Casting Calls

Thanks for checking out Casting Calls, a weekly roundup of all the notable roles that actors and actresses have scored for upcoming films. As always, we will try to avoid rumors, and stick to roles that have been locked down or are in the negotiation stage.



In this weeks edition, “Catching Fire” gets a new Tribute, “The Mortal Instruments” gets a pair of villains, and “Don Jon’s Addiction” adds an up-and-coming star.

So hit the jump to see all the details on who got what gig!


With last week being 4th of July week, it was a slow news week across the board in the movie world, and casting was no exception. I only found three bits of news so this will be a quick read for everyone.

First up this week, we learn that Jena Malone has officially joined the cast of “Catching Fire”, the sequel to March’s massive blockbuster “The Hunger Games”. This was first rumored a couple of weeks ago, but like it says in the opening paragraph, we don’t do rumors here. It’s a good thing to, because if I had jumped the gun on that, I would have almost nothing to talk about this week.

Malone, who recently appeared in the awful film “Sucker Punch” has nagged the highly coveted role of Johanna Mason, an axe-wielding ex-champion from District 7. Mason won her first Hunger Games by convincing other tributes that she was weak and taking advantage of them underestimating her. In “Catching Fire” she aligns herself with Katniss Everdeen(Jennifer Lawrence) and Peta Mellark(Josh Hutcherson) in a champion versus champion version of The Hunger Games.

Mason is also known for her memorable first meeting she has with Katniss and Peta, where she meets them completely nude in an elevator in The Capitol. Although seeing as how this is all but guaranteed to be a PG-13 film, I wouldn’t count on that being to big of a scene in the film.

Filming is set to begin in late September, with Francis Lawrence slated to direct.

Up next on the docket, we have Kevin Durand(a personal favorite of mine) and Robert Maillet being cast as the antagonists for the ever-slowly developing young adult novel adaption of “The Mortal Instruments”. The film centers around a young woman who learns that she is a descendant of a line of half-angel warriors who’s job is to protect the world from demons.

The film already has Lily Collins and Jaime Campbell Bower set to play the leads in the film. Durand and Maillet have been cast for the roles of Pangborn and Blackwell, two henchmen of the main villain Valentine.


Full Synopsis:

“CLARY FRAY (Lily Collins) is an ordinary Brooklyn teenager until the night she meets the mysteriously tattooed JACE, who turns out to be a half-angel warrior known as a Shadowhunter. When Clary finds out her mother JOCELYN has been abducted, she desperately hopes Jace will be able to help. After a whirling golden portal transports her across time and space in a heartbeat, Clary realizes she too has the powers of the Shadowhunters. But can she harness them in time to save her mother? 

Clary, Jace and their fellow Shadowhunters endure one breathtaking battle after another against vampire, warlocks and demons—only to discover Jocelyn hid a terrible secret from the fiercest warrior of all: VALENTINE. Cast out from the world of Shadowhunters, Valentine abducted Jocelyn believing she had a powerfultool known as the Mortal Cup. Using her newfound gifts, Clary finds the Cup, only to be brutally betrayed and forced to relinquish it. 

Still reeling from this setback and racing to save Jocelyn before it’s too late, Clary finds herself caught in a battle between forces she barely understands. Based on the best-selling series by Cassandra Clare, MORTAL INSTRUMENTS is a magnificent urban fantasy rich in detail and suspense, about a girl’s journey to the darkest corners of the underworld to save those she loves.”

The film is set to be released on August 23, 2013 and Harold Zwart is set to direct.

Only one more bit of news this week. A last minute casting addition has been made to Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s directorial debut film “Don Jon’s Addiction”. Brie Larson(21 Jump Street) has joined the cast and will play Don Jon’s(Gordon-Levitt) sister.

The film which offers a modern day take on the story of Don Juan, also stars Scarlett Johansson and Julianne Moore, Rob Brown, and Tony Danza.

Well that wraps up this weeks edition of Casting Calls, short and sweet. Be sure to check back every Monday for all the latest casting news and notes! Any of this news spark your attention? Do you think any of these seem like bad choices?