Ansel Elgort Cast as GUS in The Fault in Our Stars movie and John Green approves

The Fault in our Stars is finally right next to my bed, on top of my pile. Perfect timing since it was just announced that Ansel Elgort has been signed to play the basketball loving (loathing?) Gus to Shailene Woodley's Hazel. And despite Ansel's wierd name, the boringly named John Green approves. OKAY!!

Green told EW
“Ansel is whip-smart and uber-charismatic and everything I dreamed for Augustus Waters. ... I am by nature a cautious pessimist, but I’ll just say it: Now that we have Shailene and Ansel, I am completely, unreservedly psyched about this movie.”

More importantly at this point, since the story is in the hands of the director, Josh Boone, he likes Ansel too - 

“Ansel Elgort is the epitome of the boy John Green brought to life so vividly in his novel and he truly embodies the character traits we admire so much about Gus. His humor, sensitivity, honesty and confidence floored us. Watching him with Shailene was like seeing the film for the first time. Hearing then say okay to each other was incredibly moving. We couldn’t be more thrilled to have found our Gus.” 

Shailene Woodley is also Tris in Divergent Elgort plays her bro

Last week, Variety had reported that five guys were being tested last weekend Brenton Thwaites, Nat Wolff, Nick Robinson, Noah Silver and Ansel Elgort but whether that happened or didn't happen, it's Ansel that got the part. He has a little in with Shailene - he's playing her brother Caleb in the adaptation of Veronica Roth's Divergent, which I blogged about here. and here  

Producer Wyck Godfrey weighed in with the praise you'd expect from a producer; I like what he said about falling in love with Gus. It's so true!

”We were all swept away by the humor, charm, and aching vulnerability Ansel brought to his portrayal of Gus. His performance completely annihilated our concerns about his playing Caleb in Divergent with Shailene, and we are confident that the fans of Fault will fall in love with him the same way that Hazel does–slowly, and then all at once.”

So TFIOS fans, what do you think? Is he your vision of Gus? Did you picture a guy with a bit more bulk as I am imagining while I'm reading? I was bad reader! From his first appearance Green describes him as "long and leanly muscular". He's also Tommy in Carrie coming this fall; you can see him ask Carrie to the prom in the trailer here.

The film set for release next March, starts shooting this August; and yes director Boon confirms Amsterdam will play Amersterdam.

I'll post updates on my reading progress on my Currently Reading (the movie I am reading now) page.