jeezbee

IMDb has updated the casting section on “17″ and added Tyler Steelman to the cast as Ned @ 17.

It’s IMDb “casting information” so it’s not as reliable as a press release but I’m fairly sure it’s true. There is a part like that in the script (and the character has not been widely known). The casting sides list the character as Ed (who appears with the age of 17 back in 1986 and as 36 in 2008 which is then played by Thomas Lennon) but I’ve seen rumors that the character has been renamed Ned. Renaming happens often, so I don’t think that it is an indication that the casting info is fake.

From everything I know, the character has only a few lines and should be in the early part of the movie only.

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Leelanau Enterprise reported in an article about child actors that Mario Cassem appears with in the film “17“. He plays the role of an Indian boy, a smart-aleck who plays chess against Perry’s son (Efron) via Bluetooth, a wireless technology. This character didn’t even have casting sides, so I would expect him to have only a short scene and very few to none lines. 

Note: the article also contains a summary which very misleading at best but would be better characterized as partly wrong. Having said that, there is some spoilery info in that short summary which gives away a major trigger (spoiler) which is the base why certain things happen in the movie.

From Variety (10 January 2008):

Sterling Knight

Sterling Knight has signed with 1 Management. Knight is currently lensing a lead role in Burr Steers’ “17,” alongside Zac Efron and Leslie Mann. He also recently wrapped a lead role in the Disney Channel pilot “Sketchpad” and has a recurring role on TNT’s “The Closer.”

From the Hollywoodreporter (10 September 2007):

Steers ’17′ again for New Line

TORONTO — Burr Steers is on board to direct “17,” a teen comedy from New Line Cinema set to star Zac Efron. Adam Shankman and Jennifer Gibgot, who worked with Efron on “Hairspray,” are producing via their Offspring Entertainment shingle.

The script, written by Jason Filardi, concerns a grown man who finds himself as a 17-year-old trying to navigate high school. The studio picked up the project as a pitch this past winter.

[...]

From the Hollywoodreporter (24 October 2007):

Mann turning ’17′ for New Line

Leslie Mann will star opposite Zac Efron in New Line’s teen comedy “17,” being directed by Burr Steers.

Mann will play Scarlett, the wife of the adult character played by Efron.

[...]

From the Hollywoodreporter (28 November 2007):

Perry will go from pop to prep for ’17′

Matthew Perry will play a grown-up version of Zac Efron in “17,” New Line’s teen comedy being directed by Burr Steers. Adam Shankman and Jennifer Gibgot are producing via their Offspring Entertainment banner.

[...]

From the Hollywoodreporter (3 December 2007)

Two names join ’17′ numbers

Michelle Trachtenberg and Melora Hardin have joined the cast of “17,” New Line’s teen comedy starring Zac Efron.

[...]

Disney issued finally a press release on 14 January 2008 announcing HSM3, the fact that all the cast will return (of course including Zac) and the release date, 24 October 2008.

From the Business Wire:

Disney’s “High School Musical” Stars Head to the Big Screen: Walt Disney Pictures Presents “High School Musical 3: Senior Year”

Kenny Ortega Set to Direct Feature Film Beginning in Spring 2008

LOS ANGELES–(BUSINESS WIRE)–All principal cast members from Disney’s “High School Musical” – Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale, Lucas Grabeel, Corbin Bleu and Monique Coleman – will be reunited on the big screen for Walt Disney Pictures’ upcoming feature film, “High School Musical 3: Senior Year,” it was announced today by Oren Aviv, president, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Production.

[...]

The Hollywoodreporter reports on 18 January 2008 that Zac has a new movie:

Efron hangs with ‘Welles’

Zac Efron will star in “Me and Orson Welles,” an adaptation of the period coming-of-age novel by Robert Kaplow that Richard Linklater will direct.

[...]