Heads up, Shadowhunters!
Lena Headey may be best known as the golden-haired Cersei from HBO's "Game of Thrones," but she's about to touch down on (and become a redhead for) another book-to-film phenom - this time on the big screen for "The Mortal Instruments"! Also joining the cast are "Mad Men" star Jared Harris and Godfrey Gao!
Author Cassandra Clare made the announcements on her blog today: Lena Headey will portray Jocelyn Fray, the mother slash badass shadowhunter whose kidnapping sends daughter Clary on a long, hard-fought rescue mission against the world's most powerful and deadly creatures. Meanwhile, Jared Harris is the pick for the duplicitous Hodge Starkweather, who has to decide between preserving his freedom and betraying the little ones. Finally, Godfrey Gao signs on as Magnus Bane, the illustrious High Warlock of Brooklyn.
Clare wrote about the news, "I have had an actress crush on Lena for years so when they told me she was cast I did a happy dance ... Lena is amazing and I think she will be amazing as Jocelyn. I am super psyched." As for the addition of Harris, Clare wrote "Hodge is also a really complicated character. He’s not entirely bad, not entirely good. He’s a brilliant man led down a bad path a long time ago and he can’t turn back, but he does love those kids he tutored ... I think [Jared Harris]'ll really nail Hodge’s moral dilemma." As for Gao, Clare wrote, "Godfrey is, in addition to being all gorgeous and stuff, super-talented (his audition was awesome), loves the books, and is, like Magnus, ridiculously tall."
Casting for "The Mortal Instruments" - which is expected to begin filming in Toronto in the coming weeks - is all but complete thanks to this news. Lily Collins and Jamie Campbell-Bower lead the cast as Clary Fray and Jace Wayland, with "Misfits" star Robert Sheehan in tow as Simon. Jemima West, Kevin Durand and Robert Maillet also star in the pic which will hit theaters on Aug. 23, 2013.
What do you think of Lena Headey as Jocelyn Fray? Can you picture her as Lily Collins' mother already or what? And how about Jared Harris as Hodge? Spot-on or a miss? And thoughts on Gao as Magnus?
