One thing that is apparent from this is that the "Insert" post didn't need to identify Angelina. It could have just said "with an A-List star" or "Oscar winner" or somesuch. But they specifically ID'd her and included the working title of the film and the genre -- a lot more info than they provided for this week's film.
So does all this bolster the case that the post is authentic and Angelina is about to start filming an action sci-fi set in the future? Perhaps. I've been working on the assumption that it is just because it doesn't make sense to me that anyone would need or want to fabricate such info just to get more applicants. Not in NYC anyway, and not since they would face the almost certain prospect of lawsuits from all sides.
A casting call classified ad isn't like a fabricated tabloid story in Star, In Touch or National Enquirer which have been the unintended beneficiaries of the 1st Amendment. If the info they give is false or misleading the applicants can easily file complaints against them or sue them in court. And they would probably hear from Angelina's lawyers as well.
===
A casting call for extras usually means that filming is about to start soon -- like in a month or or so. With dozens and at times hundreds of extras involved, it would be hard to keep track of everyone and keep them on call if the wait were longer. In contrast, the earlier casting call for Cleopatra was for principal actors only and they often need a long lead time to arrange their schedules. Daniel Day Lewis and Javier Bardem were said to be interested and both have other commitments they would need to sort out.
So what film is hiding behind the working title of "Insert" and is supposedly an action sci-fi set in the future? And why keep the title of the movie under wraps but broadcast her involvement in it? Given how normally private and secretive Angelina is, it's a bit surprising that she agreed to have her association with this project used for something as innocuous as an ad recruiting bit players and extras. The principal actors of Blood & Honey didn't know who was directing the film when they auditioned.
It's possible that Angelina's name is just being used as a draw and she is not involved with the posted film. But I don't see why anyone would attempt such a ploy since they would have little to gain and a lot to lose. New York has legions of aspiring actors eager to find work on Broadway, TV or film, and some are even willing to work for free in order to burnish their resume. The casting agents of any film would already be swamped with applicants even without Angelina's name attached to it. A fraudulent scheme would be quickly exposed and they would face complaints and lawsuits from disgruntled applicants as well as Angelina's legal reps. There is no apparent monetary benefit either as they still have to pay the actors they hire the same professional wages.
It's also possible that she is attached to the film but the announcement with her name wasn't vetted by her reps or higher management. But with a star of her stature and importance, I don't really see the production co. being so careless and sloppy in handling anything that would have to do with her. And they posted twice so if it was a mistake the first time they would have corrected it.
So it looks to be a legitimate post and the result of a deliberate decision. She will be facing the press very soon for Blood and Honey and will no doubt be asked about her future projects so they may have wanted the rest of the info to come out from her interviews -- or as an exclusive to a reporter. It's a plausible scenario as movie sites fiercely scramble for exclusives.
Unforgiven was originally scheduled to start last May and a NY setting could fit into the story, but such a low profile, relatively low budget film will hardly demand such secrecy or so many extras. Salt 2 could pick up with Evelyn Salt back in NY since much of the original was filmed there, but it's still very early in its development and it hasn't even made Production Weekly. We can pretty much rule out Cleopatra which needs a desert setting and extras who can pass for Egyptians. Ditto The Tiger which is supposed to be set in the Amur tigers' remote wilderness habitat and would not need large crowds in the background -- much less models.
Among her listed films, the most likely bet is Maleficent since Angelina already said it's her next film and it has had recent updates in Production Weekly. It's a "post-modern" take so it could shoot anywhere and require the bit players and extras described in the post. It may, however, be a bit of a stretch to describe it as an action sci-fi set in the future.
The other big question relates to who is directing. The answer may provide clues as to why the title is being kept hidden and help explain why it is filming in NY rather than in a studio lot in L.A.
While I fully expect Angelina to eventually direct and star in the same movie, I don't see her attempting it right away with a big action sci-fi (although Salt 2 is a possibility).
If it is Maleficent and Disney's rumored top choice, David Yates, is the one directing, I don't see why such a collaboration would require secrecy. Yates may have directed the last four Potters but he doesn't have a strong following on his own from among movie fans or writers. David Fincher is known to be a control freak and a perfectionist and I could see him requiring the use of a working title but we've already ruled out Cleopatra and he has other commitments that would keep him busy until at least the middle of next year.
This could also be something new altogether.
It has been suggested that the film could be the Wachovski siblings' Jupiter Ascending. Deadline's Mike Flemming wrote that Warners Bros. "is now discussing which A-list star to lead the cast while keeping the script and logline under tight wraps." That would explain the use of a working title and an "action sci-fi film set in the future" would be similar to the Wachovskis' successful The Matrix trilogy. But if it is targeting a Spring start, it may be too early to audition extras who will then have to wait 5 - 6 months. It doesn't explain the need to cast in NY either.
The planned sequel to Ridley Scott's Blade Runner has also been suggested but Scott will be busy in postproduction with his latest sci-fi, the Alien-related Prometheus until its release in June next year. And Scott recently revealed that he is still looking for a writer "that might be able to help me deliver" so it is probably at least some months off from production.
After Darren Aronofsky dropped out of Wolverine because he wanted to stay close to his young son in NY, he was courted for a number of projects including Maleficent and Human Nature -- about a man who is "cryogenically frozen and wakes up years later to a world in which humans have become pets of another species." Human Nature could fit the posted film's description and Aronofsky's familial obligations could explain the NY location. But Aronofsky is now said to be prepping his passion project Noah and targeting a spring 2012 start, although IMDb still doesn't have it listed as being in pre-production.
