It is no secret that the ‘bromance’ of Hollywood is quite popular, with male co-starring roles being particularly prominent at the moment. One of the most prominent examples is the new film ‘Boyhood’, in which the leading male roles are played by both Richard Linklater and Ethan Hawke. Although many people might see this as a ‘cursed’ double act, the film itself is quite an optimistic take on growing up. Similarly, the upcoming ‘Good Time’ features a young, gun-toting Tim Roth in the leading role. The latest film from the ‘Hunger Games’ franchise, ‘Mockingjay – Part 2′, features Jennifer Lawrence as the most prominent female role. Set for release on October 20th, it will be the final instalment in the Hunger Games series.
While male co-stars usually star in romantic comedies and action thrillers, there is an impressive array of roles for women in upcoming films. This includes a returning role from ‘The Hunger Games’ for Lawrence, alongside a host of supporting female roles. Although a number of these films might not necessarily be described as ‘romantic’, they offer a range of interesting performances from which to choose.
Who Is the Leading Man?
Based on how successful his previous films have been, ‘The Twilight Saga’ actor Robert Pattinson appears to have been chosen to star in the latest film adaptation of Stephen King’s horror novel ‘It’. He will play the role of Bill Denbrough, an average guy who becomes the target of a series of terrifying and tragic events after being woken up one night by a terrifying entity known as ‘It’…
For those readers unfamiliar with the work, ‘It’ is the 20th novel in the ‘Dark Tower’ cycle, which began with ‘The Dark Tower’. Although widely considered to be among King’s greatest works, it is also one of the most challenging, with the complexity of the narrative and frequent references to other works in the series making it a daunting read for anyone but the most diehard fans. However, those who manage to conquer all 20 books will be rewarded with a comprehensive guide to the entire series in a bound volume featuring an introduction by Stephen King and the novel’s cover art by renowned artist Chuck Jones.
Racial Politics
One of the most intriguing aspects of ‘Mockingjay – Part 2′ is its inclusion of an all-black leading cast and crew. Director Peter Bergman has remarked that he wanted to offer a different point of view on the civil war, explaining that he feels like “the system is rigged” and that it is “time for a change’…
Bergman and his team have achieved their goal, with the rich, diverse cast offering a different perspective on a conflict that has plagued the American nation for over a century. Although not an entirely original idea, Bergman feels that he was able to pull it off thanks to the support of others as well as the media.
As well as acting in the film, Woody Harrelson provides the voice of Commander James Taylor, while Richard Simmons and Robert Winch co-star as President Snow and Captain Mitchell, respectively. Simmons’ character is the father of the deceased Katniss Everdeen, whose mother is played by the exceptional Naomie Harris. The black cast members have achieved a level of prominence that is somewhat unprecedented in films, with some commentators even heralding the film as a ‘pivotal’ moment in Hollywood’s racial politics. Similarly, it has been suggested that Harris’ performance as Katniss’s mother might even qualify as one of the greatest acting tributes ever offered in a film.
A Change in Focus
Although he has appeared in a number of critically and commercially successful films, ‘The Twilight Saga’ star Robert Pattinson might feel somewhat frustrated that his previous efforts have not garnered the same level of enthusiasm as his latest project. ‘Safe,’ an action thriller that finds Pattinson in a more traditional leading role, is the first film adaptation of Steven Pressfield’s best-selling novel of the same name. It marks a change of pace for Pattinson, who has been acting for a decade and is perhaps best known for playing the title character in ‘The Twilight Saga’.
While ‘The Simpsons’ creator Matt Groening has said that he is “thrilled” that ‘The Simpsons’ is being adapted for the big screen, the news that Matt Damon is to star in and produce a fact-based adaptation of Kevin Costner’s best-selling book ‘Three Seconds’ has caused something of a stir. Not only does it mark Damon’s first lead role in a production company of any size, but it seems to be yet another departure from the actor’s previous work. Even more intriguing is the fact that it is being adapted by one of Hollywood’s most prominent filmmakers, John Wick, whose previous work includes the ‘The Raid’ and ‘Keanu’.
If you thought that the above must have been a misprint, prepare to be corrected. As mentioned in the opening paragraph, ‘it is no secret that the ‘bromance’ of Hollywood is quite popular at the moment, with male co-starring roles being particularly prominent at the moment.’ Perhaps the most prominent example is the upcoming ‘Boyhood’, in which the leading male roles are played by both Richard Linklater and Ethan Hawke. Although many people might see this as a ‘cursed’ double act, the film itself is quite an optimistic take on growing up. Similarly, the upcoming ‘Good Time’ features a young, gun-toting Tim Roth in the leading role. The latest film from the ‘Hunger Games’ franchise, ‘Mockingjay – Part 2′, features Jennifer Lawrence as the most prominent female role. Set for release on October 20th, it will be the final instalment in the Hunger Games series.
In short, there appears to be a change in focus for Hollywood at the moment, with a number of interesting projects in the pipeline.