Caitlin Stasey to play Ellie
Caitlin Stasey, best known for her role as Rachel Kinski in ‘Neighbours’ has been chosen to play Ellie in the film adaptation of ‘Tomorrow, When the War Began’.
Stasey will play Ellie Linton, the heroine in author John Marsden’s series of books.
The 19-year-old actress, whose credits include the roles of Rachel Kinski on Neighbours and Frankie in The Sleepover Club, says she was thrilled to be chosen for the highly sought-after role.
“I was ecstatic! I have a lot of respect for Ellie’s character and feel privileged to be playing such an inspirational young female role,” she said.
Stasey is the first cast member to be confirmed for the film by first-time director Stuart Beattie.
“There was an exhaustive audition process and I have been privileged to see some very talented young actors,” Beattie said.
“Caitlin captured the perfect balance of intelligence, vulnerability and strength that is essential to this character.”
Beattie wrote the screenplay for Tomorrow: When The War Began, having previously written for films like Australia, GI Joe: The Rise Of Cobra, Pirates Of The Caribbean: The Curse Of The Black Pearl and Collateral.
Beattie says he wanted to work on the film because of its powerful combination of action and heart.
“I was instantly attracted to this project because I was looking to make a character-based but commercial action movie set in Australia that could compete on the international stage,” Beattie said.
“Ellie and her friends are all wonderful, complex, engaging characters who make the ride worth so much more than the price of admission.”
Filming is due to begin at the end of September in the NSW Hunter Valley.
Oh, awesome!!
I have the hugest crush on her!!! i read the books way back into year seven and the fact that SHE’S in one of my favourite books make it so much better
awesome!
SHE DOESN’T LOOK LIKE ELLIE IN MY EYES….
A lot of people may feel the same way as you. John Marsden was very vague when describing his characters’ physical appearances, especially with Ellie. There’s been a thread open on the forum for quite a while now where we’ve been talking about Ellie’s appearance.
Caitlin is a professional actor. Her job is to play the role of a fictional character. As far as personality goes, I believe she won’t have any problems being Ellie, and she’ll do a fantastic job. As far as her appearance goes, like you, I had a different mental image of Ellie… but I don’t mind. How the character looks like is up to each reader’s interpretation.
Keep in mind that the makeup and costume departments really have a big effect on how a character is viewed, not to mention the lengths an actor can go to play a role themself. Take Christian Bale for example. He has looked incredibly different in several of the roles he has played.
I have faith in Caitlin Stasey
agreed
she does not look like ellie at all she is to danty she is ment to be a tough farm chick who can hadle her self this chick looks like she couldnt even lift a gun let alone fire one + how the hell do they expect her to look like she can run a farm its hard work you know. oh well its not my first choice but im sure she will do fine.
caitlan needs to do a hard days work before i’ll say shes a good actor. if you asked her to chop down a tree she’d probs start doing karate on it…? bad casting!!
Agree.
Im not a fan of her in neighbours and I don’t like her acting much unfortunately. I hope she can step up and prove us all wrong for the sake of the movies. I have been waiting for these to be released as movies and I adore the books. Ellies first characteristic in my eyes is tough – not hot. And she needs to be less hot than Fi. Fingers crossed for her.
NO! NO! NO! NO! NO!
she just doesn’t look like ellie! and I mean, ‘the sleepover club?! this has probably made me permantly bitter!
i agree. ruined the movie for me, and its not even out yet.
what do you guys know, you aren’t directors besides plenty of films have chosen people who weren’t the ideal and then were made huge successes; Keanu reeves as opposed
to will smith in the matrix, matthew perry as opposed to John cryer as Chandler in friends this is a blessing in disguise she’s a great actor and i can’t wait to see it, I loved these books in high school
yeah, well, i’m emo, and am still bitter. I’ll go eat some chocolate, then try to be more possitive about this.
AND just because movies are successes doesn’t mean that they are any good! god, I sound petchulant….
anyway, I think this chick looks more like Robyn.
