Movies and TV shows casting in Illinois

Written by:
Backstage
March 11, 2026
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
This story was produced by Backstage and reviewed and distributed by Stacker Media.

Movies and TV shows casting in Illinois

The glitz and glam of Hollywood captures the attention of Americans starting from an early age. Beyond celebrities' Instagram Stories and red carpet poses, there are actors out there paying their dues and honing their craft in pursuit of a sustainable career or a fulfilling sideline. Submitting to casting calls is a big part of that journey.

Whether you're a working actor or an aspiring one, you might be curious to know which movies and TV shows are casting roles near you. Backstage compiled a list of projects casting right now in Illinois and nationwide, and which roles they're looking to fill.

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Grusho Anna // Shutterstock

'Uncanny Valley'

- Project type: short film
- Roles:
--- Quentin (lead, male, 25-29)
--- Emeline (supporting, female, 24-29)
- Roles pay up to: $60
- Casting locations: Chicago, IL
- Learn more about the short film here

2 / 15
muratart // Shutterstock

Someday Tommorow

- Project type: short film
- Roles:
--- Young Sammy (lead, male, 18-24)
--- Middle Aged Sammy (lead, male, 45-55)
--- Older Sammy (lead, male, 70-90)
- Casting locations: Chicago, IL
- Learn more about the short film here

3 / 15
Dpongvit // Shutterstock

'Mechanoid Genesis'

- Project type: feature film
- Roles:
--- Mechanoid Robot (supporting, all genders, 18-50)
--- A Military Soldier (supporting, all genders, 18-60)
--- Lab Specialist (lead, all genders, 18+)
- Roles pay up to: $500
- Casting locations: Sun Prairie, WI; Chicago, IL; Milwaukee, WI; Minneapolis, MN
- Learn more about the feature film here

4 / 15
KinoMasterskaya // Shutterstock

'Knots'

- Project type: student film
- Roles:
--- Pietro (supporting, male, 38-50)
--- Sebastian (lead, male, 10-15)
--- Samuel (supporting, male, 7-10)
- Roles pay up to: $1,000
- Casting locations: Chicago, IL
- Learn more about the student film here

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Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

'Big City Lover'

- Project type: feature film
- Roles:
--- Tanner (lead, male, 22-27)
--- Richie Walters (lead, male, 20-24)
- Roles pay up to: $1,200
- Casting locations: Chicago, IL
- Learn more about the feature film here

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Meta Ray-Bans Spec/Short

- Project type: short film
- Roles:
--- The Protagonist (lead, male, 20-35)
--- Tony (Mob Boss) (supporting, male, 35-55)
--- The Shooter (supporting, male, 25-38)
- Roles pay up to: $400
- Casting locations: Chicago, IL
- Learn more about the short film here

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Grusho Anna // Shutterstock

'Exit'

- Project type: short film
- Roles:
--- Jennifer (lead, female, 30-65)
--- Paul (supporting, male, 50-60)
- Roles pay up to: $240
- Casting locations: Chicago, IL
- Learn more about the short film here

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'In Lieu'

- Project type: short film
- Roles:
--- Mike (lead, male, 20-35)
--- Victor (The Homeless Man) (supporting, male, non-binary, 40-60)
--- Daniel (supporting, male, 23-35)
- Roles pay up to: $800
- Casting locations: Auditions: Mar 18, 2026, Mar 20, 2026, Mar 21, 2026, Mar 22, 2026 in Boston, MA
- Learn more about the short film here

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Media_Photos // Shutterstock

'One Piece At A Time'

- Project type: student film
- Roles:
--- Terry (lead, male, 60-90)
--- Donna (lead, female, 60-90)
- Roles pay up to: $250
- Casting locations: Evanston, IL; Chicago, IL; Winnetka, IL; Wilmette, IL; Skokie, IL
- Learn more about the student film here

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'Become The Monsters'

- Project type: short film
- Roles:
--- Martha (lead, female, non-binary, trans female, 18-25)
--- Nessa (lead, female, non-binary, trans female, 18-25)
--- Child Star (day player, all genders, 8-13)
- Roles pay up to: $200
- Casting locations: Chicago, IL
- Learn more about the short film here

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Grusho Anna // Shutterstock

'Sydney Campbell is Dead to Me'

- Project type: feature film
- Roles:
--- Sydney (lead, female, 21-36)
- Roles pay up to: $30,000
- Casting locations: nationwide
- Learn more about the feature film here

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Grusho Anna // Shutterstock

'Autonomous'

- Project type: feature film
- Roles:
--- Alistair Mallen (lead, male, 26-40)
--- Maggie Thomas (lead, female, 20-30)
--- Magda Jansen (supporting, female, 40-55)
- Roles pay up to: $1,500
- Casting locations: nationwide
- Learn more about the feature film here

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Media_Photos // Shutterstock

'Sydney Campbell is Dead to Me'

- Project type: feature film
- Roles:
--- Sydney (lead, female, 21-36)
- Roles pay up to: $30,000
- Casting locations: nationwide
- Learn more about the feature film here

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Grusho Anna // Shutterstock

'72 Whaler'

- Project type: feature film
- Roles:
--- Hayes (lead, male, 20-28)
--- Quinn (supporting, female, 19-28)
--- Jim (supporting, male, 60-75)
- Roles pay up to: $6,600
- Casting locations: nationwide
- Learn more about the feature film here

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Grusho Anna // Shutterstock

'Sydney Campbell is Dead to Me'

- Project type: feature film
- Roles:
--- Sydney (lead, female, 21-36)
- Roles pay up to: $30,000
- Casting locations: nationwide
- Learn more about the feature film here

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