Ansel Elgort has been cast as Gus in The Fault in Our Stars movie, based on the book by John Green!
The 19-year-old actor will star opposite Shailene Woodley, who was cast as Hazel in March.
“Ansel is whip-smart and uber-charismatic and everything I dreamed for Augustus Waters,” John Green told Entertainment Weekly, who broke the news. “I am by nature a cautious pessimist, but I’ll just say it: Now that we have Shailene and Ansel, I am completely, unreservedly psyched about this movie.”
Added director Josh Boone, who’s first film Stuck in Love opens in theaters this June, “Ansel Elgort is the epitome of the boy John Green brought to life so vividly in his novel and he truly embodies the character traits we admire so much about Gus. His humor, sensitivity, honesty and confidence floored us. Watching him with Shailene was like seeing the film for the first time. Hearing then say okay to each other was incredibly moving. We couldn’t be more thrilled to have found our Gus.”
News of Elgort auditioning for the role in the highly-anticipated movie arrived one week ago when he competed for the part against four other young actors. Elgort may’ve had an advantage because he’s already working with Shailene Woodley for Divergent. They play brother and sister Caleb and Tris in the adaptation of Veronica Roth’s dystopian.
Producer Wyck Godfrey spoke about Elgort’s audition to play Gus and alleviated any potential concerns of the two stars sharing two movies. “We were all swept away by the humor, charm, and aching vulnerability Ansel brought to his portrayal of Gus. His performance completely annihilated our concerns about his playing Caleb in Divergent with Shailene, and we are confident that the fans of Fault will fall in love with him the same way that Hazel does–slowly, and then all at once.”
The Fault in Our Stars movie plans to shoot in August. It will be released sometime in 2014.
UPDATE: Elgort tweeted to John Green that The Fault in Our Stars is his “absolute” favorite book:
@realjohngreen The Fault in Our Stars is my absolute favorite book. I’m so honored to be a part of this. @joshboonemovies @shailenewoodley
— Ansel Elgort (@AnselElgort) May 10, 2013
What do you think of Elgort as Gus?
Thanks, EW.