Thomasin McKenzie has been cast as the lead in Olivia Wilde's Perfect. Based on Kerri Strug's memoir written with John P. Lopez, Perfect tells the story of the legendary gymnast's starring turn at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. To many, Strug is best known for completing a vault through a serious ankle injury, helping America secure its first-ever gold medal in gymnastics.
Now, The Hollywood Reporter reveals that Perfect has found its Kerri Strug in Thomasin McKenzie. The gifted New Zealand-born actress who has previously starred in critically acclaimed films like Leave No Trace and Jojo Rabbit is the first confirmed member of Perfect's cast. However, considering that the 1996 U.S. gymnastics team was dubbed the Magnificent Seven, there should be at least a few more spots that could go to other notable young actors down the line.
Beyond McKenzie, Perfect should be an excellent showcase for another rising talent: Olivia Wilde. Once known primarily as an actor in shows like House and The O.C., Wilde has only built on the remarkable success of her directorial debut, Booksmart. Her next project at the helm, Don't Worry Darling starring Florence Pugh, Harry Styles, Chris Pines, and Wilde herself, just wrapped filming in February.
With that buzzy psychological thriller and Perfect to come, there appears to be no stopping Olivia Wilde as she continues her journey from TV star to burgeoning auteur. Directed by Wilde off a script from Borg/McEnroe's Ronnie Sandahl, the hotly anticipated biopic was acquired last year by Searchlight Pictures for $15 million.
Source: THR