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Ezra Miller Up for Tetsuo + Casting for Roland Emmerich's New Sci-Fi
by Alex Billington
November 5, 2011
Source: THR
There were a few new casting updates to hit last night thanks to THR, as they posted a huge article talking about a large number of screen tests and other try outs happening around Hollywood for major projects in the works. A few of the names in particular stood out, like We Need to Talk About Kevin's young lead Ezra Miller being the top contender for the dark role of Tetsuo in Warner Bros' live-action Akira, which just got Garrett Hedlund for Kaneda. Beyond that, there's also some new details and intriguing casting potentials for Roland Emmerich's new sci-fi project Singularity, which is aiming for an unknown lead actor. Read on!
First things first, I didn't even think about him before at all, but Ezra Miller (also seen in Afterschool, City Island, Beware the Gonzo, Another Happy Day) is PERFECT for Tetsuo. I've seen We Need to Talk About Kevin and he plays a character who is very dark, very unsettling, and you get that sense just by looking at him, or by the way he looks at you. Truly a perfect fit for Tetsuo, whom eventually descends into madness and insanity once he begins to control his powers. THR states that Miller is one of the names "surfacing most often" while trying out for the character, along with Alden Eherenreich (as seen in Francis Ford Coppola's Tetro and Twixt). I really think Miller would be perfect and I hope director Jaume Collet-Serra chooses him for Tetsuo, that's really the best they way could go for this live-action take on the anime classic.
The other project that caught my attention is Roland Emmerich's big new sci-fi Singularity set for 2013, which has been in the works for a little while, but no details have been revealed on what it's even about (until now). THR states that Singularity is a "sci-fi extravaganza" about a boy named Adam, whose body is made up a swarm of nanobots, "giving him all sorts of power." This almost sounds like Akira, but with a nanobots kid instead of someone with mind powers. Top contenders reading for the role are: Luke Grimes ("Brothers & Sisters", Shit Year), Logan Marshall Green ("Dark Blue", Brooklyn's Finest, Prometheus), Julian Morris (Sorority Row, Privileged, "My Generation", "Pretty Little Liars") and Thomas McDonell (Prom, Dark Shadows), plus Ben Barnes and Luke Bracey (both being considered but haven't tested).
Between these two and the many others they've listed in THR, there's some interesting projects in the works in Hollywood. And I love that studios, even major Hollywood studios casting for big tentpole sci-fi projects, have started to consider little-to-unknown actors that happen to be extremely talented and on the verge of breaking out. That certainly seems to be a trend recently, with Star Trek and Inception and so on. I prefer to throw my weight behind Ezra Miller, as I truly believe he'd be perfect, let's hope he gets the role. We'll keep you updated on casting news no matter where it's coming from or who ends up getting the role. Stay tuned!
32 Comments
1
Another typecasting but it's okay this time around. Meh...you bloggers have NO personality.
Debbiebeleza on Nov 5, 2011
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3
Shut up.
Pixar on Nov 6, 2011
4
I dont know Ezra Miller, but i still think Jake Gyllenhaal (Donnie Darko) would fit the role as Tetsuo.
mingooski on Nov 5, 2011
5
OMG No.
Rodrigo Font on Nov 7, 2011
6
Jake Gyllenhaal is too old for the part.
Anonymous on Nov 5, 2011
7
Every new post for this reminds me of how terrible this film will be.
Josh Taylor on Nov 5, 2011
8
I like it.
Xerxexx on Nov 5, 2011
9
i agree with him.
Anonymous on Nov 5, 2011
10
'One joke I can make is that at least Warner Bros knows Garrett Hedlund looks good on a motorcycle'. That was written by you complaining about Garrett's typecasting. You fanboys are really disgustingly obvious. I guess you'll be REALLY ashamed after On the Road comes out. I'll come over after that LOL.
Debbiebeleza on Nov 5, 2011
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12
uh, Alex... i think he IS Garrett Hedlund.
Nick S. on Nov 6, 2011
13
How about they just release the original animated film in theaters? Save $200 Million in production and marketing and end up with a fucking great movie playing in theaters that I, for one, would go see at least once or twice. I mean... is that less insane than re-imagining a very Japanese story for a stupid western audience? Could they have at least cast some asians to play the asians? Or do white people living in "Neo Manhattan" in the future commonly give their children asian names? I will end up laughing every time one of these dudes screams the other's name. "TETSUO!" "KANEDA!" It's not gonna work. This is gonna turn out like Dragon ball. I bet they give this kid the same goofy spiked hair.
Anonymous on Nov 5, 2011
14
Couldn't have said it better myself. http://www.mediocrityisthenewgenius.com
Jeffrey on Nov 6, 2011
15
Hedlund will suck. I thought he only got the part in Tron Legacy because he looked like he could have spawned from Jeff Bridges. Miller, on the other hand, has promise.
Cody on Nov 5, 2011
16
Ezra as Tetsou is the single best news I've heard for this Americanized Akira flick
Robbie on Nov 5, 2011
17
Tetsuo. sorry
Robbie on Nov 5, 2011
18
I guess I'm judging you fanboys as real critics, that's my fault. I'm asking too much from you really. You just have 'opinons' as valid as any of us. I mean, you have prejudices, not opinions since your opinoon on him is based in only ONE movie be it for Garrett or Ezra. Besides Jeff Bridges was also terrible in Tron but of course, there is NO WORD about it. It's so telling huh? Yes it's going to be really funny to see what's going to happen after On the Road. See ya.
Debbiebeleza on Nov 5, 2011
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Bridges is good in just about everything he does. And if he was bad, it's usually the script.
rennmaxbeta on Nov 5, 2011
21
Dont do it Ezra! you have a good career starting! stay indie!
happy camper on Nov 5, 2011
22
Oh god
David Gold on Nov 5, 2011
23
not in a good way
David Gold on Nov 5, 2011
24
This movie is offensive and should be reviled regardless of its actual quality. It is whitewashing of the worst kind from Hollywood and should be opposed at every turn.
HonestObserver on Nov 5, 2011
25
if this is whitewashing then so was the departed
Anonymous on Nov 6, 2011
26
My vote is for Testuso is Keir Gilchrist http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1507857/
abraxis sixarba on Nov 6, 2011
27
are you kidding me this kid is talented. i am glad if he gets casted. makes me want to see the film more
thetruth on Nov 6, 2011
28
i don't think any movies based off of the dragonball series should be made into a movie. we saw how horrible the last edition was. i mean hell, you may as well make pokemon into a live movie. stop with the anime!
JBrotsis on Nov 7, 2011
29
atleast he looks asian unlike the guy playing kaneda.
Leo on Nov 7, 2011
30
Yeah, like Kaneda looked asian in the original Akira.
Gex on Nov 7, 2011
31
If "The Departed" took place in HK and Jack Nicholson/DiCaprio/Matt Damon's characters had Chinese names, then yes, this would be no worse than "The Departed". Honestly, if they're desperate to remake the story (which isn't really complex enough to need remaking IMO) then they should just rename everything - the title, the characters; and add a tag at the end of the credits that says "Inspired by the Japanese animated film Akira" ...and even in that case some Asian-American actors would be nice, if only to pay homage to where the story came from. Maybe that will be what ends up happening, unless the producers think they're making another "American Ninja". Okay, that would be kinda cool.
Boiler Bro Joe on Nov 8, 2011
32
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