After announcing that Steven Spielberg would be directing the film adaptation of Ernest Cline’s acclaimed sci-fi adventure novel ‘Ready Player One’ earlier this year, Warner Bros., Village Roadshow, and Dreamworks announced last month that the movie would be released on December 15, 2017. With a director and a release date under its belt, the production can now look to filling out the cast. And it looks like the process will start with a search for the female lead.
According to The Wrap, three of Hollywood’s most impressive up and coming actresses are currently at the top of the list to play Art3mis, the Oasis avatar of Samantha Cook and one of the top gunters searching for the treasure of James Halliday.
First, Olivia Cooke is in the running for the role. After appearing in ‘The Quiet Ones’, ‘Ouija’, and the A&E series ‘Bates Motel’, Cooke moved away from the “scream queen” image that she was building and made a splash with critics and audiences alike with her portrayal of Rachel Kushner in the acclaimed indie dramedy ‘Me and Earle and the Dying Girl’.
Next up is ‘Mozart in the Jungle’ star Lola Kirke. She was also featured in a supporting role in David Fincher’s ‘Gone Girl’, but the actress came into prominence in Noah Baumbach’s latest film ‘Mistress America’.
Finally, ‘Maleficent’ star Elle Fanning rounds out the shortlist (which is said to actually include two other actresses, but no names have been revealed). Originally known as Dakota Fanning’s younger sister, she stepped into her own with roles in ‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button’, ‘Somewhere’, and ‘We Bought A Zoo’. However, Fanning really broke out when she starred in J.J. Abrams’ sci-fi drama ‘Super 8.’
Though the casting process is said to be moving swiftly in order for Spielberg to jump right in after he finishes up ‘Bridge of Spies’ and ‘The BFG’, there’s still no word on options for the other leads like Wade Watts, Aech, Daito, Shoto, or the villainous Nolan Sorrento. But in the mean time, I hope Olivia Cooke emerges as the frontrunner for the role of Art3mis. My bias may be showing because of my love for ‘Me and Earle and the Dying Girl’, but I really feel like she’d be a great fit for the part because the spunky, driven girl who doesn’t take shit from anybody and does her own thing is definitely in her wheelhouse. Although seeing as she may be in the running for a part in ‘Star Wars: Episode VIII’ as well, I wouldn’t blame her for going to a galaxy far, far away instead. No matter what I think, be sure to share your pick in the comment section below.