With Eddie Redmanye in final negotiations to Inherent Vice) are up for the same part, Saoirse Ronan and Dakota Fanning go head-to-head for another and Dan Fogler is rumored for an antagonist part.
The Wrap reported on the female casting. Ronan, Fanning, Lili Simmons (“True Detective“) and Alison Sudol (“Transparent“) all are up for the part of Tina. Upton, Waterston and Elizabeth Debicki (The Great Gatsby), meanwhile, are sought to play Tina’s older sister, Queenie. While the schedules for these different actresses vary in availability, some already have test deals and script readings with Redmayne set for the next week or so. This is just an initial shortlist though, and it’s quite possible more will come down the pipeline in time.
Meanwhile, Justin Kroll of Variety reports on Fogler’s rumored involvement on Twitter, where he, Steve Zissis (“Togetherness“) and Zack Pearlman (“Mulaney“) are currently testing for the role of Jacob, the enemy to Redmayne’s Newt. Like the actresses mentioned before, it’s very likely these are just the initial actors on Warner Bros.’ shortlist, and that more will come to light as the ball on David Yates‘ new movie rolls even faster.
Casting should become more official in the next month or so, as the new film gears for production later this year for its November 18, 2016. If I were a beating man, I would guess Waterston or Debicki will get to play Queenie, while Simmons battles Sudol for the part of Tina and Fogler takes his Jacob paycheck to the bank. Upton is certainly the oddest name in the bunch. Although she’s developed a growing acting career thanks to last year’s The Other Woman and William H. Macy‘s upcoming The Layover, it would seem as though she would only get the part based on name recognition.
Which would make sense for an original property, perhaps, but because this is based on one of the most lucrative franchises ever, it wouldn’t seem as though this is an issue. Just slap “From the World of Harry Potter” onto the trailer and the money train should follow steadily.
