Tenney, Heard Tapped for ‘Stepfather’

[MickBeth]

Jon Tenney and Amber Heard have joined the cast of Screen Gems’ “The Stepfather,” a remake of the 1987 horror thriller being produced by Maverick Films.

Tenney will play a father trying to reconnect and protect his teenage son, played by Penn Badgley (”Gossip Girl”). Heard plays Badgley’s girlfriend. “Friday Night Lights” actress Adrianne Palicki was in negotiations for Heard’s part, but the dates did not work out, according to her reps.

Sela Ward is already on board as Tenney’s ex-wife, whose soon-to-be husband (Dylan Walsh of “Nip/Tuck”) might have murdered his previous family.

“Stepfather” reteams director Nelson McCormick and writer J.S. Cardone, who worked together in the same capacity on another Screen Gems remake, “Prom Night,” which opens April 11.

Tenney stars on TNT’s “The Closer” with Kyra Sedgwick. He recently appeared opposite Alicia Silverstone and Greg Germann on stage in the Los Angeles production of “Speed the Plow.” Tenney is repped by Gersh and Kritzer Levine Wilkins Entertainment.

Heard stars in Summit’s debut production “Never Back Down,” which opens March 14. She also stars in the horror movie “All the Boys Love Mandy Lane,” which is due to hit screens in late April, and appears opposite Seth Rogen and James Franco in the comedy “The Pineapple Express,” which will be released in August.

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