Evidently, none of the above films is a strong or airtight bet. Ranking them based on how they match the info: 1) Human Nature, Maleficent or any film directed by Aronofsky, 2) Jupiter Ascending directed by the Wachowskis, 3) Maleficent directed by anyone other than Aronofsky, 4) another project with another director.
One thing we do know for sure is that they would not be auditioning extras for this mystery project if a director was not already firmly on board. Given that it appears they may be trying to hide the identity of the director(s) as much as the title of the film, it should be pretty big news when it does come out. Another Mike Flemming Deadline Exclusive? Or perhaps EW via Anthony Breznican?
We shouldn't have to wait too long.
MAJOR MOTION PICTURE W/ ANGELINA JOLIE SEEKS ASPIRING ACTORS & MODELS (Midtown)
Date: 2011-10-26, 1:28PM EDT
Reply to: see below [Errors when replying to ads?]
WE ARE CURRENTLY CASTING PEOPLE FOR A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE W/ ANGELINA JOLIE
WORKING TITLE "INSERT" ACTION SI-FI SET IN FUTURE
PLEASE NOTE WE ARE SEEKING PEOPLE FOR SMALL SPEAKING ROLES AND EXTRA WORK
NO PRIOR EXP REQUIRED
IF YOU ARE APPLYING FOR A SPEAKING ROLE WE WILL PROVIDE YOU WITH A MONOLOGUE TO READ FOR THE CASTING DIRECTOR
ALL TYPES AGES 16-55 MAY APPLY FOR EXTRA WORK
ESPECIALLY SEEKING MALES AND FEMALES 16-55 FOR BACKGROUND WORK
FEMALES 22-50 ANY ETHNICITY TO PLAY ASSISTANT TO BORIS LEAD MALE (SMALL SPEAKING)
MALE 18-29 ANY ETHNICITY (SMALL SPEAKING)
FEMALES 18-35 ANY ETHNICITY MAY AUDITION (SPEAKING) SUPPORTING ROLE
SEEKING MODELS TO PLAY MR.BIGGS LEADING LADIES 18-38
MALES AND FEMALES 25-40
(AFRICAN AMERICAN AND HISPANIC MALES AND FEMALES) 21-55 (SMALL SPEAKING)
AUDITIONS WILL BE HELD WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 26TH FROM 1-5PM, THURSDAY OCTOBER 27TH FROM 1-5PM, AND FRIDAY OCTOBER 28TH FROM 1-5PM
THE ADDRESS IS 1674 BROADWAY THATS THE CORNER OF W52ST AND BROADWAY THE 8TH FLOOR
PLEASE DONT NOT BRING ANY FOOD, DRINKS OR GUM TO THE AUDITION. PLEASE DO NOT BRING ANY PERSON THAT IS NOT AUDITIONING
NON-SAG (SAG ACTORS PLEASE APPLY THROUGH AGENTS)
PLEASE BE ADVISED WE ARE SEEKING MANY DIFFERENT ROLES THE CASTING DIRECTOR WILL DETERMINE WHAT WE MIGHT HAVE YOU DO
PostingID: 2670043556
WORKING TITLE "INSERT" ACTION SI-FI SET IN FUTURE
PLEASE NOTE WE ARE SEEKING PEOPLE FOR SMALL SPEAKING ROLES AND EXTRA WORK
NO PRIOR EXP REQUIRED
IF YOU ARE APPLYING FOR A SPEAKING ROLE WE WILL PROVIDE YOU WITH A MONOLOGUE TO READ FOR THE CASTING DIRECTOR
ALL TYPES AGES 16-55 MAY APPLY FOR EXTRA WORK
ESPECIALLY SEEKING MALES AND FEMALES 16-55 FOR BACKGROUND WORK
FEMALES 22-50 ANY ETHNICITY TO PLAY ASSISTANT TO BORIS LEAD MALE (SMALL SPEAKING)
MALE 18-29 ANY ETHNICITY (SMALL SPEAKING)
FEMALES 18-35 ANY ETHNICITY MAY AUDITION (SPEAKING) SUPPORTING ROLE
SEEKING MODELS TO PLAY MR.BIGGS LEADING LADIES 18-38
MALES AND FEMALES 25-40
(AFRICAN AMERICAN AND HISPANIC MALES AND FEMALES) 21-55 (SMALL SPEAKING)
AUDITIONS WILL BE HELD WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 26TH FROM 1-5PM, THURSDAY OCTOBER 27TH FROM 1-5PM, AND FRIDAY OCTOBER 28TH FROM 1-5PM
THE ADDRESS IS 1674 BROADWAY THATS THE CORNER OF W52ST AND BROADWAY THE 8TH FLOOR
PLEASE DONT NOT BRING ANY FOOD, DRINKS OR GUM TO THE AUDITION. PLEASE DO NOT BRING ANY PERSON THAT IS NOT AUDITIONING
NON-SAG (SAG ACTORS PLEASE APPLY THROUGH AGENTS)
PLEASE BE ADVISED WE ARE SEEKING MANY DIFFERENT ROLES THE CASTING DIRECTOR WILL DETERMINE WHAT WE MIGHT HAVE YOU DO
- Compensation: PROFESSIONAL AS PER ROLE CASTED
- Principals only. Recruiters, please don't contact this job poster.
- Phone calls about this job are ok.
- Please do not contact job poster about other services, products or commercial interests.
