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« Ausiello Report
Film Biz to Idled TV Star: Don't Call Us, We'll Call You
Gimme a young actor who's satisfied working in TV and I'll give you a half-dozen who'd rather be doing films. For the performers who fall in the latter category, the current writers' strike has proved to be something of a blessing, as it's given them the kind of free time to pursue their movie-star dreams that their ironclad multi-year contracts had never afforded them.
Unfortunately, a certain star on a hit show hasn't had the best of luck capitalizing on the sudden hiatus — and his/her costars are dancing a jig about it. You see, this particular thesp has for years been bitching to anyone who'll listen about how his/her current TV gig has been preventing them from being the next Tom Cruise/Julia Roberts. The chip on said actor's shoulder became considerably more pronounced when he/she was forced to turn down a lead role in what would eventually become a $100 million-grossing film. The reason? Scheduling conflicts at their day job. Suddenly, a show with little or no behind-the-scenes drama had "Crazy Young Actor" on its hands.
Cut to November '07, the writers drop their pens, scripted programming grinds to a halt, and you-know-who is free to go after any film part he/she wants. The result? Crickets. Despite hitting the audition circuit hard, Cocky McCockerson can't land a film to save his/her life. Next thing you know, Mr/Mrs I Oughta Be in Pictures is singing a different tune: I Oughta Be Thankful I'm a Working Actor.
So, who's the star with the big-screen 'tude and nary a credit to show for it? Place your bets in the comments section below.
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Jan 21, 2008 1:35 PM
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It would be funny if it was David Caruso again!
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Jan 21, 2008 1:39 PM
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How about Tom Welling? Smallville is a hit for the CW, and I don't believe he has been in any movie except for The Fog.
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Jan 21, 2008 1:46 PM
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So, I looked up the 100m+ films for 2007 to see if anything would give me a hint, and after a little thinking I kept falling on the same couple of flicks over and over... Transformers and 300. Anyone remember any old casting rumours about either of these?
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Jan 21, 2008 2:14 PM
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It couldn't be Hayden Pannetiere, could it? She seems like she'd be able to land movie roles, as she's fairly popular. I hope it's not her but she's the first "young actor" I thought of.
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Jan 21, 2008 2:33 PM
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LOL @ Caruso
Although I think it's safe to wager that he no longer qualifies as "young."
Got a question Mike ... are we talking a primetime actor here, btw? Because this kinda smacks of Josh Morrow of Y&R ... or, rather, soon to be ex of Y&R
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Jan 21, 2008 2:36 PM
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Naveen Andrews
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Jan 21, 2008 2:38 PM
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I hope this gets revealed eventually. I was thinking Katherine Heigl, but she starred in "Knocked Up" which was pretty successful.
Someone from Heroes?
Maybe someone who had to turn down a role in Knocked Up, Transformers, or one of those?
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Jan 21, 2008 2:50 PM
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I really wouldn't want this to be true, but what about Zach Braff from Scrubs. We know he has wanted to leave, and even though this would have been his last season, it would have made him done earlier than expected.
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Jan 21, 2008 2:52 PM
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Jennifer Love Hewitt (The Ghost Whisperer) turned down the role of Alex in I know pronounce you Chuck and Larry.
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Jan 21, 2008 3:12 PM
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Well, it can hardly be someone from "Heroes", since Mike mentioned four years of "bitching". "Heroes" is barely two years old. So it's hardly someone from that camp.
Caruso is too old. Zach Braff has put a project of his on hold, and I doubt it's him, since he's more into smaller, independent films.
Tom Welling? Maybe.
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Jan 21, 2008 3:16 PM
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Chad Michael Murray.
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Jan 21, 2008 3:19 PM
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From what I can find on the net, Tom Welling was up for the role of Superman in Superman Returns, but that was a 2006 movie.
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Jan 21, 2008 3:20 PM
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I vote for Tom Welling as well. I think his unhappiness was well documented by the 3rd season of Smallville. And Transformers would make sense...
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Jan 21, 2008 3:26 PM
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My initial thought was Katherine Heigl, but she had Knocked Up, definitely a hit with $148,768,917 domestic (boxofficemojo . com). She also has 27 Dresses, which also looks promising as a hit. Also, the part in Mikey's post about how the show has had "little or no behind-the-scenes drama" doesn't fit Grey's Anatomy.
Michael Rosenbaum was talking about how this would be his last year on Smallville so he could branch out into other projects, but I don't know that he would be considered a "young actor" anymore in his mid-30's. I could see Tom Welling being it, but I hope not. I would (naïvely) like to think he's still the nice, unjaded guy I met a few years ago.
Hayden P would seem a good guess, but she was supposedly focusing on music. (Yikes!) However, the part about biching for years about the current gig, would negate her, since this is only Heroes second season.
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Jan 21, 2008 3:31 PM
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