I’ve never been a fan of hiring big names because I feel like the best actors who truly fit the characters are likely relative unknowns.
Hiring big names requires compromises.
But if they bring someone like Jennifer Lawrence in for Sue, that could give them a name and then maybe they could get lesser-known actors for other roles.
Plus, doing something like that could help ensure Sue remains a key-character and doesn’t fade into the background.
As for the timing, yeah, I’d expect filming in 2022 for a 2023 release, but to do that, you need to sign actors now to get them before they commit to other projects (and I can’t dismiss the article for claiming filming will start next month, because I haven’t seen such a claim)
Plus, since I strongly suspect the characters will show up in other films before their stand-alone film, the FF better be cast damn soon if they’re not already cast.
I’m betting a cast is currently signed. I’m less sure that Jennifer Lawrence is Sue, but this story seems reasonably credible, so I won’t dismiss it until we get a denial.