It only seems right that director Kevin Tancharoen is nabbing a cast of mostly unknowns for his remake of Fame. Especially given that Alan Parker’s original charted the lives of young newcomers hoping for their big break.
When Thomas Dekker – of TV’s Heroes and Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles is the most recognizable person considered to date, you know MGM and Tancharoen are plunging deep into the up-and-coming talent pool.
The ensemble who have just been hired include the following (deep breath): Kristy Flores, Paul Iacono, Paul McGill, Naturi Naughton, Kay Panabaker, Kherington Payne, Collins Pennie, Walter Perez and Anna Maria de Tagle. Chances are you might have caught one or two of them on shows like CSI or Friday Night Lights, but most are unknown on these shores.
Instant Fame
And in a nod to the original, the producers are trying to get one of the original film’s stars, Debbie Allen to make a cameo.
“In many ways, the idea of pursuing a career in dance or music or acting is much more palpable now," MGM’s Mary Parent told The Hollywood Reporter . "Anyone with a page on a social networking site is instantly 'famous,' and anyone with a digital camera is a potential filmmaker. The negotiation between fame and real talent is much more immediate and something with which audiences are familiar, and there's a universal relatability to experiencing the trials and tribulations associated with pursuing one's dream, regardless of the arena.”
Tancharoen starts shooting next month from a script by Untraceable’s Allison Burnett and 27 Dresses’ Aline Brosh McKenna. And yes, the new actors do apparently hope they live forever. We suggest cryogenics.
