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.

Source

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.

ABC News

…You’re currently in Australia preparing for your directorial debut, Tomorrow, When the War Began. Can you tell me a little about that project?
It’s coming along very, very well. I just met with the author (John Marsden), and he loves the script. He’s given us his special blessing, and we’re on out way. We’re in week three of prep right now.

I know the Tomorrow series centers on a group of teenagers. Are you going for the PG or PG-13 audience with the film?
I’d say PG-13. It’s a war movie, so it’s real people getting shot. It’s not gonna be ‘R’ or anything, I don’t want it to go that far, but it will have real jeopardy. It will be very much a ‘real’ ride.

Source – ScreenCrave