Talia Ryder joins Tom Holland’s Fred Astaire biopic cast

Talia Ryder has joined Tom Holland’s Fred Astaire biopic cast as June Allyson, the MGM actress and dancer who was originally set to star opposite Astaire in “Royal Wedding,” according to The Hollywood Reporter. Ryder, who is classically trained, adds another dancer to an ensemble built around Holland’s passion project for Sony. She joins Margaret Qualley, who plays Astaire’s older sister and original dance partner, Adele, and Sabrina Carpenter, who plays Ginger Rogers, Astaire’s most famous film partner. Allyson was one of MGM’s musical stars, and she came close to becoming one of Astaire’s screen partners. She was first in line for the lead opposite him in “Royal Wedding” before the part went elsewhere, which gives the biopic a built-in what-if. Ryder has the stage background to match. She started out on Broadway in “Matilda the Musical” and later landed a role in Steven Spielberg’s “West Side Story.” Paul King, the filmmaker behind “Paddington” and “Wonka,” is directing. He wrote the screenplay with Steven