Amazon YA Panic gains three new stars for the pilot

Panic is the latest YA novel to be adapted. Amazon Studios has ordered the pilot, and three stars have joined the cast list.

Olivia Welch, Mike Faist, and Ashlei Sharpe Chestnut are three new stars joining Panic, the YA novel adaptation from Amazon Studios. Author of the novel, Lauren Oliver, will write the series, with Jeff Kirschenbaum and Joe Roth producing. Oliver is also the author of the Delirium trilogy.

For those who haven’t read “Panic,” it’s a young adult novel about high schoolers who take part in a dangerous challenge before they graduate. The students are in a forgotten town in the middle of nowhere. Everyone who takes part in the high-stakes game to win a life-changing amount of money do it for their own reasons. Some want to get over their deepest fears and others just want that prize money.

In this year’s games, 47 students take part for the largest pot of money ever. Only one will come out the victor but all will learn something along the way.

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Welch, Faist, and Chestnut will play main characters, although the novel originally focuses just on two of the characters. Welch will take on the main lead role in the Amazon Studios series. All three have their own reasons for taking part, whether they’ve found out their mom has stolen all their money saved for college or just because they want to surprise others.

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As well as creating and writing the series, Oliver will executive produce the pilot, with Alyssa Altman co-executive producing.

Olivia Welch will play Hannah, the lead for the series and the one who never thought she’d join in with the games. She has one goal: to get out of town. When she finds out her mom has stolen the money she saved, she decides to join in with the competition to win everything she can.

Mike Faist will play Dodge. Since he wasn’t born local, he’s never really been part of the town. Nobody thought he’d join in with the graduation challenge, so nobody really knows what to expect from him.

Ashlei Sharpe Chestnut will play Natalie, who always knew she’d take part. She smart and determined, but also supportive of her friends.

Panicthree new YA pilots is the first of ordered by Amazon Studios in June to get cast members. Previously a space never entered into, Amazon Studios clearly wants to push ahead.

Have you read “Panic?” Is this an Amazon series that could interest you? Does it sound too much like other YA novels? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Panic is currently in the pilot stages. We’ll share more news as we get it.