Photo credit: Michael Sohn/Associated Press
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!
“James Bond 25”
Progress on the forthcoming “Bond 25” is back on track. After director Danny Boyle pulled out of the project, citing creative differences, Cary Joji Fukunaga has signed on as the new helmer. Fukunaga, who directed the critically-acclaimed Netflix film “Beasts of No Nation,” will be the first American-born director in the Bond franchise. Unless anything further changes, this will be the last Bond film for star Daniel Craig, so fans, producers, and other members of the production are all rooting for a road with no further bumps. The currently-untitled blockbuster is not scheduled to be released until 2020. Debbie McWilliams is casting the project, which will likely still film in the U.K. despite its new Amerian director.
“Avatar: The Last Airbender”
If at first you don’t succeed, then get Netflix to help you try again. After an unsuccessful movie adaptation of the popular animated series “Avatar: The Last Airbender,” the series is getting another chance at an adaptation. Netflix will produce a live-action series and will bring back original creators Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko. In a statement released with the news, the pair said, “We can’t wait to realize Aang’s world as cinematically as we always imagined it to be, and with a culturally appropriate, non-whitewashed cast.” So, at least for now, fans can breathe easy. It’s been many years since the show’s original casting directors have worked on a new project, so this, combined with the live-action aspect of the new series, will likely see a new casting team.
“The Twilight Zone”
Jordan Peele’s career is expanding to new dimensions. CBS has announced Peele will serve as the host and the narrator of the upcoming “Twilight Zone” revival, in addition to continuing to serve as producer. Peele will take on the role created by Rod Serling, who provided narration in the series from 1959–1964. As irreplaceable as Serling is, there is no better man for the job than Peele. No casting director has been publicly assigned to the project, but it is expected to hit screens in 2019 so this is definitely a project to keep on your radar, especially for sci-fi fans.
“Defending Jacob”
After nearly two decades, Chris Evans is returning to television. The Marvel star has signed on to star in the straight-to-series “Defending Jacob” at Apple. Created and written by Mark Bomback, “Defending Jacob” tells the story of a father whose 14-year-old son is accused of murder. The series is based on the 2012 best-selling novel of the same name from William Landay. This will be Evans’ first regular TV role since his turn in the miniseries “Opposite Sex” back in 2000. No CD has been assigned to the series yet, and Bomback’s previous projects have seen many different casting directors.
“The Eternals”
The forthcoming adaptation of Jack Kirby’s “The Eternals” has found its director. Chloé Zhao will helm Matthew and Ryan Firpo’s screenplay for the Marvel feature. The comic is centered around The Celestials, superpowered near-god beings, and their adversaries in a war set millions of years ago. Zhao has previously directed “The Rider” and will be the second woman to helm a Marvel movie, following in the footsteps of “Captain Marvel” co-director Anna Boden. Like all of the previous Marvel films before it, Sarah Finn will likely be casting the project.
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