The Aryans descend

It's confirmed. Jennifer Lawrence has been cast as Katniss Everdeen in the Hunger Games. Hitler has won. The Aryan super race are taking over. A little dramatic? Not when casting directors choose a blonde, buxom, pale-skinned actress to play a character blatantly described as someone with olive skin and dark features. It seems The Hob's article on whitewashing the role of Katniss was right on the money. Look, don't get me wrong, I think Lawrence is one of the most talented actors of my generation - her performance in Winter's Bone was incredible and she carried Lori Petty's The Poker House. But she's not Katniss. Or maybe I'm just being an obsessive fan? Meh, I just think Emma Roberts or Jodelle Ferland would have been better choices.

I first picked up the news over at Screen Rant and with this latest development, I think it's safe to say the filmmakers will be going with older-looking actors for Peeta and Gale - given Lawrence is 20 already and the film's a whole year off from release. Which means the smart money would be on Alex Pettyfer and Thomas McDonell for Peeta and Gale respectively. The only casting I'm interested in now is Prim and Haymitch *grumble grumble*.

With my last few Hunger Games posts I've included some of the rad fan art I've found online, and this is definitely another gem courtesy of the talented Elontirien over at Deviant Art. It's Katniss and Rue in the arena sharing the Gosling. High five.

For glossy reflection, you can read my exclusive Hunger Games post with Jodelle Ferland here and my film here.

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Hunger Games exclusive with Jodelle Ferland

Alright, now that I’ve got my full Hunger Games breakdown out of the way I can bring you my exclusive chat with Canadian actress Jodelle Ferland. The 16-year-old is best known for playing the role of newborn vampire Bree Tanner in The Twilight Saga: Eclipse. But the teen has over a decade of acting experience behind her and at the age of four, she was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award, the youngest nominee in history, for her part in TV movie Mermaid.

She’s gone on to forge a successful career, from child to young adult actress, with starring roles in everything from Terry Gilliam’s Tideland to supporting parts in TV series such as Supernatural, Smallville and Stargate: Atlantis. But Ferland has gained a cult following for meaty roles in a swag of horror films such as Silent Hill, The Messengers and Case 39 – that’s not to mention her upcoming parts in Joss Whedon’s Cabin In The Woods and The Tall Man with Jessica Biel.Ferland fanatics really had something to get excited about last Halloween when the self-confessed book lover posted pictures of herself dressed as Katniss Everdeen from the Hunger Games trilogy on her Twitter account (pics above). And sure, it was a home made effort, but the girl sure looked the part! With news that Lions Gate were developing a film based on the first book, Hunger Games-heads went into overdrive speculating about her fierce desire to be cast as Katniss. Although she was quick to downplay any such ambition, I had the opportunity to chat to the incredibly well-spoken teen yesterday and she confirmed she is vying for the role. Unfortunately, so too is every other young actress in Hollywood. Here’s a snippet of our interview.

Movie Mazzupial: As far as other popular young adult books-to-movies go, I was looking at your photos thinking `she would make a great Katniss Everdeen’ and then I heard you were interested in the role, is that right? Have you auditioned?

Jodelle Ferland: Any sane 16-year-old girl would be interested in the role of Katniss, but we’ll see. It would make my life (complete) if I could have that part. I love the books. I’m a big reader and read pretty much anything I can get my hands and those books are amazing. To get that part would be amazing. I believe they’re still auditioning now and they might go older or they might go younger, but I have my fingers crossed. If not the part of Katniss, there’s plenty of opportunity with the other tributes to play a supporting role or something.

MM: Well yeah, if not Katniss you could play one of the career tributes or a character from The Hob.

JF: Yeah, exactly.

MM: So, if you’ve auditioned . . . you must have read some of the script? Please tell me it’s faithful to the book. As a fan, are you happy with the approach they’re taking?

JF: I’d rather not talk too much specifically about the movie, but I’m excited to see how it turns out and I hope they do a good job. I think they will.

MM: Fine, keep your secrets. Katniss is certainly a very unique character. What is it about her that’s made you hungry for this role?

JF: It would be such an amazing part. Katniss is one of my favourite characters out of any books I’ve read; she’s so strong and independent. She’s an example to people. In a world where everyone gives in and does whatever it takes just to stay alive, she’s the only one who stood up for what’s right.So there you have it - add Miss Ferland to your list of potential Katniss Everdeen’s. With the likes of Oscar nominees Jennifer Lawrence and Hailee Stanfield in the race, she’s an outside chance to be sure. But casting director Debra Zane has said publicly they were auditioning unknowns as well as established actresses, so why wouldn’t they go for the perfect mix – a relatively unknown name, but one that still has the acting chops and years of experience in the industry behind her. Let’s not forget she had a supporting role in Good Luck Chuck, from the same studio developing the Hunger Games, so Ferland is a familiar face to Lions Gate. In a world where all is just and fair, she would be right up there with Stanfield and Emma Roberts in my list of top three Katniss candidates. Stay peeled for my in depth interview with Ferland next week, where we talk Twilight, Twihards, the one and only Joss Whedon and a Bree Tanner spin-off movie.