Yeah. Shes not how I pictured Ellie at all.. she’s more my intrepretation of Fi, but I have heard the whole thing about Robert Pattinson- Everyone HATED him when he was first cast and now i’m pretty sure the same people are sticking up his posters on the wall.. Hopefully the movie will be amazing and she’ll do a great job.
sleepover club was like years ago and it’s a good indication of how versatile she is
yea and it was shocking
She’s not how i pictured ellie to look but i can’t wait till the movie comes out. My second favourite series behind twilight. I wonder how long till it gets released?
I agree with the general consensus that this actress is *not* a good representation of the ‘Ellie’ character from the book; Marsden described Ellie in no uncertain terms as ‘not skinny’ – that didn’t mean she was overweight, but she was a healthy, country girl…
I get the sense this will just ‘date’ the movie – and one thing John Marsden made clear in a public talk was that he was careful not to use words that ‘dated’ the book – so as to keep it relevant to every generation of readers.
Hey guys, as you know.. we’re all for discussion on the films and as news comes, discussion with casting etc.. but for now lets keep the kinda negative talk out
if you’d like to discuss casting in detail, please feel free to do so within the forum itself.
Thanks all!
As for my two cents, I think Caitlin is a fantastic choice. Not exactly how i had pictured Ellie.. but damn near close, and we all know that not everyone was going to agree with casting! Its how the game goes!
Well this has annoyed me.. I’m a huge fan of the tomorrow series and she is no ellie linton. Atleast cast someone that looks like ellie who has been portrayed as a little chubby. This girl is anno. I agree- she looks more like robyn.
i definetly wouldn’t pick her i just think she looks like a popular preety girl when i pictured ellie as a simple small town, happy go-lucky girl but thsi girl looks liek she would never leave the city
no offence intead she is really preety just not ellie
I don’t think they’ve selected the correct actress for Ellie. I just don’t feel she’s right for the role. Yes, she’s more a Robyn.
I think Jess Tovey from Home & Away would be good for one of the roles. She can actually act!
I think the dude that hosts ‘Kid Detectives’ on Ch7 would be perfect for Homer. Saw him in a theatre show at the start of the year and was brilliant! Not sure of his name, anyone know???
Thoughts??
Stuart Beattie cast Cailtin for a reason- he has seen her audition and where have we seen her- only in Neighbours! Just because we all have our own picture of what Ellie looks like, no need to be negative!
If you are a fan of the Tomorrow series then just be happy otherwise stick to the book.
I have faith in Caitlin Stasey too.
It is not my personal choice for Ellie. I hope she does a good job. In my opinion I think she looks like a Fiona ( pretty, popula, rich towny ). I’ll make furthur judgements when the movie comes out and all the makeup goes on.
but seriously. why not get someone from the country who hardly has to act or put on make up?
Well, i dont personally think she fits but then many others may think the complete opposite.
And i dont think its about really what she looks like i think she just needs to fit the ‘Ellie personatlity’
She was a fairly good actress in neigbours but i’m not sure how she would go in a movie.
I really hope she does a fantastic job because the movies being sucessful depend on it
GOOD LUCK CAITLIN!
I don’t think she looks like a ‘robyn’ as robyn was described as ‘nuggety’ in the books. She could do well as ellie…not what I pictured but meh.
I agree – she’s more like how I envisioned Fi, but I think Fi’s blond, isn’t she? I think they wouldn’t have chosen her if she wasn’t the best for the role. Although she’s not what some of us imagined, she may be exactly what other’s did imagine! I’m just stoked the books will finally be movies! Even if the lead role isn’t played by me (like I used to daydream about lol)
This picture is so NOT like Ellie……………………….
I sincerally HOPE that she will have a good make up….
I’m SO scared.
who are all you to judge? wait til the bloody movie comes out then decide if its a good idea i think itll be good
when will the movie come out ??
I think that she’s not the mental image but you never know…
I wouldn’t worry if I were you. Like someone said before, I think you should trust in Caitlin’s skills. Maybe she doesn’t picture the Ellie you’ve imagined but I can’t see what’s so wrong in it. I can see your point but, still, Caitlin is a good actress and she’s proved it in Neighbours… her character (Rachel) and Caitlin aren’t the same person, and if you don’t like Neighbours it doesn’t mean that she’s not a good actress. After all, it’s her work. She’s been studying for this role and if Stuart Beattie said that he was impressed it means that there’s a reason behind his choice. Maybe she doesn’t picture 100% Ellie but I think it doesn’t matter, if she will play her character fine and it will come out a great movie we shouldn’t care about this. I trust Caitlin Stasey, she is surely far better than a random, unknown girl that would look exactly like Ellie but can’t act. That’s it. I look forward to see the movie and the other actors that have been casted.
