Casting news for “Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World” has heat up this week, with several announcements regarding the very colorful universe of the eponymous hipster martial artist. Michael Cera and Mary Elizabeth Winstead have already been announced as the leads, and presumably, pre-production has stretched on for so long in order to teach them martial arts. Let’s hope director Edgar Wright (“Hot Fuzz”) is smart enough to keep this from becoming yet another white-people perform-improbable-kung-fu-stunts movie.
Firstshowing.net has done an excellent job rounding up the cast as selected so far. The biggest news is the addition of Chris Evans as asshole moviestar/skater Lucas Lee (hmm…). Evans was interesting enough in “Sunshine” and “Cellular,” so it might be just his selection of roles, but vain asshole is right in his wheelhouse. The guy’s physicality and sense of humor made him the best thing about the forgettable, aborted “Fantastic Four” franchise, and limited to a small role, he should be a “Pilgrim” highlight as well.
Newcomer Ellen Wong is Pilgrim’s stalker ex Knives Chau, while Firstshowing.net is also reporting a rumored selection for another of Ramona’s (Winstead) ex’s. Give ’em the hits to read more about that.
As previously noted earlier this week, also joining the cast is Kieran Culkin as Scott’s gay roomie Wallace. Culkin hasn’t acted since 2002’s “Igby Goes Down,” but it must have been an intended career break, as he’s got a pretty full ’09 slate. Newcomer Aubrey Plaza plays Julie, the girlfriend of the lead singer in Sex Bob-Omb, which Pilgrim plays bass for. Aubrey’s hot stuff suddenly, recently cast in a big role in Judd Apatow’s “Funny People” as well as the new unofficial “The Office” spinoff.