Carrey and Gyllenhaal to Star in Big Screen Damn Yankees; Zadan, Meron & New Line to Produce- Page 2

[inlovewithjerryherman]

Posted: 2/27/09 at 2:09am

I'm an avid fan of 30 Rock and the only reason Salma looks young is beacuse she partners with Alec Baldwin - against Gyllenhall, she'd look like his mother.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 2/27/09 at 2:17am

Lola is not supposed to be of any age, and I've actually always read her as older than Hardy.

[jimmycurry01]

Posted: 2/27/09 at 2:18am

I am amazed at the positive reaction this news is getting here, I was expecting quite the opposite.

I think either Anne Hathaway or Katie Holmes will get the role of Lola, and I think both would be fine choices.

[DrTheatre]

Posted: 2/27/09 at 2:33am

I wonder if they would get an unknown for Lola?

[goldenstate5]

Posted: 2/27/09 at 3:54am

Predictions:
-"Six Months out of Every Year" will be cut for being too politically incorrect
-Megan Fox will be tapped to play Lola. When it is revealed she can't sing, the producers say, "screw it, it's not worth it!" and end up cutting all of Lola's songs.
-The film will be directed by some artsy/indie director who has no idea how to handle a comedy, let alone a musical comedy
-90% of Applegate's lines will be cut to make room for Jim Carrey's ZANY physical comedy shtick
-HILARIOUS up-to-date satirical humor will be injected, all revolving around steroid jokes
-...and yes, this means Boyd's scandal will be changed to, "OMG, I saw him taking steroids!!!"
-The plot is hopelessly rewritten, trying to find a way to cram 5,000 sports cameos in an attempt to attract sports fans obviously unwilling to see a musical
-"Limbo" will be entirely computer-generated, cost ten million dollars and will look AWESOME on Blu-Ray
-old Joe has very little screentime, therefore he is allowed to be played by someone who that one Broadway fan in the audience will exclaim, "look, it's (insert obscure B'way star)!" and their mother will go, "who?"
-Gloria Thorpe will played by Amy Poheler (this is not a joke, she should seriously take the role)

And, finally, the movie's success will go either of two ways:
-either the end product will end up being "Producers"-level mediocre and being trashed in a December limited release for mere Golden Globes aspirations
-or be a smash hit around the world. Theatre teachers across the country will endure countless auditions from beginning theatre students singing "Goodbye, Old Girl" or "A Little Brains, a Little Talent", and likewise parents will have to endure countless high school productions of Damn Yankees, where all of the students cast as Applegate will be your typical high school junior who's the captain of the Improv team desperately trying for laughs in an attempt to recreate Jim Carrey's ZANY physical performance, and the Internet will have to unfortunately endure all of the Applegate/Lola fangirl art

I'm really hoping for the former...
Updated On: 2/27/09 at 03:54 AM

[dramamama611]

Posted: 2/27/09 at 5:47am

The article says something like: inserting a contemporary feel into a musical that is deeply rooted in the 50's.

Does that mean they are KEEPING it in the 50's but just trying to "pump it up"? OR are they abanding the 50's? It seems ambivilant to me. Thoughts?

[nmartin]

Posted: 2/27/09 at 6:20am

"Jim Carrey? Really?"

[mormonophobic]

Posted: 2/27/09 at 6:24am

Y'know, depending on who they get for Lola this could either be really good or simply atrocious, especially since no one knows if either can really sing. That being said, I love Damn Yankees and praise anyone bringing musicals to mainstream audiences.

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 2/27/09 at 7:26am

I refuse to be pessimistic until a director and more casting is announced.

That said, Maggie Gyllenhaal as Lola would be amazing, if her brother wasn't playing Joe. The Ick factor would be too much. (The two Fosters in "Grease!" anyone?)

Anyone else want Brent Spiner for Joe Hardy? He's about the right age, he can sing, and he'd draw in the Star Trek fans.

[nearthestage]

Posted: 2/27/09 at 7:38am

Oh great. A second rate Jerry Lewis (not that the original is so great)in a movie musical. Geez - ya think folks will have to camp outside the theaters to get a ticket. And do most Jim Carrey fans know what 'Damn Yankees' is, other than the mid-season lament of millions of NY Baseball fans. UGH!

