Stay in the loop on industry and casting news with our write-up on who’s been slated for recent film and television roles!
Please note that shoot dates are subject to state and county restrictions and may change. Refer to Call Sheet for updates, and keep checking Backstage for the latest news on project development during this time.
“Ted”
Seth MacFarlane is at it again. The actor-writer–executive producer, best known for the animated series “Family Guy,” is resurrecting an old friend. “Ted,” the R-rated comedy starring Mark Wahlberg and MacFarlane as a crass talking teddy bear, was a box office hit in 2012. A 2015 sequel followed; now, there’s a prequel TV series on the way. MacFarlane will return to voice the foul-mouthed bear, as well as write and executive produce. Additional casting is ongoing via Jaffe/Goldberg Casting. Production is slated to start in June, with Los Angeles as a likely home base.
“Lift”
Kevin Hart is partnering with filmmaker F. Gary Gray on an upcoming Netflix feature. “Lift” will star Hart, who’s also attached to produce, as a professional thief whose ex-girlfriend persuades him to join the FBI on an international heist of epic proportions aboard a London-to-Zurich flight. The script comes from screenwriter Dan Kunka. Additional roles are being filled by the L.A.-based Betty Mae Casting in anticipation of a late winter start to production.
“Shortcomings”
Best known for “WandaVision,” “Fresh Off the Boat,” and “Always Be My Maybe,” actor Randall Park is stepping behind the camera for the first time, helming a feature film adaptation of Adrian Tomine’s acclaimed graphic novel “Shortcomings.” The comedy-drama follows three Asian Americans living in the Bay Area as they travel the country and grapple with questions of life, identity, and race. McCarthy/Abellera Casting’s search for talent is ongoing for the project, which is scheduled to start shooting in July; production will be split between San Francisco and New York City.
This story originally appeared in the Jan. 20 issue of Backstage Magazine. Subscribe here.
