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British actor Theo James has landed the lead in CBS’ drama pilot Golden Boy, from Nick Wootton and Greg Berlanti. The project, produced by Warner Bros TV and Berlanti Prods., centers on Clark (James), a cop, and chronicles his meteoric rise from officer to detective and ultimately police commissioner. Ryan Phillippe was originally tapped for the role but exited shortly thereafter, triggering a lengthy auditioning process that resulted in the casting of James. James, who has a handful of credits in his native Britain, including a lead on the BBC series Bedlam, is virtually unknown in the U.S. aside from a guest spot in the first season of Downton Abbey where he played Kemal Pamuk, the Turk who died in Lady Mary’s bed. He made his Hollywood debut in the recent Underworld: Awakening. James is the latest non-American actor to get the lead in a pilot this pilot season.
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Lady Mary knows him in the biblical sense, he played Mr. Pamuk on Downton Abbey!
Yeah, so they said.
Film actors and Brits/Australians.
Others need not apply.
I hope you’re not a white American male saying this.
because, god knows, white people in australia, new zealand, england, etc. are definitely underprivileged and discriminated agains and need opportunities. (for the record, i don’t give two sh*ts that people from other countries are “taking” american jobs, but let’s be honest, a british white dude taking over a job previously isn’t some sign of progress. if say, a black dude from england was taking over, that might be progress.)
Agreed! Thanks for giving/keeping jobs for the American people! Not watching no brit…
What would happen to Hollywood if you don’t have a worldwide audience? You have the worldwide audience among other things because you employ people from all over the world. Actors, writers, directors … and of course a lot of foreign producers who spent their money making movies in your country!
If you sell movies and TV shows to outside markets you don’t boycott the money from UK, Australia etc. – do you?
For f**ks sake grow up and quit quipping about a Brit playing an American. I AM American and I get so disgusted by other Americans that whine, complain, and make threats of boycotting something because its not an American playing an American on television–as if, and not discrediting theater or acting as a skill or art form, but as if its a population overhaul of immigrants coming in and truly taking over American jobs–I mean for gods sake, he’s an actor! The ONLY threat he is, is to other actors; and quite frankly if you have been paying attention to the type of country we have become in terms of entertainment (Kartrashians and the likes thereof) it is understandable why Hollywood turns for talent outside of our backyard. In the UK (not sure about Australia but…) acting students have a DESIRE TO LEARN and to perfect a craft and technique. They are not concerned with achieving quick and easy fame early in their careers–for many, they rather master the technique and establish a career for themselves and let the fame come later–if it does. I, myself am studying to become an actor and see castings of British actors as some what of inspiration to studying acting for the art form that is and not for some materialistic, self-absorbent promise of fame. What has America produced!?? Lindsey Lohan, Kim Kardashian, Amanda Bynes, Megan Fox, every male singer turned talentless actors; I mean really it is so easy for young famewhoring wannabees to become famous these days–in countries where the film industry is on such a smaller scale than Hollywood–actors learn to appreciate the craft and do it for the pure enjoyment of acting. When the passion and integrity is there, so is the quality of work. It is not about Brits or Aussie’s somehow stealing the American thunder, it is about giving the role to the person who earns it. If you want to see more Americans land American roles (which the majority do–an unfounded and ignorant accusation by you), become a part of the solution and boycott shows like Keeping Up with the Kartrashian Whores. And if you do not watch the show, but have a daughter or a sister who is a fan of the show, encourage them to immerse themselves into entertainment with more substance rather than garbage. I however, doubt this will ever happen and as long as our, “AMERICAN” society allows for Kardashian talentless whores and trainwreck party animals like Lindsey Lohan than we will continue to see a large number of Brits playing American roles.
Mr. Pamuk!
Wow, a handful of credits & miraculously he’s at WME to get crammed down our throats. The bullshit of this business sometimes is staggering. If that cat was from Des Moine, his ass would be at Maverick Artists LOL Well, congratz to him, I guess
Her we go again. Another non-American with little credit. The BIZ has become a JOKE!
I’m surprised they even auditioned him. He’s from England and all. Probably just went straight to sussing out the size of his trailer so he’d be happy. So sick of the British/Australia invasion here as stars of our shows.
This kind of blind nationalism makes me want to puke.
Maybe that comment is from an American actor? I know I’d be pissed if a bunch of foreigners were taking jobs in my industry. Have you seen the unemployment rate (and even in the best of times, it’s tough for actors, or so I’ve heard).
How is it tough? There are like millions on new TV shows every year. And then there are so many cable channels. And movies. And if you are not in the main cast then you can play a one episode character in bunch of shows.
