Category: Casting News and Rumors

Who is Rooney Mara?

I am not that interested in David Fincher’s adaptation of The Girl With a Dragon Tattoo. But that didn’t stop me from Googling who Rooney Mara is after hearing that she has been cast as Lisbeth Salander. I had not heard of the 24 year old American actress until now and this is a huge career break for Mara.

Here is what my brief Google search taught me.

1. Mara is appearing in David Fincher’s upcoming movie The Social Network. I guess Fincher saw something he liked.

2. Her sister is actress Kate Mara. You might recognize her from Brokeback Mountain; she had a supporting role as Heath Ledger’s daughter.

3. Her uncle is John Mara, co-owner the New York Giants. Her great-grandfather is Art Rooney Sr., founder of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

4. The only television show or movie that I have seen that features Rooney Mara is E.R.. I remember the two episodes she appeared in but I don’t remember Mara. Maybe that is because this happened:

5. I found exactly one solo interview with Mara on YouTube. She comes across as wonderfully awkward. Here it is:

So I guess Fincher did exactly what he wanted to do. He cast an unknown in a role that depends completely on casting. Mara, without a doubt, is going to be compared to Noomi Rapace who originated the role.

Streep and Thatcher

This is what is known as “biopic casting bliss”. Meryl Streep is reportedly in talks to portray British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady, which will be directed by Phyllida Lloyd (Mamma Mia!). The Iron Lady is set during the 17 days prior to the 1982 Falklands War. (Insert Eddie Izzard joke here.)

If Streep does indeed play Thatcher, think about how wonderful it could be. Other than Helen Mirren (which could get confusing), I cannot think of another actress more qualified to play Thatcher. Maybe Streep will finally get that long-awaited third Oscar.

Of course, I don’t want to get my hopes up too high. Especially because Steep isn’t tackling the role of Madeleine Albright, the number of brooches in this film will be severely lacking. And what is a good biopic without a fabulous brooch or two?

Freida Pinto: The Next Bond Girl?

Will Freida Pinto, the star of Slumdog Millionaire, be the next Bond girl?
According to The Sun, executive producer Barbara Broccoli is eager for the model/actress to join the cast.

So do you think that Pinto would make a good Bond girl? She would certainly look good with Daniel Craig, but something about her as a Bond girl just seems kind of awkward to me. 
Update: Freida Pinto has denied the rumors. She told a tv channel that she had not been given a screen test for the next Bond film but that she is flattered by the rumors. I guess this is the just the first of many post-Oscar rumors we will hear about the Slumdog cast.

Yay or Nay?

I’m not sure how I feel about this report from Variety:

Hilary Duff and Kevin Zegers will star in indie feature The Story of Bonnie and Clyde, produced by Cypress Moon Studios.

Tonya S. Holly will direct the film from her own script, which is a new adaptation of the story of Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow rather than a remake of the 1967 classic film starring Faye Dunaway and Warren Beatty.

Although it is not a remake of Arthur Penn’s Bonnie and Clyde, this adaptation will inevitably be compared to the 1967 classic. I personally will have a hard time taking Hilary Duff seriously in the Faye Dunaway role which I would imagine would look something like this:

What do you think?