Deadline reports that Darren Criss is in talks to take over for Daniel Radcliffe in the Broadway production of How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying. If the deal is made, Darren will join the cast in January and miss only one episode of Glee.
Via Deadline
The news is brimming with symbolism – the young actor who portrayed Harry Potter in viral online videos to step in for the actor who played the boy wizard on the big screen. I hear that Darren Criss, breakout star of Fox’s hit dramedy Glee, is poised to make his Broadway debut, succeeding Daniel Radcliffe as the lead in the Broadway musical How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying. Negotiations between Criss and the musical’s producers, Craig Zadan & Neil Meron and Broadway Across America, are expected to begin shortly after Glee co-creator/executive producer Ryan Murphy and the series’ producing studio 20th Century Fox TV gave Criss their blessing for the stint. (I hear Murphy even encouraged the actor, who made his processional stage debut at age 10, to fulfill his Broadway dream).
If a deal is made, Criss will replace Radcliffe when the Harry Potter star finishes his run in early January to return to movies. Criss will do a 3-week stint in addition to 2 weeks of rehearsals in December, missing a total of an episode and a half of Glee. Additionally, I hear that Criss may make his feature debut opposite Kristen Wiig and Annette Bening in Imogene for American Splendor helmers Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini as the Glee producers have agreed to accommodate him for that too the same way they have let other cast members do movies during Glee production, including Lea Michele, Matthew Morrison and Dianna Agron. This caps a remarkable 8-month rise for Criss from a YouTube celebrity as the star of A Very Potter Musical and A Very Potter Sequel to a bona fide TV star with Glee and now – a Broadway leading man. How To Succeed has already been doing very well at the boxoffice, grossing over a $1 million every week, with its ticket sales going through the roof since the recent opening of the final Harry Potter movie starring Radcliffe. With his huge following, Criss’ turn could rival that. Criss emerged as the star of this year’s Glee summer tour, with his performances getting huge ovations and screams from female fans. Along with other Glee castmates, Criss is headed to Comic-Con for a panel moderated by my colleague Michael Ausiello this weekend where the upcoming 3D Glee concert movie will be showcased by clips of some of Criss’ performances. As for How to Succeed, the search continues for a permanent replacement of Radcliffe as well as an actor to succeed fellow star John Larroquette.
StarKid fans rejoice! Darren Criss and the rest of the cast reunited at LeakyCon 2011 to sing select songs from A Very Potter Musical to a super energetic crowd. I wish I had been there to see where it all began for Darren. I love that he always comes back home.
Check out video of Get Back To Hogwarts:
Darren Criss is getting ready for Comic-Con 2011! Will you be going?
From sleeping in his car at his first Comic-Con to being in a panelist for “A Very Potter Musical,” the actor shares his memories and tips for the annual pop culture confab.
Check out the interview:
Source
Darren Criss
Geek Cred: Glee, A Very Potter Musical
Comic-Con panel: Glee, Sunday, July 24, 10 a.m. in Hall H
THR: What stands out from your first Comic-Con experience?
Criss: In high school, I’d always wanted to go and kept missing it. I’m a big fanboy and every year it’s become more of a big deal. When I first moved to L.A. about three years ago, I finally got to go. Someone had an extra pass and my friend and I drove down — without a hotel to stay in. We found a magical parking spot Friday at the one spot with no meter in all of San Diego. We lived out of the car all weekend. We slept outside in line for the Lost panel and were basically homeless for the weekend.
THR: Last year you were part of a Harry Potter fan panel representing A Very Potter Musical.
Criss: I was worried nobody would come to the panel because it was at the same time as the Glee panel. To go back this year, if they do have me on the panel for Glee, it’ll be coming full circle.
THR: Any plans to do a Harry Potter panel this year in addition to possibly Glee?
Criss: I’d love to do something with my theater company Star Kids.
THR: What’s your favorite Comic-Con memory?
Criss: My first Comic-Con I drove directly from a call-back in L.A. for Eastwick and when I got there, I thought it would be funny to go to the Eastwick panel since I was still in wardrobe from the call-back and had my Eastwick pass on me. I saw Rebecca Romijn and told her I’d auditioned as I was getting the pass signed. I ended up working on the show and forever after, Romijn referred to me as the “kid from Comic-Con.” I always have these wonderful serendipities during Comic-Con.
THR: Who would be on your dream panel?
Criss: Harrison Ford, Christopher Walken, Guillermo del Toro, Bruce Lee even though he’s no longer with us, Gandhi, Jesus Christ of Nazareth and John Lennon.
THR: If you were to attend in costume, what would you be?
Criss: A Final Fantasy character. If I went with a big enough group, we could all be characters from Street Fighter.
THR: What tips do you have for Comic-Con first-timers?
Criss: Bring a phone charger with you because Comic-Con is a black hole of everybody on Twitter and online and your phone battery will die in two seconds and if you’re separated from your friends, you will not find them.
How could I forget Klaine? Darren Criss and Chris Colfer are another couple that finally locked lips on the final date of the Glee Live Tour. It’s hard to tell which kiss made the fandom implode more? I have to say though, I’m a bit jealous none of this went down at the shows I went to.
Check out the video: UPDATED WITH CLOSE VIDEO
Once again, I’ll update when better video comes along:
It’s a sad day for fans of Trouty Mouth. TVline is reporting that Darren Criss and Harry Shum Jr. have been picked up as regulars for Season 3 of Glee but unfortunately Chord Overstreet was not.
Details:
It’s a case of good news/bad news for Glee fans.
First the good: Darren Criss (Blaine) and Harry Shum Jr. (Mike) have officially been upgraded to full-time series regulars, effective this fall with the start of Season 3.
And now for the not so good news…
Chord Overstreet’s series regular option has not been picked up. However, a source close to the show says the actor — who joined the Fox hit last fall in the recurring role of McKinley transfer student Sam Evans — could return as an occasional guest star.
Late Friday, Overstreet issued a cryptic tweet saying, “It’s been a good year. Too bad it’s over. Time for summer and starting fresh.”
Hmm. So does this mean Chord will only show up as often as say..the creepy Jewish kid whose name I can’t remember? Or will he still be appearing in most episodes but just wasn’t upgraded to regular? Ryan Murphy implied that Sam’s character was a junior and would therefor be sticking around longer than the regular cast once they graduate. I have to say, I’m confused. But not entirely heartbroken.