The first picture of Caitlin Stasey as Ellie Linton was published in the Herald today. More pictures are coming soon!

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Rachel Hurd-Wood to play Corrie in Tomorrow: When
the War Began

Director Stuart Beattie announces English actress Rachel Hurd-Wood has been cast as Corrie McKenzie in the feature film, TOMORROW: WHEN THE WAR BEGAN.

The eight TOMORROW: WHEN THE WAR BEGAN warriors have now all been confirmed with the announcement today by Ambience Entertainment that Director, Stuart Beattie has cast Rachel Hurd-Wood in the role of Corrie McKenzie.

Rachel Hurd-Wood will join actors Chris Pang (Lee), Deniz Akeniz (Homer), Andy Ryan (Chris), Lincoln Lewis (Kevin), Phoebe Tonkin (Fiona), Ashleigh Cummings (Robyn) and Caitlin Stasey as the film’s pivotal character, Ellie Linton.

This is not the first time Rachel has worked in Australia, having played Wendy in the 2002 big budget live action film version of Peter Pan, which was filmed in the Gold Coast. It was then that Rachel discovered the TOMORROW: WHEN THE WAR BEGAN book series.

“Being from the UK, I had heard of the book, but it wasn’t until I was last in Australia filming Peter Pan, that I read it and I fell in love with the story and the characters.”

Rachel’s most recent credits include the period features Dorian Gray, Solomon Kane and the 2006 thriller Perfume.

“I am thrilled to be filming a modern-day action film and to have the opportunity to work with Writer/Director Stuart Beattie and such an extraordinary Australian cast to bring one of my favourite characters from the book series to life” said Rachel.

Director Stuart Beatie says of Rachel Hurd-Wood’s casting: “We initially set up screen tests in Los Angeles and London because of all the Aussies over there. The excitement that generated lead us to seeing more great actors and the moment I saw Rachel’s screen test I knew our search for Corrie was over.

The boys of Tomorrow (from left to right): Chris Pang as Lee, Deniz Akdeniz as Homer, Lincoln Lewis as Kevin and Andy Ryan as Chris

THE YOUNG MEN OF TOMORROW: ANNOUNCED TODAY

After much speculation, Director Stuart Beattie announces his male leads in the feature film adaptation of John Marsden’s best-selling book, TOMORROW: WHEN THE WAR BEGAN

Ambience Entertainment today announced that Director Stuart Beattie has cast his four young male leads in the feature film, TOMORROW: WHEN THE WAR BEGAN.

Chris Pang has been cast as Lee, Deniz Akeniz as Homer Yannos, Andy Ryan as Chris Lang and Lincoln Lewis as Kevin Holmes.

They join Caitlin Stasey as Ellie, Phoebe Tonkin as Fiona and Ashleigh Cummings as Robyn.

Chris Pang studied at The Australian Film and Television Academy for two years. He has more than 12 years of traditional Chinese martial arts training and has appeared in the feature, Film Citizen Jia Li, as well as the 2006 feature, Home Song Stories, and the Channel 10 series Real Stories. He recently moved to Hong Kong looking for more interesting roles, but returned as soon as he heard TOMORROW was casting.

Twenty-year-old Pang, who is learning piano for the role of Lee, said: “I studied TOMORROW: WHEN THE WAR BEGAN at school and have always thought John Marsden was a brilliant writer. One of my favourite themes in the book is the idea of the characters having freedom from their parents, something most teenagers want, and how the characters then deal with that freedom.”

Deniz Akdeniz, 21, will play Ellie’s best “boyfriend” – the loud-mouthed, crazy but brave Homer Yannos. Deniz played Raff for two years in the television production of When the Bell Rings and has appeared in the theatre production of Angels with Dirty Minds at the Melbourne Arts Centre. Deniz further honed his performance skills with short courses at TAFTA, NIDA and St Martins Youth Theatre. He is a Victorian Jiujitsu Champion.

He said: “I read the book in grade 5 and 6 and when I heard about the audition I read the book again. It was brilliant to switch off the TV and again immerse myself into the world of TOMORROW.”

21 year-old Andy Ryan – who will bring the loner Chris to life in the film – was “over the moon” when he landed the role.

