The first bit of casting news for the big-screen adaptation of Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl's "Beautiful Creatures" has finally been conjured, and it is spellbinding indeed: Oscar-nominated actress Viola Davis has signed on to play Amma, according to a statement from Alcon Entertainment.
For the uninitiated, the Southern gothic series follows teen Ethan Wate, whose nightmares have been haunted for months by an unknown beauty. When he finally comes face to face with his dream girl (the raven-haired Lena Duchannes), he discovers they have an undeniable connection that cannot be ignored... And that she's a witch (known in this mythology as a "caster").
Viola's character, Amma, is a no-nonsense "seer" who looks after Ethan and his father after Ethan's mother's death. And she's hiding a few secrets of her own. If you ask us, securing an Oscar nominee early in the casting process certainly bodes well for the many roles left to fill, including Ethan, Lena and her powerful uncle Macon Ravenwood. Production will begin in New Orleans in April.
[Editor's Note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly reported that Viola had been cast as Marian. We regret the error.]
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