Friday, July 9, 2010
IT WILL BE CHANGED....FOR GOOD: Allegedly in the running to direct Wicked: The Movie Musical? J.J. Abrams, James Mangold (Knight and Day, Walk The Line), Ryan Murphy, and Rob Marshall. Somewhere, there's a Glee fan erupting with the idea of Lea Michele (who could sing the part) as Elphaba and Dianna Agron (who couldn't) as Galinda. And while Chenoweth and Menzel were great in the original production, I think Rent taught us well that this is perhaps not a wise choice for characters who are supposed to be quite young. So, who do you cast (Nikki Finke's commenters seem to push heavily an Anne Hathaway/Amanda Seyfried pairing), and who should direct?
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Hmmm... Kristen Bell as Galinda? She *can* sing, but I'm not sure if she'd naturally sunny enough to play Galinda. Lea Michele's as good a choice as any for Elphaba.
ReplyDeleteLea Michele would be fantastic. No reason to look further for the Elphie.
ReplyDeleteI don't think Amanda Seyfried could sing the Galinda part though. Anne Hathaway has the range, I just wish she didn't look so strange as a blonde. Laura Bell Bundy doesn't have name recognition, but she has the voice and the bubbly nature needed.
Both of those parts require serious singers. I mean, I suppose they have a little more flexibility in terms of fussing to get it right in a film, while on stage you actually need someone who can nail it every time. But there aren't many Broadway-style parts that require a higher range than Galinda, nor that require better belting chops than Elphaba. Michele could handle the latter, plus she resembles Idina. Anne Hathaway probably maybe could get there for Galinda (I don't think I could confidently say that anyone I can think of would be able to do it--I can hardly believe anyone ever has), but I'm really skeptical that she could be right for the part otherwise. That is a really, really tough role to cast, at least from known performers. It might be a case for an unknown, or at least someone only known on stage, but even then it'd be tough to find someone young enough.
ReplyDeleteAnd much as I admire Hathaway (and if they ever get the remake of My Fair Lady off the ground she'd be a great Eliza, a remake that needs to be done since I think the original movie is a slog that could be tightened up considerably), she is 28 this year; is that a little old for Galinda or am I imagining it?
ReplyDeleteMenzel was 32 and Chenoweth 35 when they originated the roles. Both look younger than they are, but certainly, age is workable for Hathaway (though I don't know if she can pull off the ultra high notes).
ReplyDeleteThere's a long (and mostly despised) tradition of Hollywood dubbing in a singing voice for musical adaptations. Could it work here? I'd rather see the movie get made than founder because there's no one the studio execs will green-light for Galinda who has the necessary vocal ability.
ReplyDeleteAnd how about Joss? I hear he's pretty good with shorter-form musicals. Heck, I think I'd rather see him direct Wicked than Avengers - there's lots of directors who could do Avengers, and there's going to be so many layers of interference with that script that I doubt much Jossness (Whedonality?) would get through anyway.
I don't think age is a big factor for Hathaway, though anyone older than her would be starting to push it. Doesn't matter much that the original girls were in their thirties; age can be fudged so much easier on stage.
ReplyDeleteI agree about My Fair Lady. And she was great as Mary Poppins in that SNL skit. I like unconventional choices for conventional roles, but I just can't "see" Hathaway as Galinda. The mainstream audience needs to see that character and immediately think Glinda the Good Witch.
We are talking Hollywood, and they do love their "synergy", so since this is a Universal project, don't be surprised if they go with their biggest non-Lady Gaga female stars of the right age. Rihanna as Elphaba and Taylor Swift as Galinda...
ReplyDelete(I could just about imagine the pitch meeting, 'we could get the broadway/urban/country crowds all to see one film, how could it go wrong!')
Or even better, Lady Gaga could play both roles, that's what green screens, and overdubbing are for, after all.
Bell Bundy is going to look oldish on the big screen in closeup for the school portion.
ReplyDeleteI am with christy in new york, age can be sooooooo fuged on stage thanks to distance and makeup and lighting. On a giant screen in close up, any one older than Hathaway would be seriously pushing it in the film (especially while they are in high school unless they split and cast 4 women).
ReplyDeleteElsewhere, someone suggested Amy Adams for Galinda -- if her singing is up to it (can't remember if anything in Enchanted was difficult to sing), I think she could completely pull off the part.
ReplyDeleteI like Lea Michele for Elphaba, but I also saw mention of Emily Blunt, who apparently sings well - don't know how well.
So who's Fiyero? I want NPH of course, but if we're going with younger people, who is it?
Amy Adams has the right personality for the part and the right look (as well as a solid singing voice), but is so identified with being a red-head, and Galinda is unquestionably blonde. And Fiyero is a completely thankless part, as is The Wizard, but you can come up with some fun for The Wizard (Victor Garber?).
ReplyDeleteBell Bundy looks old on screen no matter what (nb: her guest appearance on Veronica Mars, among others) - unfortunately she'll never work as a tv/film star.
ReplyDeleteHathaway can definitely sing it - remember the high notes she hit at the Oscars in 09?
ReplyDeleteAm I the only one who finds Lea Michele too odious to root for? The stories of her behavior on and off set (Glee, Spring Awakening, etc) are just horrifying and I cannot support the idea of her getting such a great role even though she could sing the heck out of it.
I can't see letting hair color stand in the way - I think she is a natural blonde, actually.
ReplyDeleteVictor Garber would be perfect for the Wizard.
I saw Judi Dench mentioned for Madam Morrible, along with Meryl Streep and just about everyone else you can think of, but it wouldn't be worth it unless they gave her some more to sing.
There was mention of adding a song for Nessa and having Anne Hathaway play her - I could see that, definitely.
Amanda Seyfried will be great as Galinda. Not only that she sang so great in Mamma Mia!, but she has naturally beautiful voice which she polished by training with a Broadway coach (and appeared in some Broadway shows) and she was also CLASSICALLY TRAINED OPERA SINGER! Guess, the girl is really talented.
ReplyDeleteFor Elphaba, Anne Hathaway would also be a great choice. Because she is also CLASSICALLY TRAINED SOPRANO.
So, I think putting them together for this movie is the best idea! And it will be a sure big hit!
Hi Matt,
ReplyDeleteThanks! I have just been searching for info about this topic for a while and yours is the best I have found out so far.
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