Jemima West cast as Isabelle Lightwood

After a long drought without movie news, Cassandra Clare has shared some pretty exciting news.

We have an Alec and we have an Isabelle.

This will probably be up on Deadline and all the other good places soon enough, but Sony told me I could spill the news so I AM GOING TO. I’ve been traveling and doing Dark Artifices research in Italy and Vatican City so I wasn’t hiding from y’all, but it is nice to come back with BIG FUN NEWS TO SHARE.

Jemima West (The Borgias) has been cast as Isabelle Lightwood in The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones.

Here is what Clare had to say about her:

Jemima West. She’s beautiful (like whoa) and really talented. You can see her as Vittoria on The Borgias right now. And before anyone freaks out that she is blonde, she’ll be dying her hair for the role. 🙂 She had a lot of Izzy’s toughness and directness in her audition. I like her.

Clare confirmed that Phoebe Tonkin, who was a fan favorite for the role, did in fact audition for Isabelle.

Clare was asked to hold off on announcing Alec just now, but do not fret as his identity will soon be known. She did confirm that is NOT Nicholas Hoult. Here’s what she had to say:

I just got asked to hold off on announcing Alec. Honestly, I do not do these things to torture you, I am feeling tortured myself at the moment! I can say he’s a British actor*, he has dark hair, I’m pretty sure you know who he is, I like him a lot, I’m pleased he’s going to be Alec. He and Jemima are going to be gorgeous siblings. (and I just posted some photos of her with dark hair.)

[It’s *not* Nicholas Hoult!]

Clare further explained:

Basically, I got a call from the studio that Alec and Izzy were confirmed and to go ahead and blog about it. I got through blogging Izzy and got a call saying “Hold off on Alec.” So I waited, and I just got off the phone again and basically: I can’t tell you who Alec is because — well, I don’t entirely know why, but it has to do with his schedule, and telling could get a bunch of people shot.

Or something. I am not entirely sure; Hollywood moves like molasses except when it moves like gunpowder and calls me back halfway through a Tumblr post. Do NOT stay up waiting for this news: it could actually be a few days, though I am going to be optimistic and hope for shorter.

For those asking about all the other parts: there are actors under serious consideration for every major part at this point. Just because Alec and Isabelle’s contracts got finished first doesn’t mean they aren’t in the middle of casting everyone else.

I go back to Vatican City and hide in the Popemobile. In the meantime, at least enjoy that Izzy is cast, she’s great, and we’re on the downward slope: there WILL be more casting news and it’ll be soon and it’ll be cool.

Clare confirmed that these actors will NOT be portraying Alec:

• Nicholas Hoult
• Ben Barnes
• Douglas Booth
• Freddie Highmore
• Aaron Johnson
• Chris Riggi

Lily Collins (Clary) and Jamie Campbell Bower (Jace) are also attached to star.

Filming is slated to begin on August 15 in Toronto. The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones is slated for an August 23, 2013 theatrical release.

What do you think of Jemima?