Not what I imagined. As is the case with book to film adaptions though, everyone has different perceptions and images with the character.
However, I can’t help but be disappointed. Ellie was supposed to be an earthy country girl, tough and real. Your average Aussie teenage girl. This girl is tall skinny and very pretty (not saying that ellie shouldnt be pretty-she should just not look like she’s come off the catwalk!). She looks like a model, not a raw tough average teenager. And yes, yes she may have the ability to put all that aside with her acting. But you can’t deny that image plays are role in how characters are perceived and really her image does NOT communicate Ellie. I just have to keep my fingers crossed that the costuming, makeup and acting can change that.
ps/ Anna Panquin would’ve been great (she still looks quite young) even though she’s a Kiwi.
Faith in her ability to act? Have you seen her in neighbours? She’s terrible! They should have gotten a no-one to play ellie, I’m so annoyed.
well arent you a bitch.
ha.
i suggest you play ellie then, because your a no-one and seem to have such a strong opinion.
I honestly don’t mind who plays the role of Ellie. Evry reader has their own interpretation to her appearance and the casting would have been difficult. To find the right actor similar to what is in the mind of the director and has the talent to follow it up.
She will have a lot of weight sitting on her shoulders, a career maker or breaker. I wish her the best.
Man, she has the whole weight of the films success on her shoulder. If she cant get it right then there screwed.. Although i saw quite a bit of her on neighbours, didnt think she was too bad, although i don’t know how shes gonna adapt to this role
I’m glad they picked somebody with at least a bit of experience in front of a camera, even if it’s from a soap. Ellie is a very demanding role that’s why I support this decision, I think she might have the skills necessary.
I would really like to know if the actress had actually read the books. I think it would be essential reading to get a feel of the character from the books and not just from a film script
Exactly! Like how they should have made Dumbledore from Harry Potter read the books
this is a huge 4 aust! it could be as good as lord of the rings was 4 Newzealand.lol. ask any yank about NZ and thy will say ‘is that where lord of the rings was filmed?’ i cnt wait 4 these movies
honestly shes not what i pictured, i imagined her a bit more i dunno “ruff” if u know what i mean like she doesnt strike me as the sort of person that would help lead a gureilla group, however i will reserve judgement on her till i see the movie, who knows she could suprise me
Oh my god!!!!
I have always said these books have to be made into a movie!! The Tomorrow series are still my favourite books of all time!!! They better do a good job on it, or i will be so dissapointed. I hope it’s not a low budget Australian movie i hate those. Tomorrow series is waaaaayyyy better than Twilight.
I agree, twilight is nothing comapred to the tomorrow series!!
I just hope Sophie lowe has been selected for one of the other roles. She is amazing on the big screen and is obviously going to be hot property.
as im sure has been thoughly approached this girl does not even look like she has been camping .. or even know what a rural is like
She’s definately not how I imagined Ellie, but it’s just like Jordan said – we’ve all got our own interpretation of Ellie, and there’s no way they could possibly capture everyone’s interpretation.
The more I think about it though, the more I can see her as Ellie. And really, Caitlin hasn’t had many different roles yet, so I guess we don’t really have a full and clear impression of her and her abilities. And Stuart Beattie seems to have a lot of faith in her
i think she needs to put on a bit of weight. i know that sounds weird but in the books it has that she is ‘bigger’ than the rest of them… in the books it makes her sound kind of short and chubbier? i dont think thats the right way to describe it but yeah…
yes, I agree with you, Nikita. It was always strongly implied (can’t remember if it was/where it was stated) that Fi was thiner then Ellie, and if they want to do that, it’l be a bit hard now lol.
But still, if she has the whole Ellie vibe, these movies will be great!
yeah hopefully the movies will be good because i really love the books. they are very well written and i would hate to see the movie ruin them. as long as they stay true to the way john marsden wrote it i think they can be a great thing.