He said: “I am really enjoying preparing for the role as the introverted and obscure character, Chris. This is an amazing opportunity”.

Andy is currently appearing in the television series, The Jesters.

Lincoln Lewis – who played Geoff Campbell on the Channel 7 series, Home and Away – said this is his dream role.

“I’m an enormous fan of the books,” he said. “My brother and I would race each other to read all the books in the series. I have always dreamed of the books being made into a film.”

Stuart Beattie added: “The talent of these four young actors is truly formidable and I feel honoured to work with them. Their energy, passion, and commitment is astonishing.”

Ashleigh Cummings, 16 (left), and Phoebe Tonkin, 19
to play Robyn Mathers and Fiona Maxwell in Tomorrow,
When the War Began

Australian feature film, TOMORROW: WHEN THE WAR BEGAN announces two more cast members, Ashleigh Cummings and Phoebe Tonkin

Following the announcement last week of Caitlin Stasey’s casting in the pivotal role of Ellie Linton in the upcoming feature film of John Marsden’s best-selling TOMORROW: WHEN THE WAR BEGAN, Director Stuart Beattie today announced that Ashleigh Cummings and Phoebe Tonkin will join Caitlin in ‘Hell’ (the safe haven used by the teenage warriors in the film).

Phoebe Tonkin, who has been cast as Fiona Maxwell (Fi), is best known for her role as the beautiful, magical mermaid Cleo in the enormously successful tv series H2O – Just Add Water, which airs in over 120 territories. In 2008 Phoebe was nominated for an AFI Award for Best Actress in a TV Drama for her work on H20 Series 2, a first for an actor in a teen-oriented series produced in Australia. Phoebe has also appeared in the Australian Theatre for Young People’s productions of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Much Ado About Nothing.

“Phoebe is an extraordinarily talented young actress with an ethereal presence and effortless grace, much like her character, Fiona”, said Beattie.

Relative newcomer, 16 year-old Ashleigh Cummings joins Caitlin and Phoebe and will play the role of Robyn Mathers, a deeply religious yet determined and tenacious girl. After roles in Home & Away and the feature film Razzle Dazzle in the past year, Ashleigh has honed her performance skills in Los Angeles and at the prestigious Brent Street Studios in Sydney.

“Ashleigh is a powerhouse of ideas and energy and captures the heart and inner strength of Robyn perfectly”, said Beattie.

Further announcements will be made shortly as contractual arrangements are finalised with cast members.

Ashleigh Cummings, 16 (left), and Phoebe Tonkin, 19
to play lead roles in Tomorrow, When the War Began

Another two female leads have been chosen for the Tomorrow, When the War Began production. Theirs roles have not yet been revealed.

Ashleigh Cummings and Phoebe Tonkin are set to take up arms and get dirty . . . in the name of art.

The teenagers from exclusive private schools will learn how to ride dirt bikes and operate AK-47 automatic assault rifles as part of the rigorous physical build-up to filming an Australian movie.

The teenagers have scored major roles in the $20 million-plus film Tomorrow: When the War Began, which is based on the John Marsden novel of the same name.

Cummings, 16, who attends Wenona School in North Sydney, is yet to tell her friends of her casting because of the secrecy surrounding the film. But she sat some of her year 11 exams early and will miss the first part of year 12 to take part in filming the role.

“I didn’t think twice about it,” she said.

The film will mark the directorial debut for Stuart Beattie, an Australian who is already a major name in Hollywood for his scriptwriting, for films including Collateral and the Pirates of the Caribbean series.

“I read the script and was really impressed by how well-written it was and how different it is to anything else in Australia at the moment,” said Tonkin, 19. “We’re going to be doing weapons training — it’s all very physical; it’s action-packed.”

Tonkin attended Queenwood School for Girls in Mosman before pursuing acting and has already gained acclaim in television as the mermaid star of H2O: Just Add Water.

In Tomorrow: When the War Began, a group of teenagers returns home from a camping trip to discover their homes have been overtaken and all other humans have been captured or killed.

Neighbours actor Caitlin Stasey will star in the key role of Ellie.

Filming begins in the Hunter Valley later this month and the movie is scheduled for release late next year.

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