Wallace Shawn, Justin Kirk, Dan Stevens And Todd Barry Join Amy Heckerling's Vamps
Red Hour Films announced today that Wallace Shawn, Justin Kirk, Dan Stevens and Todd Barry are the latest actors cast in Clueless director Amy Heckerling's romantic horror-comedy Vamps. The film stars Alicia Silverstone and Krysten Ritter as two young female vampires living the good life in contemporary New York "until love enters the picture and each has to make a choice that will jeopardize their immortality."
Sigourney Weaver will play Ciccerus, a bloodthirsty vampire who turned the two women into blood thirsty vamps. Shawn will portray Dr. Van Helsing, a well-known vampire expert and hunter; Kirk will portray Vadim, a Russian vampire always on the prowl for a good time; Stevens will portray Joey Van Helsing, a college student smitten with Stacy (Ritter) and; Barry will portray Ivan, blood-thirsty vampire Cisserus' (Weaver) loyal assistant.
Sounds like a vampire-themed version of Gossip Girls. Lets hope this isn't just a last minute attempt to capitalize on the Twilight craze. But honestly, who better than Heckerling, who has been responsible for some of the better teen films of the 80's and 90's, including Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Clueless and European Vacation. She has only released two films in the last decade, 2000's teen comedy Loser and the 2007 romantic comedy I Could Never Be Your Woman. Production is set to begin in April 2010.
Read the full press release below:
WALLACE SHAWN, JUSTIN KIRK, DAN STEVENS AND TODD BARRY JOIN ALICIA SILVERSTONE AND KRYSTEN RITTER IN "VAMPS"
NEW YORK, NY – AUGUST 02, 2010 – Red Hour Films, Lauren Versel and Maria Teresa Arida of Lucky Monkey Pictures and Molly Hassell announced today that Wallace Shawn, Justin Kirk, Dan Stevens and Todd Barry have joined the cast of writer/director Amy Heckerling's new feature film VAMPS. Written and to be directed by Heckerling, VAMPS tells the modern day tale of two young beautiful female vampires (Alicia Silvestone, Krysten Ritter) living the good nightlife in New York until love enters the picture and each has to make a choice that will jeopardize her immortality. Filming begins this week in Detroit, Michigan.
The actors join the previously announced cast, Alicia Silverstone, Krysten Ritter, Sigourney Weaver, Richard Lewis and Kristen Johnston.
Shawn will portray Dr. Van Helsing, a well-known vampire expert and hunter; Kirk will portray Vadim, a Russian vampire always on the prowl for a good time; Stevens will portray Joey Van Helsing, a college student smitten with Stacy (Ritter) and; Barry will portray Ivan, blood-thirsty vampire Cisserus' (Weaver) loyal assistant.
Shawn is represented by Christopher Black and Stone Manner Salners; Kirk is represented by Management 360 and United Talent Agency; Stevens is represented by Julian Belfrage Associates and; Barry is managed by 3 Arts Management.
VAMPS is produced by Red Hour Films ("Tropic Thunder," "Blades of Glory," "Dodgeball"), Lucky Monkey Pictures Lauren Versel and Maria Teresa Arida (this summer's breakout hit "City Island") and Molly Hassell (Sundance Award Winning "Big River Man"). Executive Producers include Julie Kroll.
Heckerling shot to fame directing "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" for Universal followed by the box office hits "Look Who's Talking," "Look Who's Talking Too" and "Clueless."
Foreign sales are being handled by Lisa Wilson, President of Distribution, Parlay Films LLC, which is a GK Films affiliate.