In other news, here's a fantastic lil' Hunger Games cartoon I found while trawling the internet for fan art. Epic LOLs.

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Living the McDream

"It's a little cheesy, but that's fine.'' Australian actor Callan McAuliffe is talking from his Los Angeles home about his new film I Am Number Four, the Michael Bay produced blockbuster about an alien in highschool. McAuliffe's character Sam befriends said alien, play by Alex Pettyfer, and the pair team up to fight an evil horde of creatures invading the town. It's a fantastic role for the 16-year-old Sydney lad, who has spent the last year and a half trying to break into the Hollywood market after bit parts in Packed To The Rafters and Blue Water High.

His big break came during a 2009 holiday to LA when he landed the lead role in Flipped, written, directed and produced by industry heavyweight Rob Reiner (The Princess Bride, A Few Good Men, When Harry Met Sally, This Is Spinal Tap). After being called back to audition five times, McAuliffe said he ``didn't think they would want an Australian because of all the travel involved.'' He was wrong.

Not only did he get the part, but the role brought him to the attention of the I Am Number Four casting directors. With just one audition McAuliffe got the part and joined the cast with Pettyfer, Glee star Dianna Agron, Timothy Olyphant and fellow Aussie Teresa Palmer as alien number six.
``It was a fantastic experience,'' he said.
``I came from Flipped straight to I Am Number Four which was an extreme contrast.
``It was a multi-national cast with Alex being British and Dianna and Tim American.
``But having another Australian on set in Teresa was great because at least there was one person to laugh at my jokes.
"Americans, they just don't get our sense of humour, you know?
``She was hilarious and although we would muck around, as soon as D.J. (director D.J. Caruso) yelled `action' we would snap back into our characters.''
McAuliffe said fans of producer Michael Bay will be expecting ``explosions'' and they won't be disappointed, with plenty of stunts and special-effects. And although his character didn't get to do ``any dangerous stuff''', McAuliffe said he did get to shoot a gun.
``It was a real shot gun in special casing to make it look alien,'' he said.
``I did get to do all of my own stunts, which weren't too impressive because my character doesn't get into much action.
``But I was definitely looking forward to shooting that gun the whole time.
``It was an alien gun too.''

Palmer, on the other hand, was not only an alien in the film but got to perform some of the most dangerous stunts herself. The Aussie rising star said she relished the opportunity and played ``an alien who kicks major bad-alien butt'.
``We're getting pursued by the bad aliens, but my character is sick of running away so she turns around and the hunters become the hunted,'' she said.
``I got to do my own stunts and I had someone film this one amazing stunt I did.
``I was attached to a harness which was attached to a 60 foot crane and when they said `action' I had to run and the harness, that was attached to just my leg, would pull me back and I would go flying 60 feet up in the air.
``I had to act like this huge alien, a Piken, was pulling me up and I would be kicking and screaming and trying to stab it with this dagger.''

I Am Number Four is out tomorrow.

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Got your number

It’s a shame I Am Number Four has been promoted as a supernatural romance reminiscent of Twilight, but with Aryan poster children Alex Pettyfer and Dianna Agron (above) as the teenage lovers. Really, it’s more of an action blockbuster in a similar vein to the hits of Michael Bay, who serves as producer.

It follows John Smith (Pettyfer) who tries to pass himself off as an ordinary teenager but in reality, is actually one of only nine aliens who escaped the planet Lorien when the evil Mogadorians invaded and went Hitler on their race. John and his guardian Henri (Timothy Olyphant) have spent their lives on the run, trying to elude the Mogadorians who have tracked the refugees to Earth and are killing them off in sequence. The latest town they roll into is Paradise, Ohio.

Henri begs John to keep a low profile as it's vital they don’t repeat a recent incident where his leg inconveniently lit up like a light night at a beach party. John says “I know how to blend in” and demonstrates his master-of-disguise prowess by chucking on a hoddie and enrolling in the local high school. There he meets Sarah (Agron), a cheerleader turned photographer, and sparks fly. Literally, as John’s powers are developing rapidly and between his hands turning into spotlights in class and making street lamps explode, he’s having a hard time staying under the radar. Which is why the high school’s resident nerd and UFO theorist Sam (Callan McAuliffe) catches on to John’s secret and after a big reveal, the pair become allies. Just in time too, as a horde of Mogadorians arrive in town in pursuit of John.Directed by D.J. Caruso (Disturbia, Eagle Eye, Taking Lives), I Am Number Four is what it is; an alien action blockbuster with romance at its core. Kind of like E.T, minus the bicycles.

