The miracle has been solved and the lead actress has been cast...

According to an article in the IoM Today from today, 30 January 2008, Claire Danes has joined the cast of "Me and Orson Welles". Here is the article:

So, finally the casting for the female lead is done. I'm not terribly familiar with Claire Danes and I wish they would have cast an even more high profile actress but she has a decent pedigree and was nominated/won several awards. I think she can be very good, she's just not as well known as Anne Hathaway would have been. After thinking about it for a few minutes, I guess I'm happy with the casting based on the available actresses. :)

There are two funny "connections" I've seen – one, she was in Burr Steers' "Igby Goes Down" who is the director of Zac's current movie "Seventeen", and two, she was Juliet in "Romeo and Juliet" together with Leonardo DiCaprio who Zac mentioned a few times as an actor whose career he'd like to emulate. Another side note, I love Zac but calling him the 'most high-profile actor in the industry' is a bit a stretch - IoM Today might want to take a few reality pills.

Also, there is a slight change on the website of the extras casting agency which might be of relevance... The actual details of the casting call remains the same but on their homepage they have an animated "Film News" thingie. Last week it said "Film News Feb/Mar" and now it says "Film News Mar/Apr". It was stated somewhere that there is no other movie filming for a while after "Me and Orson Welles" so my questions is, does that mean that filming goes longer than the initially anticipated March timeframe? It's all speculation but I thought I put it out here.

Thanks for the new news Bee. Although I haven't seen Claire in a while, she's a good choice, I have to admit. Because Shopgirl was great. She can pull of the period looks too

Thanks Bee!!! I like Claire Danes as the leading lady, I completely love her in Stardust, so I think she's gonna be right for the movie!!! :D

Now I'm interested in the other two girls Richard supposedly falls in love with while working with Welles. It'll be interesting

OMG claire danes that's fantastic!!! do we know what role????

i just picked up a copy of the novel at the library and i can't wait to read it. this should be a really interesting role for zac, the story line has such an amazing arc, and the fact that he'll have three love interests' in the film should be making it :thud: worthy as well!

Btw, I've just read a few minutes ago that the filming for Anne Hathaway's movie has now been pushed back to 31 March - I think she could have done it after all. However, as I said earlier, I'm happy with the casting of Claire Danes - good acting skills and reputation was the most important thing for me personally.

Miss Fate, I've added you to the list.

I can't wait for the next castings either - although I expect those roles to be much smaller. The entire movie goes over the span of a week so I don't think we'll so see much of their characters.

Just based on the one description I would assume Sonja since she has also an affair with Orson Welles and this seems to be the biggest female role (actually, I went so far and attributed that character to Claire in the opening post).

Well, he falls in love three times - doesn't mean he has three love interests.

I've also ordered the book at Amazon - unfortunately it wasn't available in Germany so it is supposed to arrived the week after next. However, I'll unexpectedly traveling to the US on Sunday so I'm planning to pick up a copy directly in the States. Yeah for faster access. :)

I'm also very much looking forward to the book. I have an inkling though that many Zac fans (not the people here in this thread obviously) will be disappointed with this movie. Not because it's going to be bad but it's not a fluffy chick flick - I expect it to be a drama with some serious topics. Eg. Welles having an affair with Sonja isn't anything "nice" or something you would see in Zac's other movies. It's great though. :D

ETA:

There IS actually already a connection between Zac and Claire which I had totally overseen... they are both "sponsors" of the DonorsChoose.org charity project. I'm curious to hear who actually initiated or had the idea for her casting now.

i think zac has many fans who will appreciate this role, and hopefully it will also offer a chance for him to gain many more! and the idea of zac's character "in love" with three different women should be interesting to see to say the least. although i suspect one--likely his high school love--may be cut from the script b/c despite the novel's one week setting, it seems to cover a great deal of ground, and the movie may fail to cover it all.

and the claire danes "donors choose" connection is WOW, and it would be great to find out how her name came up during the casting process.

I've also found now the official press release from Isle of Man Film.

It's basically the same as in the newspaper article but it's the original source (minus the Claire Danes casting)

I guess it's a first for Zac that his movie is so important that the Industry Minister of the country makes a statement about it. ;)

ETA:

Fun fact: if they have 600 extras in some scenes, that will be 0.75% of the country's population in those scenes! I haven't heard about a movie (especially a low-budget independent one) where the number of extras in one scene reaches that percentage of the citizens.

Bee, Thanks so much for the info again!!! :D

It's really exciting hear about the promising the movie is looking for others!!!

