johnson directing.
“One Punch Man”
Sony Pictures is reportedly bringing one of the world’s biggest manga series to life. Scott Rosenberg and Jeff Pinkner are set to write a live-action film adaptation of the hit series “One Punch Man.” The story follows Saitama, a superhero who can defeat any opponent with a single punch but seeks to find a worthy opponent after growing bored by a lack of challenges in his fight against evil. This will hopefully be yet another successful collaboration between Rosenberg/Pinkner and Sony, who previously wrote “Venom” and “Jumanji” for the studio. On those projects, the team has worked with casting directors McCarthy/Abellera and John Papsidera, so look to them for possible re-collaborations.
“The Burying Place”
Finally, AMC is eyeing its next big thriller. The network has put into development “The Burying Place” from writer Kelly Masterson, director David Semel, and based on Brian Freeman’s novel of the same name. The story takes place in the North Country of Minnesota, where a baby vanishes from her lakeside home the same night a rookie policewoman stumbles onto a serial killer. The cat-and-mouse story will be produced by Kapital Entertainment and AMC Studios. It is still early in development, so be sure to keep an eye out for any updates if and when the project gets off the ground.
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