I feel like there is this big “unemployment” because there are too may people who want to be actors. Because you know it’s easy money. And fame. So every idiot finishes school and runs to Hollywood to be actor and make lot of money. And there you have huge unemployment at industry.
How is is that basically every teenager they hire for big show can’t act? Falling Skies, Terra Nova and many others. And you know they did casting and those were probably best of them. Because there so many new “actors” that can’t act. No wonder they often hire better actors from Australia and UK.
Well perhaps he should learn to act better. I doubt they’re are hiring all these actors from Commonwealth on a whim.
If he’s an unemployed actor do you think he is not taking the next job just because the producer is from England or New Zealand?
Another side to your nationalism: don’t wonder if the overseas market turns against you because of your nationalism. Then you have more unemployment than now.
I hope it’s not too difficult to understand.
Wow, that guy looks like a tool. Will audiences warm to him? Who cares, it’s on CBS and all they have is crap.
WOW. Harsh much? Someone’s mind is a dangerous weapon.
Golden boy
feet of clay
let me help you on your way!
A little push (shove)
will take you far
but what a clumsy lad you are!
To Born in USA: Casting Associate works at Bialy/Thomas, Los Angeles.
that kid Theo was awesome in underworld. they should have him and India Eisley (eve) take over that franchise. It’s time someone reworks that franchise. I look forward to seeing him on the series.
It’s definitely too bad for those unemployed US actors, but I like the relative meritocracy of pilots. Fact is that it’s not just acting chops that matter.I’m reliably informed by casting folk that British actors are more professional, more trained and less demanding than their US counterparts. American actors doing the pilot season rounds should take need and not snark. Play the Brits at their own game!
He was the series lead in a BBC show “Bedlam” which was great show. The way they wrote it makes it sound like all he did a few co-stars and that’s it.
sad fact is american man actors are boys not men. they have no power, no depth and very little training. we coddle and smother our boys here and they grow up ninnys.
who is the last american actor you can think of that hit the scene with bang ala russell crowe in LA Confidential?
I thought of all the guys on the CW like Chase Crawford & realized you’re 100% on the money.
Theo is a class act. I had the pleasure of working with him last year, he is grounded, talented, & does stunts as well as his stunt dbl does. I hope he becomes a huge star.
The reason British/Australian come to the US is that that there isn’t just enough jobs for trained actors in their homeland because their entertainment industry is on a much smaller scale.
The US industry is one of the biggest in the world because of – among others things – it sells its product internationally more than any other of these countries. If British/Australians/Kiwis/Canadian opt to consume American shows/movies it reduces funding for loca productions and job opportunties for local actors. So, I’d say if American producers opt to cast much cheaper (better?) foreign actor it has come full circle. That’s globalization.
You forgot to mention he was in “The Inbetweeners Movie” where he snorted coke through a note that had been up someone’s bum and walked around with crap dangling from his nose – that’s how you get to Hollywood folks!
It’s a really bad time to be a US actor. It’s just a phase. It’ll change once we start producing some men again. All we have are young boys right now. i.e. Jake Gyllenhaal. Sooner or later, a Steve McQueen, Robert Redford, Burt Reynolds or John Wayne will emerge but it won’t be for a while. Too many little boys running around. They have to grow up. It’s the whole reason Tom Cruise is back in the game. He’s the only one filling the void. It’ll take a decade but some men will eventually emerge.
This guy is a “MAN” ? He looks like he’s 12 years old, and I can’t wait to here his NY accent, he may be a very good actor, but this is horrible casting.
Um well the show does revolve around a young, arrogant police officer…so it’s safe to say they were going for a guy with young looks.
Many American actors just arent trained. I was shocked at how bad an actor the kid playing Debra Messing’s son in Smash is. But he’s par for the course.
Gosh, the uninformed opinions here!
There are actually thousands of very well trained, non demanding American actors all over Hollywood. They can’t land a break for a variety of reasons, part of it’s the union and part of it’s casting directors themselves. Having interned at casting directors offices, I can tell you that they don’t even look at actors who don’t come from roughly the 6 top agencies.
I’m so sick of people saying that wanting to cast American Actors is a sign of narrow minded nationilism. Nothing is wrong with taking pride in your own kind, as well as sticking up for them. In fact, you would get more respect this way in foreign markets. And for the record the British and Australian markets are small compared to the emerging markets in Asia. And those people could care less about the birthplace of an actor-so why not cast one of your own?
What needs to be done is American actors need to start complaining and protesting with their unions to throw legal wrenches to keep this from happening.
I find British actors and shows so much more entertaining and witty. I certainly prefer them to the dumb-down, overacted garbage that is on most American TV. Perhaps some of the US actors should rise up if they want to be contenders. I say congrats to whomever was the best for the job/role.
I like the “Golden Boy and think that Theo James does a fine job but