This morning, at the European Film Market/Berlin Fest, Dolphin Films announced that Ben Winchell and Ana Villafane have landed the lead roles s of Max McGrath and Sydney Gardner in our soon to be Wilmywood shot Max Steel, the highly anticipated, live-action franchise feature film based on Mattel’s popular superhero animated series.

Atlanta boy, Ben Winchell will take on the lead role of Max McGrath.  He’s best known for his roles in Lifetime’s Pregnancy Pact, as well as Dixon in season 3 of “A.N.T. Farm” (Disney) and Eric in season 2 of Necessary Roughness (TNT).

Ana Villafane will play Max’s love interest, Sydney Gardner.  She’s an up-and-coming Latina actress and singer from Miami, Florida.  Villafane is best known for her starring role in Anchor Bay’s 2012 release Hiding playing a protected witness relocated from New York City to Montana.  Also, in this flick was Jeremy Sumpter who we just had here working on The Squeeze.

“We couldn’t be more thrilled to introduce audiences worldwide to Ben Winchell and Ana Villafane,” said Bill O’Dowd, CEO Dolphin Entertainment.  “The Max Steel franchise fan base is extremely passionate about the lead characters of Max and Sydney, and we knew we needed to get the casting just right.  Ben and Ana are extremely talented young actors, and we’re confident fans will fall in love with each of them the minute they hit the big screen.”

Additional casting announcements will be made this month.