Oscar-nominated actress Hailee Steinfeld, who turns sixteen in two weeks, is keeping herself busy. She’s already set to star in several upcoming films, including the much-anticipated Ender’s Game, and now Deadline reports that she’s been cast opposite Kevin Costner in McG’s upcoming untitled action thriller.
From a script by Luc Besson (Taken) under the title Three Days To Kill, the film stars Costner as Secret Service Agent Ethan Runner, who discovers he’s dying and decides to retire in order to reconnect with his estranged daughter (Steinfeld). When the Secret Service offers him access to an experimental drug that could save his life in exchange for one last assignment, he soon finds himself trying to juggle his family, his mission, and the drug’s hallucinatory side-effects.
This film has the makings of an excellent feature. Besson has started a new trend in action films; bringing older established actors into high-octane contemporary environments. I’m not crazy about McG directing it (I’d much rather Besson helmed the film himself), but I can’t deny that he’s spearheaded films that have been a great mix of action and story.
Casting Hailee Steinfeld is an excellent move, and not just because she was nominated for an Academy Award. For her role, you need a young actress who’s not afraid to stretch her acting muscles in front of established actors; much like she did opposite Jeff Bridges and Matt Damon in True Grit.
While a year or two ago she was on every media site’s list as a young actress to keep an eye out for, now she’s set to show everyone why. In another year or two, with a few more features under her belt, she’ll quickly become a household name.
What do you think of Hailee Steinfeld joining the cast? Let us know in the comments below.