Casting Bits: Scarlett Johansson In ‘Can A Song Save Your Life?’, Mia Maestro In ‘Savages’, Jake T. Austin In ‘Tom Sawyer & Huckleberry Finn’, Brandon Fehr In ‘Roswell FM’
Scarlett Johanssonmay seem like an unlikely lead for aJudd Apatowfilm, but in this context her casting actually makes a lot of sense. Johansson has signed on to star inCan a Song Save Your Life?, which will be written and directed byJohn Carney(Once) and produced by Apatow. The film follows “a washed-up A&R man who forms a passionate bond with a young singer-songwriter (Johansson) from out of town.”
The project calls for Johansson to sing, which shouldn’t be a problem for the actress. Johansson is in fact a professional singer, having released an album of Tom Waits covers titledAnywhere I Lay My Headback in 2008 and a collaboration with Pete Yorn calledBreak Upin 2009. Though the male lead has yet to be cast,Mark RuffaloandJim Carreyhave been rumored as possibilities. (FWIW, I vote Ruffalo.) Shooting on the film will begin in New York City next year. [The Playlist]
After the jump, new gigs for the stars ofTwilight,Wizards of Waverly Place, and the late-’90s/early-’00s teen alien showRoswell. Gosh, remember that?
The plot ofSavagesrevolves around two marijuana dealers (Johnson and Hirsch) who are forced to work for a drug cartel when their friend (Lively) is kidnapped. Del Toro will play the cartel’s enforcer, while Maestro will be his wife — “a tough and bitter woman whose soccer mom lifestyle hides a gang life past.“Savageswill open July 28, 2025. [The Hollywood Reporter]
Jake T. Austin, best known as one of theWizards of Waverly Place, is in final negoatiations for the part of Huckleberry Finn inTom Sawyer & Huckleberry Finn, based on the mischievous young characters originally created byMark Twain. Austin will be starring oppositeSuper 8starJoel Courtney, who was recentlycastin the role of Tom Sawyer. Plot details for the film have not been revealed, but based on what I recall of Twain’s novels from high school English, I suspect we can expect some fence-painting, some cave-exploring, perhaps a raft or two?
Production for the film is scheduled to begin this August in Bulgaria. [Showblitz]
RoswellstarBrandon Fehrhas been cast in a new, unrelated Roswell project titledRoswell FM. The indie romcom revolves around Fehr’s character, who must choose between his dream job hosting a UFO-themed radio show in Roswell and supporting his family financially.Mirelly Taylorwill play the love interest, one of a quirky cast of characters who work at the radio station. Shooting will start July 25 in, yup, Roswell, NM. [Variety]Discuss:I really can’t even think about thisTom Sawyer & Huckleberry Finnproject without remembering the last film I saw about those characters — the 1995 Disney filmTom and Huck, starring then-teen heartthrobs JTT and Brad Renfro (RIP) in the title roles. Does this make Courtney and Austin their 2011 equivalents? If so, which generation do you think got the better end of the deal?
