Steven Spielberg casts Aussie newcomer as his childhood best friend in semi-autobiographical film 

Steven Spielberg casts Aussie newcomer Sam Rechner to play his childhood best friend in semi-autobiographical film about the filmmaker’s life

A fledgling Aussie star has just been cast by Hollywood filmmaker Steven Spielberg in his semi-autobiographical film.

Sam Rechner, 19, will play a character loosely based on a childhood friend and classmate of the legendary filmmaker, 74.

The film is titled The Fabelmans and will be written and directed by Steven himself. 

Big: Steven Spielberg has casted Aussie newcomer Sam Rechner, 19 (pictured), to play his childhood best friend in an autobiographical film about the filmmaker’s rise to the top of Hollywood.

The main character, based on Spielberg, is named Sammy Fabelman. 

According to his IMDB, newcomer Sam does not have an extensive list of past acting credits.  

The lone acting credit next to his name is for a role in the Jane Seymour-led Australian drama film Ruby’s Choice. 

He is set to star in season two of the Amazon Prime series The Wilds, and has a history playing roles in theatre productions of 12 Angry Men and Animal Farm.

New to the scene: Sam (pictured second from the right) does not have an extensive list of past acting credits. The lone acting credit next to his name is for a role in the Jane Seymour-led Australian drama film Ruby's Choice.

New to the scene: Sam (pictured second from the right) does not have an extensive list of past acting credits. The lone acting credit next to his name is for a role in the Jane Seymour-led Australian drama film Ruby’s Choice. 

Sam joins an impressive cast list for Steven’s new movie including Michelle Williams, who is playing Steven’s mother and Paul Dano, who will play the filmmaker’s father. 

Comedy actor Seth Rogen is playing an uncle and Julia Butters is portraying his sister. 

Another young star, Gabriel LaBelle, will be playing a younger version of the man himself. Gabriel has previously starred in The Predator and iZombie.

A star-studded line-up: Sam is joining an impressive cast list for Steven's new movie including Michelle Williams (pictured), who is playing Steven's mother, Paul Dano, who will play the filmmaker's father, Seth Rogen and Julia Butters.

A star-studded line-up: Sam is joining an impressive cast list for Steven’s new movie including Michelle Williams (pictured), who is playing Steven’s mother, Paul Dano, who will play the filmmaker’s father, Seth Rogen and Julia Butters.

Filming for the movie is expected to begin in the American summer (Australian winter).

It’s scheduled for release sometime in 2022. 

The last movie Steven directed was the 2018 sci-fi adventure film Ready Player One. 

Exciting: Filming for the movie is expected to begin in the American summer (Australian winter). It's scheduled for release sometime in 2022.

Exciting: Filming for the movie is expected to begin in the American summer (Australian winter). It’s scheduled for release sometime in 2022.