I hate it all…since when are Home and Away and Neighbours’ actors good enough to pull of a great series like this. I’m sure they’re all lovely people and they love to act but come on! Anyone whose grown up in the country and knows what its like to live on a farm will tell you that these kids wont have what it takes to make it realistic. Im sorry, but why couldn’t they go out west and get some real country kids who can act, there is so much talent out there but thier too busy working of the farms to audition. Make it real…so get people who are real!
Well, Marsden isn’t a farmer either and yet he made it ‘real’ to you. With imagination and good acting they’ll come far enough.
These guys can act. It is what they do. They are actors. By your logic Elijah Wood would have done a bad job playing Frodo because he wasn’t really a Hobbit.
LMAO! I agree! Good point
dude stop defending these 2nd rate actors. they’re terrible. they might as well have cast britney spears as ellie.
Ryan, for some reason I think you don’t know what you’re talking about.
If you don’t like the actors that’s fine, but I’m sure they’ve been chosen because of their skills.
I agree with you but i disagree also
Neighbours and home and away stars CAN act just not this sort of movie i would rather of seen a younger version of Stevie(Simone jade mckinon) from mcleods daughters play Ellie than Caitlin Stasey cause i really do not think Caitlin Stasey has it in her to play a character of this calibre for one she is WAY too thin and for two she has the look of a city girl which Ellie most definitely is not and third i don’t think she is a very good actor i know others disagree but each to their own i guess
Cant wait for the movie, but I agree. She’s too city. And not solid enough to be a true country girl, she looks like she will snap like a twig just looking at farm work. Will be interesting to see her fire a gun or drive all the heavy machine Ellie does over the series. But Im sure she’s a great actress and will be fine- they’ve obviously picked her for a reason
Jolene and Jo, WTF?! Caitlin is too city! What’s that supposed to mean?
Caitlin obviously has it in her to play Ellie other wise she wouldn’t have been chosen. You weren’t there at the auditions to seen her.
eb you are dead wrong they can act and all of them will do an excellent job.
At least the majority of the actors are Australian. I wouldn’t mind betting that Hollywood producers would used far, far more foreign actors.
excactly! ive lived in the country for 11 yrs and know what its like. these “actors” would pay someone to mow their lawn, because they wouldn’t know how to start a lawnmower! get some real country kids. kids that dont need to act.
I say give some Country kids a go at acting out the parts. Whats with all the soapy stars what a bunch of city kids. They better do a good job or i will make my own movie with my own actors, real people from the country. Can’t wait for the movie ive got high hopes.
EXACTLY!
make your own movie i thnk not these actors were chosen for a reason you are not being fair to them most of what you say is twaddle nonsense
Seconded. I’ll be pissed if it’s all ‘streuths’ and ‘crikeys’. Gosh, I’d better not be disappointed.
Go to Screen Australia and get your money to make your version, ask John Marsden for his blessing of your script, pick your cast how you see them and wait for your film to be released and we can tell you what we think your your cast and Stuart Beattie’s.
gawd go Chloe
show then what you’ve got
lol
I think anyone who’s read the books (probably any australian) might have a problem with light-as-a-feather Caitlin – how is one so physically tiny and fragile going to play the rough-tough tomboy?
Don’t get me wrong, acting wise she probably was the best, but if she’s as skinny here as she is in real life then it will clash with the description in the book – it’s inevitable with a book made into a film that you have to put up with a lot of dramatic licence – but she’s so much nearer to the totally opposite Fi that I think it’ll stick out – time will tell if I can believe she’s near enough to ellie… maybe they’ll hide her arms
okay ellie is a farm girl this chick dont look like one… i dont see ellie. i couldnt see this chick playing in the mud like ellie would… please dont wreck this series for me it saved my life you wreck it youve wrecked everything i no that sounds over the top but it did before i read the books id never read a book in my life i was doing things i shouldnt of i gave up on life but these books got me back in school and off the streets please dont wreck it for me thats all i ask
Shes way too cutesy!!! not too keen on her playing ellie. i hope they dont totally ruin the books like the eragon people and twilight people did.
i hated the sleepover club and neighbours so if shes anyhting like that shell ruin it forever. is she even australian!!!
