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The best trickPromising Young Womanplays occurs in the very first scene.
Cassie (Carey Mulligan) is falling down drunk in a bar while a group of men leer nearby.
Seth Cohen, how could you?
Its not just Brody.
The doofus whose fedora barely disguises his misogyny?
Thats Sam Richardson, best known as the lovable Richard Splett inVeep.
The self-proclaimed nice guy who provides our glimpse into Cassies revenge scheme?
As you might suspect, this meta-casting was not a coincidence.
According to the films casting directors, it was a deliberate ploy by director-writer Emerald Fennell.
She knew exactly what she wanted, and thats always a pleasure, says Vernieu.
Some directors dont know what they want and then youre just shooting in the dark.
Accordingly, the films casting process was much shorter than an average film.
Take Bo Burnham, a comedian who had recently transitioned to directing withEighth Grade.
Though Burnham had appeared in films likeRough Night, he wasnt any studios first choice for a romantic lead.
That outside-the-box idea was something she was really excited about, says Vernieu.
And that excitesus, because we love casting outside the box.
Thus all the famous TV nice guys.
Most of them didnt audition.
For Brodys character, initial impressions were key.
With all that we know about him from his past work, he was perfect, says Vernieu.
He really does look like an all-American guy who might be a knight in shining armor.
So too did Greenfield, as an amoral best man whos suspiciously good at cleaning up crime scenes.
Hes very funny, says Vernieu.
Hes got a real likability with underlying sarcasm.
For the films first act, exactly what Cassie does to the guys she picks up remains a mystery.
The scene cracks with tension what exactly is she going to do to him, or him to her?
We havent seen Christopher in a movie for a while, says Vernieu.
So in a funny way, you didnt know what to expect there.
You have no idea where its going to go.
McLovins a little older now, a little more bitter.
Who knows what hes capable of?
Casting associate Patty Rhinehart calls him the last piece of the puzzle.
Its not an easy tone to portray.
Then Lowell sent in a tape.
We just knew it was him, says Vernieu.
He was able to strike the balance between having the charisma but also having that underlying darkness.
Throughout the process, the casting directors say their job was made much simpler by Fennells buzzy script.
Everybody wanted to be part of the film, says Graham.
It was an embarrassment of riches.