And they are comparing Johhny with Zac??? That's too much, I love Zac and thing he's a good actor, but...they're talking about Johnny Depp!!!

And It's really funny that of the population :P

One more thing... the character that Zac is playing (Richard) is british or american???

Thanks for adding me, Jeezbee. :yay:

So Claire Danes is the leading lady. I've haven't seen much of her work, but I liked her in what I have seen, so I'm excited.

"It's great news for the island." Must be great for Zac, too. :look:

I would love to be one of those extras. :sigh:

CLAIRE DANES!!!! :thud: :thud: :thud: :thud: :thud: :thud: :thud: :thud: :thud: :thud:

I love love love love her. :thud: :in_love:
Never thought about her, but she can totally pull off the 30's look. :thud:

Man, I really can't wait for that movie now. :yay: :woot: It's gonna be awesome. And I thought I was excited about Seventeen. :lol:

What a day... more news from Variety on Zac's movie "Me and Orson Welles" today. Production as well as casting news...

Upfront the casting news: Kelly Reilly, Eddie Marsan, Leo Bill, Imogen Poots and Aidan McArdle. While I have to admit I'm not familiar with them, I'm still impressed with the casting of Zac's co-stars. Looking at their IMDb pages – many of them are award-winning (stage) actors and not some "name" who might be known but has no skills. Quality actors is exactly what his project needs.

I've already started last night to put a post together on all the producers, financing and their connections but it'll take me a while to finish that... there are several links.

I'll be updating and restructuring the opening post a bit soon.

Haven't heard of any of the actors myself, but it's great to have those quality actors on board. :nod:

Can't wait for your posting. What would we do without you? :kiss:

Normally I wouldn't be so obsessed about the previous track record of his co-stars but this movie is to gain acting creds and one factor is the cast you surround yourself with. Perception plays a big role. I'm very happy so far.

:hug: This is sweet but you would do just fine. You managed without any problems without me before as well. :kiss:

Anyway.... MORE NEWS!

As you might have seen all the other trade publications like Hollywoodreporter and ComingSoon.net, etc have picked up on the latest casting news as well. I'm actually surprised how much they are eating this up. :D

Two more, smaller magazines have also published the casting and production news. The short articles in Empire Online and This is North Scotland however have some new extra info:

• Filming starts on 24 February 2008 on the Isle of Man (the press release from Isle of Man Films said for close to a month)
• Filming moves then to Pinewood Studios in London (which you can also read on the website of Pinewood Studios)
• And then to New York

I guess it's not looking good for everyone who wanted to stalk the movie in London - it seems they are filming inside a studio there.

i just hope the stalking possibility stays alive for us fans in NY. Can't wait to get that news :woot:

btw, i just started reading the book, and although i'm not far into it, the first thing that struck me was it is written as a first person narrative! now i would love to hear zac do narration for the film as well!

I really excited for this movie....I'm so happy for Zac.

and am Stoked that Claire Danes is in it...Loved her in Romeo and Juliet, Little Women, My So Called Life and other stuff.

it'll be nice to see her opposite Zac. :nod:

Thanks for all the info Jeezbee. :yay:

Zac acting and narrating all in one movie, that would be great. We'll just have to wait and see. :sigh:

Wow. It seems like filming for this movie is gonna cut close with HSM 3.

I agree. :nod: MSCL FTW! :in_love:
And I love your sig, Ash. :lmao:

One day before my birthday. :in_love: What a nice present. :D
They are filming in a studio in London? Bummer. :( I'm sure I wouldn't have caught them anyways, since they might already be back in NY when I go to London. :pout:

Zac narrating the movie would be great. :sigh:
I so have to get my hands on that book now. :gone:

Thanks again for the info Bee :D

And I have to agree that it would be so great if Zac narrates the movie!!!

And also I was wondering if the character that Zac plays (Richard) is british or american??? :confused:

Zac's character Richard is from New Jersey.
So no sexy British Accent for us. :lol:

We have to find out where they're filming in London!
I'm so there.
:D

From New Jersey?! He can come visit me and I can give him tips on how to be a good Jerseyan.

Quick drive by post...

They will film at the Pinewood Studios (address is on their website).

The IoM Today is really making it easy for us - they report every poop about this movie. :D The movie is such a big deal for them that they even have an article about the extras casting call on there today. Basically the same info, I had posted from the website of the extras casting agency but it has a few more details about the number of people they're seeking (emphasis is mine):
Source: IoM Today

I just ordered the book. :yay:
The don't have it stocked right now, but I hope they'll deliver soon-ish.