It’s FRIDAY! Not only is it almost the weekend, but it’s time for Nicerazzi’s Casting Call – our weekly update on who will be playing whom in Hollywood’s hottest upcoming movies and TV shows. Tune in every Friday to stay up-to-date on casting news and find out when you’ll see your favorite star on the big screen again!
Movies:
Oscar winner Sean Penn has decided to try a new role: action hero. The lauded actor is in talks for “Prone Gunman,” a new action thriller from producers Joel Silver and Andrew Rona. Penn would play Martin Terrier, an international operative who is forced to fight the company he once worked for. The story is based on a Jean-Patrick Manchette novel. Manchette is known for his French noir works exploring existentialism and the human condition, so don’t expect Prone Gunman to be your typical meat-head action movie. Regardless of the deeper character development, it’s still safe to say you can expect plenty of gun-toting action from Penn.
Television:
Liza Minnelli, the undisputed queen of Broadway, just signed on to play a very typecasted role on NBC’s sophomore series, “Smash.” She’ll be playing her Tony award-winning self and singing an original song written by Marc Shaiman and Scott Whitman. She’ll be joining fellow guest stars Jennifer Hudson, Sean Hayes and Jesse L. Martin.
Grace Gummer, her claim to fame being the spawn of Meryl Streep, will get a chance to step out of her mother’s shadow with a guest starring role on HBO’s highly acclaimed drama “The Newsroom.” She’ll be playing Hallie Shea, a news reporter covering Mitt Romney’s campaign. Her sister, Mamie, is starring in the CW series “Emily Owens M.D.” Looks like these apples didn’t fall far from the tree – but whether or not they possess the same talent as their multi-multi-award-winning mother is yet to be seen.
“Friday Night Lights” alumni Jesse Plemmon’s has been cast in HBO’s new series “Missionary,” alongside Benjamin Walker who was cast last week. Plemmons will play a Coca-Cola rep turned double agent who helps smuggle defectors out of East Germany. Plemmons was most recently seen in AMC’s “Breaking Bad” and alongside “Friday Night Lights” co-star Taylor Kitsch in last summer’s “Battleship.”