Abigail Breslin Joins ‘Ender’s Game,’ Ford Confirmed

Gavin Hood's adaptation of sci-fi classic Ender's Game could totally backfire, but either way, it will become the first film to star two Oscar nominees under 16 years old. Former Little Miss Sunshine herself, Abigail Breslin, has joined the quickly assembling cast, which already boasts True Grit starlet Hailee Steinfeld.

Amidst a whole slew of young people casting announcements, Variety also reports that Harrison Ford has officially signed to play Colonel Hyram Graff, leader of the battle academy, who gives Ender a lot of tough love and makes him loathsome in the eyes of his schoolmates.

Breslin will star as Valentine Wiggin, the older sister of Ender (Asa Butterfield), who he misses while away from home, in part because of his domineering older brother Peter, to be played by Jimmy "Jax" Pinchak (Let Me In). Steinfeld will play Ender's closest companion at battle school, Petra Arkanian.



Aramis Knight, Moises Arias, Suraj Parthasarathy, Conor Carroll and Khylin Rhambo also joined the cast. For those familiar with the novel, Variety says Knight (Hood's earlier film Rendition) will play runt recruit Bean, Arias (Hanna Montana) will play Bonzo, commander of the Salamander Army and Parthasarathy will play Ender's friend Alai. Carroll (Away We Go) will play bully Bernard and Rhambo Dink, member of the Rat Army.

Rarely do you see so many established child actors sign for one film, as most producers are content searching for untapped talents in situations where there are so many young people to be cast.

As for Ford, let's just hope it's not one of his phoned-in performance like in Cowboys & Aliens.

Ender's Game will be released by Summit Entertainment on March 15, 2013.