Jonathan Rhys Meyers has been cast opposite fellow Irish actors Robert Sheehan and Aidan Turner in ‘The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones’ which is currently shooting in Toronto.
Rhys Meyers will play the villainous character Valentine Morgenstern in the movie adaptation of US author Cassandra Clare’s popular urban fantasy series for young adults.
His casting has been confirmed by Sony Pictures and Clare with production on director Harald Zwart’s feature underway since yesterday (August 15). The role is the second major casting news for ‘The Tudors’ star in recent weeks following news that Rhys Meyers will also return to the small screen as ‘Dracula’ in a 10-part series for NBC.
As previously reported on IFTN, Co Laois actor Sheehan (Misfits, Love/Hate) will play a vampire named Simon Lewis in ‘The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones’ which US producers hope will emulate the success of recently adapted franchises, ‘Harry Potter’, ‘Twilight’ and ‘The Hunger Games’.
Turner (Being Human), fresh from his role in director Peter Jackson’s hugely anticipated movie adaptation of ‘The Hobbit’, will play Luke Garroway, who has eyes on the beautiful Jocelyn Fray, played by Lena Heady (Game of Thrones).
The film’s leads are Lily Collins (Priest) and Jamie Campbell Bower (New Moon), while other cast members include Jared Harris (Mad Men), Kevin Zegers (Dawn of the Dead) and Kevin Durand (Real Steel).
‘The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones’ tells the story of Clary Fray (Collins) who finds herself in a supernatural world when she visits a club called Pandemonium, and witnesses a murder. Following this event her mother, Jocelyn (Heady), is kidnapped by a man called Valentine (Rhys Meyers). She then calls on those who she saw at the club, and asks them to help her.
Constantin Films, Unique Features and Sony Pictures will produce the film alongside Screen Gems. The script has been adapted from Clare’s novel by Jessica Postigo and I. Marlene King with the finished movie currently pencilled in for release on August 23 of next year.
Commenting on Rhys Meyers casting, author Clare said: “I’ve liked JRM since he was in ‘Velvet Goldmine’ and I have to admit that image was what sprang immediately to mind when the producer called me and said…Jonathan Rhys Meyers?” She added: “I should probably also mention that he was great in ‘Match Point’ and ‘Bend it Like Beckham’ and lots of my other favourite movies. So, in sum: Ireland, we have cleaned you out of your hot men. Sorry about that. You can have them back in three months when they’re done filming.”