[Craig]

Posted: 2/27/09 at 8:17am

Carrey is interesting. I wonder what Kevin Spacey could have done witht he role too...

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 2/27/09 at 8:31am

ANother thing, Neil and Craig haven't made a bad musical yet (ok, well, technically they were behind the Matthew Broderick "Music Man" but aside from the leads I really liked it), and they've done some pretty unusual casting before. And it worked. For me, at least.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 2/27/09 at 8:40am

Frankly, I'm not usually a fan of tinkering, but I would love to see this one updated. It's kind of corny and some good steroid jokes and shirtless (or towel-clad) hunky baseball players in the locker-room scenes could only help.

[boombaboy]

Posted: 2/27/09 at 8:47am

This has "stinkeroo" written all over it. Not a great show to begin with, and who in their right mind thinks they can "update" the book and top the screen performances of Verdon and Walston? Even Tab Hunter was very good as Joe Hardy in the movie. The Encores revival last summer was adorable, thanks to a charming production and the synergy and talent of Hayes, Krakowski and the fantastic performance of Cheyenne Jackson. Poor Jake, he deserves better.

[Craig]

Posted: 2/27/09 at 9:43am

Ok - so if I cast Kevin Spacey as Applegate - I want Patrick Wilson as Joe Hardy, Catherine Zeta Jones or Anne Hatheway as Lola, Brian Dennehy as Van Buren, Amy Poehler as Thorpe, Broadway's Harvey Evans as Joe Boyd and Debbie Reynolds as Meg.

[madbrian]

Posted: 2/27/09 at 9:46am

I agree with the folks who suggested Gasteyer for Gloria. I think Christina Applegate might be a good Lola.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 2/27/09 at 10:12am

Works for me.

[best12bars]

Posted: 2/27/09 at 10:27am

My #1 choice for Lola?

Beyonce

Especially if they're going to "update" it musically a bit. She could sizzle on a revamped version of "Whatever Lola Wants."

[Gothampc]

Posted: 2/27/09 at 10:35am

If they go older, Megan Mullally is your Lola.

Is Barbara Cook too old to play the wife?

[PalJoey]

Posted: 2/27/09 at 10:36am

Beyonce would be brilliant, besty!

And I bet Craig and Neil have her as their #1 choice.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 2/27/09 at 10:41am

I agree that Beyonce would make a great Lola.

[best12bars]

Posted: 2/27/09 at 10:45am

I'll bet they do, too, PJ. The trick is clearing her concert and recording schedules. I have a feeling she would LOVE to do it, though. She's all into Gwen and Fosse (as seen in several of her biggest music videos). She would be just the right combination of "tribute" and "update." The right age, look, appeal, and definitely talent.

And just to see & hear Jake and Beyonce crawling through a club together singing "Two Lost Souls" would get me into the movie theatre.

Updated On: 2/27/09 at 10:45 AM

[Roscoe]

Posted: 2/27/09 at 11:00am

Beyonce would be a great choice. I'm disappointed about Carrey, I feel like I know what he's going to do before he even does it.

It just occurred to me that Applegate is one role that I'd like to see Travolta do. He plays nasty so well, he was so much fun to watch in FACE OFF. He may be simply too far gone by now, but it'd be more interesting than Carrey, and Travolta could make up a bit for the horror of his Edna in HAIRSPRAY.

[best12bars]

Posted: 2/27/09 at 11:07am

Travolta would have been great ten years ago, Roscoe. I think he's too old (or just old-looking) for it now. Not that Satan has an age limit. I just mean for this particular incarnation.

I think Carrey is just the right look/age/type/personality for the role. But I agree with you that I feel I already know what he's going to do with the part. On the other hand (thinking as a movie producer), that's exactly what will drive fans into the movie theatre to see him in it.

The masses are going to do their usual "It's a musical???" hesitation dance. But if they know at least Carrey is in there "doing Carrey," it gives those non-musical doubters something to cling to.

And most people want to see movies they already "know" today, hence the three billion remakes and sequels we get each and every year.

From a "film producer" or studio perspective, Carrey is an excellent choice for this project. And I have a feeling he'll be "damn" good in it. I also have a feeling I've seen his performance already, just like you have. Oh, and he was great, by the way! Hilarious!

[Calvin]

Posted: 2/27/09 at 11:09am

Tab Hunter as Benny Van Buren!