Gavin Hood’s (X-Men: Origins, Rendition) adaptation of Ender’s Game nabbed its star earlier this week with Asa Butterfield (Hugo) confirming he will appear as the title character via Twitter. Now Hood can turn his attention to casting the adult lead, Colonel Hyrum Graff.
While they first set their sights on Viggo Mortensen, a deal was never reached so the producers are now discussing other Hollywood veterans, including Harrison Ford. While he’s still just a name being thrown around without any formal discussions taking place, this role could see the triumphant return to sci-fi that Cowboys & Aliens and Indiana Jones and the Glass Alien Head failed to deliver for Ford.
In the book, Graff is the training commander for the elite boys’ military academy, which selects gifted, young tacticians (such as Ender) and trains them to fight off an insect-like alien race. Hood, who is directing and writing, hopes to get the film out by March 29, 2013.
