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alexis bledel Tagged Articles at Cinematical

Could Robert Redford Have Picked a Better Cast?

Filed under: Drama », Casting »

Steven Spielberg's Abraham Lincoln pic will definitely have a run for its money if it ever gets made. Robert Redford is cooking up one hell of a roster for his drama The Conspirator, which focuses on Mary Surratt's involvement with the assassination. Now Variety reports that the filmmaker has lined up the rest of his cast. First, as we already learned: Robin Wright Penn will play Mary Surratt, "the only female charged in the conspiracy to kill" Lincoln. She was said to have given John Wilkes Booth and David Herold weapons. James McAvoy, meanwhile, will play Frederick Aiken, the war hero and man tapped to defend her in court. And now:

Tom Wilkinson -- Reverdy Johnson, a Surratt sympathizer and mentor to Allen, who was the former attorney general and U.S. senator.

Evan Rachel Wood -- Anna Surratt, daughter of Mary. She later had to fight for her mother's remains.

Kevin Kline -- Edwin Stanton, Lincoln's War Secretary who took charge of the crime scene after the assassination. He was very involved in the entire proceeding, including concocting a rather unique and painful hood for the accomplices while on trial.

Alexis Bledel -- Sarah Weston, the young Aiken's wife.

Justin Long -- "a role" ... The trade outlined everyone's role but his. Will this be, I dare say, Lincoln? (hah.)

Frankly, Kline would be enough to sell me, but I'm impressed both by the fresh story picked (and all the aspects Redford has to choose from), and the heaps of talent laid on it -- a mixture of names we'd expect and some surprises as well. Could this be a big twist for Long, perchance?

Glamour Recreates Female Icons with the Youth of Hollywood

Filed under: Images »



One day, years from now, could you imagine Hayden Panettiere, Elisha Cuthbert, Lindsay Lohan, or Alexis Bledel being the icons of yesterday, as a new crop of girls recreates their iconic images for an entirely new generation? Maybe, or maybe not, but either way Glamour got these ladies (plus a few more) to get posing and celebrate female risk takers in America.

Above, that's Emma Roberts as Audrey Hepburn (a bit of a cheat since Hepburn was born in Belgium, but that's nitpicky). Some others are just simple recreations, like my personal favorite -- Alexis Bledel as Rosie the Riveter, and some tap into a link between the source and the portrayer, like Lindsay Lohan as Madonna. There's even Hayden Panettiere as Amelia Earhart -- yet another image to compete against Hilary Swank's Amelia. I might not be a fan of the mag (I haven't read it since high school), but Glamour really knows how to tap into the perks and power of women, from these interesting recreations to the even cooler short films.

Check out some our favorite images from the Glamour shoot below, then tell us: Are there any icons you wish they covered, or actresses they should've included?

Review: The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2

Filed under: Drama », New Releases », Warner Brothers », Theatrical Reviews »



I figure I'm about 20 years older, at least, than the target demographic for The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2. I understand that there are some movies where I'll always feel a little old or out of touch, because they're just not made with me in mind, no matter how good or bad those movies are. Fortunately, I had no trouble empathizing with the four young women who are bound to friendship through their magical bifurcated nether garment -- more so than I did with the Sex and the City gang, who are much closer to my age.

Like Sex and the City, Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 works better if you know the characters already through their previous appearances, because you're already emotionally invested in them. I hadn't read the young-adult novels by Ann Brashares, but my sister, who is a big fan, filled me in and we determined that this movie is based mostly on the fourth book in the series, with a few changes, so even if you've read the books you get some surprises.

Alexis Bledel Gets Not Only a Lover, but Mr. Mom and Carol Burnett Too!

Filed under: Comedy », Casting », Fox Atomic »

Well, Gilmore Girl and Traveling Pants star Alexis Bledel no longer has a Ticket to Ride. Instead, an early name change has her getting into The Post-Grad Survival Guide for Fox Atomic's upcoming comedy, and the supporting cast is falling into place. The Hollywood Reporter has posted that Zach Gilford, one of the stars of the television series Friday Night Lights is in final negotiations to play Rory's love interest. Also joining the cast -- Michael Keaton, Carol Burnett, and Rodrigo Santoro (300). Man, I hope this is decent, just to get a chance to see Keaton and Burnett -- hopefully together.