I wish people would get over the fact of who has been chosen to act these characters.
The main thing to remember is that (proof being many of us here) because of the insane LOVE and somewhat infatuation of the brilliant books, we become protective and defensive of them… Beattie has taken a great risk in choosing to make this series a visual reality, but feels it is the right thing to do.
Still, I too will be heartbroken if this turns out to be a disaster… But I still will wait for the movie.
If anything you all should be excited, for now more of the world will notice the powerful story many of us know by heart.
nicely said.
very nicely said Paige Adelaide, well done
you’re right. but im still pissed off about ellie.
Exactly. It’s obvious that everyone won’t agree on Beattie’s casting as we all have different interpretations on how each character looks and as everyone knows, the books are always better than the movie.
the casting for ellie is rubbish. Ellie’s a farm girl, not a bloody model. i’ve lived in the country for 11 years, and ive never known a girl like this to live on a farm.
i love the john marsden books, but you’ve just killed the movie for me…
For your information Miranda Kerr the Victoria Secret model and supermodel as some people call her grew up in the small town- Gunnedah NSW. Where she raced motorbikes on her Granmother’s farm.
Also casting is finalised so has filiming and the trailer will released next week and the movie is released next September so quit your whining over this so called “casting is rubbish”.
If you go and make your version not everyone will be happy with your casting as everyone has a different image of what the characters look like.
The trailer will be released next week? How exciting.
personally, i know a lot of people think Caitlin Stacey playing Ellie Linton in the TWTWB Movies is a bad idea and that she’s too dainty, but i think she’ll makean absolute GREAT Ellie Linton, for people who say she’s too dainty, its amazig what makeup artists and wardrobe stylists can do to change a dainty girl into a country farmer chick.
I CAN NOT WAIT TILL THE MOVIE COMES OUT!!! I LOVE LINCOLN LEWIS AND THE TRAILER LOOKS AMAZING!!! I LOVE THE BOOKS AND I HAVE READ THEM OVER AND OVER AGAIN! I WISH SEPTEMBER WAS TOMORROW OR SOMETHING! CANT WAIT!
I have to agree that she is not my preferred actress for this role, but I’m interested to see how it plays out as this movie will be fantastic to watch! I hope it stays true to the dynamic characters and the intriguing storyline!
there was never a description of Ellie in the book because it was from Ellie’s viewpoint. she doesn’t talk about herself.
now i believe that she will be a great actor and have total faith in the director.
we are all entitled to our own opinions, but in the end there isn’t going to be an actress that is going to meet all of the requirements our imagination has drawn up for us
now get over it people, sheeesh
I agree with most of you. She does not suite the role. I don’t think she will be able to portray Ellie’s character very well ; (
she is the right person 2 play ellie! she is wt imagined ellie was like.
I want to respond to Ryan and the rest of the ones doubting Caitlin in the role of Ellie.
What about watching the film first?? You may feel that the role could have been better cast but i’m sure Caitlin will be great in the role.The trailers look great and this is a great opportunity for a new and young cast.So stop knocking the film before you see it.I agree with the writer Caitlinroxxxx She’s going to be just great,can’t wait to see it in the UK.
The movie cannot possibly make the characters exactly how we all imagined them – my imaginary Homer and Lee are different to your imaginary Homer and Lee. So in other words, if you were totally happy with the castings, millions of others wouldn’t be. Hopefully the actors can pull off the characters though, to make up for the differennce in appearance. We should all just be soo glad that this book is being made a movie XD SOO EXCITED!!!
NOTE: I used the examples of Homer and Lee because A LOT of people seem to be complaining about the castings. This comment applies to Ellie just as much as them.
I WANNA BE AT THE PREMIER!!!
I actually went to secondary school with Caitlin, I was in the year above her and to me she seemed like a really lovely girl. I remember when she started there I asked her if she was in the Sleepover Club, I probably should have got her autograph considering she’s probably going to be a household name =)
I think that she’s going to do a great job at bringing one of my favourite book character’s to life (even though she’s not what I imagined). The trailer looks awesome.