The film is based on a popular science fiction novel published in 2010, with DreamWorks Pictures buying the film rights a year earlier based on the manuscript. Buffy scribe and producer Marti Noxon has adapted for the big screen, along with Smallville helmers Alfred Gough and Miles Millar, and the trio do a fine job off crafting a steady building film for their target audience. They know their strong points and whenever the story gets a tad too romantic or slow, they counteract it quickly with action and special effects. Considering this is a Michael Bay produced film, you know the effects are going to be top notch. Thankfully the nonsensical elements of Bayhem productions are mostly absent, with the exception of the entire cast being good-looking and Caucasian. A brunette or multi-racial cast member in I Am Number Four is harder to find than Charlie Sheen’s sobriety.

Plus, as filmmakers Bay and Caruso are about as subtle as unobtainium. For instance, Aussie rising star Teresa Palmer gives a scene-stealing turn as fellow alien number six who, instead of sitting around and waiting to be killed, is actually a kick-ass warrior. She comes in at a crucial moment to help John and his buddies escape the Mogadorians and gets the best line in the film; “Red Bull is for pussies.” But to really drive the point home, she dresses in leather, wears studded gloves and drives a red motorbike. Okay, we get it, she’s sexy and badass. Ease up on the overt symbolism.Performance wise Pettyfer continues his role as the latest action boy template; he slots nicely into any big budget flick but never leaves an impression. Agron is memorable, but her monotone voice is more irritable than it usually is on Glee. There are some genuinely awesome sci-fi moments, mainly thanks to the original looking Mogadorians and their horrific pet creatures. With tattooed scalps, gills where cheeks should be, fangs and a looming 7ft-plus physique, they’re creepy enough as it is. Yet their manner and interaction add an extra `eek’ factor. Their hunter creatures too are fantastically freaky and obviously the result of a dozen dinosaurs and a Predator thrown into the blender. It also packs a clever original score from Trevor Rabin, which helps build tension, and is complemented by a too-cool-for-school soundtrack from the likes of Beck, The Black Keys, Kings Of Leon, Adele and The Temper Trap.

I Am Number Four sets up a sequel perfectly and, depending on box-office results, you can count on there being at least another two films (the author has six novels planned). It’s essentially an inter-species love story, complete with action, suspense and, unlike the Twilight Saga, it actually delivers on its promise of M-rated gore. Sure, this isn’t a film that’s going to change the world. But it’s a sufficiently entertaining meal for the multiplexes. I Am Number Four opens in cinemas on Thursday, February 24.

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Release the inner beast

So, I may have been quick to bag this out when news of the concept hit the net last year but heck, after watching the Beastly trailer I must say: they’ve turned me into a believer. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for the traditional fairytale remake in theory, yet they so often stuff it up on the big screen I have steadily become more and more disenfranchised. Cases in point are Ever After, The Brothers Grimm and Snow White.

Beastly, however, looks like it may be the exception. Based on the 2007 novel by Alex Flynn, it’s a retelling of Beauty and the Beast set in New York. It follows rich and self-indulgent teen Kyle, who is transformed in to a hideous monster by a witch. His only chance of breaking the curse is finding someone who can see past his exterior and truly love him, enter classmate Lindy (the equivalent of Belle).

The novel was received well by critics, with Publishers Weekly citing it as a great read for young adults. Hence, with the success of the Twilight franchise, which contains similar themes of teen love, sexual tension, the supernatural and inner-monsters, it’s no wonder a movie adaptation was green lit so quickly.

In the film Vanessa `I pose nude online’ Hudgens is Lindy, the female lead, and the spankable Alex Pettyfer (best known for his roles in Wild Child and Alex Rider: Stormbreaker) is playing Kyle. In more interesting news, Mary-Kate Olsen has taken a break from hooking up with Ben Kingsley and plays the Gothic-chic witch. Everyone’s favourite gay (sorry Elton) Neil Patrick Harris also stars as the blind tutor/comic relief. Written and directed by Daniel Barnz, the man behind the sweet and seriously underrated Phoebe In Wonderland, Beastly looks like it might have some substance.

Sure, they are clearly aiming for the Twilight audience right from the indie songs featured in the trailer (Evermore and Death Cab For Cutie for those of you playing at home) to the heroine in peril scenario. Yet I have faith in Barnz, as it looks like there are plenty of important (and literal) messages in there for the teens about inner-beauty. And who doesn’t love a tinted romance/action? Plus, there’s nothing I wouldn’t pay to see more of Mary-Kate as that witch: irksome!

Beastly is released in the US on July 30, so probably a tad later for the rest of us. In the mean time, check out the surprising cool poster below.

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