Bledel stars as a girl named Ryden Malby, who has just graduated from college and has "to move back home with her eccentric family while trying to find a job, meet the right guy, and figure out where her life is headed." Santoro is going to play an infomercial director and neighbor who becomes Ryden's friend and confidant, but there is no word on who Keaton and Burnett will play. Considering the eccentric family angle, I'm hoping for some sort of dad and grandma deal -- Carol would be perfect as Alexis' grandmother. As for the neighbor, will Ryden find a lucrative future in the infomercial biz, peddling special fryers, rotisseries, and weight loss products? The possibilities!

Filming will begin on the project this Monday in Los Angeles, under the directorial eye of Vicky Jenson -- director of Shrek and Shark Tale. It'll be interesting to see what she makes of this live action comedy, but really, I'm just psyched for Carol.

Alexis Bledel's Got a 'Ticket to Ride'

Filed under: Comedy », Casting », Scripts », Fox Atomic »

For seven years, she was the smartie of Stars Hollow sharing rapid-fire words and pop culture references with her young mom. She dealt with the kooky denizens there, then with the fiery rage of fellow students at Chilton, and then she even lived with them at Yale. But those days are over and Alexis Bledel has to look beyond her Gilmore Girls years. She's already shot the next film in the series about those magic pants that can fit anyone, and has now signed on for her first starring role since the hit show wrapped. As Variety reports, Bledel's got a Ticket to Ride -- and it isn't some sort of feel-good family movie about a girl and her horse, or bike, or whatever she's riding. It's Fox Atomic's upcoming college comedy from Shark Tale helmer Vicky Jenson.

Written by Kelly Fremon, Ticket stars Bledel as Ryden Malby, in a film that will thrust her into fresh, new, and exciting territory. It's about "a college grad who is forced to move back into her childhood home with her eccentric family while she attempts to find a job, the right guy, and some direction in her life." Okay, so really it's nothing new at all. As Rory, she's had lots of experience with eccentric friends and family, and suffering the woes of job-finding, guy-finding, and picking a path. But at least we know she can handle the material. With a $15 million budget, the film will begin shooting next month.

Original Cast In Talks To Return For 'Traveling Pants' Sequel

Filed under: Comedy », Casting », Deals », Warner Brothers », Family Films », Remakes and Sequels »

The girl-empowerment flick Sisterhood of The Traveling Pants was a mild hit at the box office, pulling in $37 million and received warm reviews from some critics and from fans of the original teen novel series by Ann Brashares. The film also helped launch the career of America Ferrera (TV's Ugly Betty). Variety recently confirmed that Warner Bros. is now putting together a sequel to the 2005 film, with an early shooting date planned. The original cast (Ferrera, Amber Tamblyn, Blake Lively, and Alexis Bledel) is currently in talks to return, and set to direct is Sanaa Hamri, who is known for helming music videos by Mariah Carey and Jay-Z, among others; she also made her feature directing debut on the film Something New. The film is being penned by co-writer of the original, Elizabeth Chandler.

The story will be based on the fourth book of Brashare's series (Forever in Blue) and meets up with the four girls, now in their college years, as a pair of jeans sees them through some tough times. Since the girls are growing up, the film is planning on a PG-13 rating this time around -- while still keeping the subject matter family-friendly I'm sure. WB hopes to start shooting on location this June in locations around the world including New York, Turkey, Greece, Providence, and Vermont but WB is apparently willing to accommodate the TV shooting schedules of the principle cast. Ferrera is returning to another season of Ugly Betty, Bledel is apparently going to be coming back for another year of Gilmore Girls, and Tamblyn is working on a drama pilot for CBS. That seems like quite a few schedules to co-ordinate so it might take some time before they can finally agree on a date.

 
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