Catherine Zeta-Jones in the FOLLIES film?

[Pgenre]

Posted: 12/9/09 at 6:04pm

Sondheim recently said that a FOLLIES script by Aaron Sorkin is in final negotiations on getting both his approval and a green-light for the project to move forward and a director and casting to begin. He also said that a very exciting movie star was attached to the project for Phyllis, even at this early stage. Given the fact she was his personal choice for Desiree in the ALNM revival and called her himself to ask her to play the role....

Could Catherine Zeta-Jones be Sondheim's personal choice for the film version of FOLLIES?

I realize this is a highly speculative subject at this point, particularly since a director for the project has not yet been officially announced, unless we count the Sam Mendes interview from a year or so ago (but, then again, he was also originally slated to direct SWEENEY and even had casting sessions).

There is a thread on ATC about this as well and I must say the pieces seem to fit together. And much as I love Meryl, she is more a Carlotta at this point than a Phyllis.

Thoughts/opinions?

P

[ljay889]

Posted: 12/9/09 at 6:05pm

I hope so!

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 12/9/09 at 6:22pm

Please do not let Rob Marshall & his oversized garden shears anywhere near this.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 12/9/09 at 6:48pm

Pretty sure the actress in question is not Miss Zeta Jones, though I wouldn't be surprised to see her in the cast (if this happens and I think the fate of NINE will be a big determining factor).

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 12/9/09 at 6:53pm

Updated On: 12/9/09 at 06:53 PM

[fgreene1938]

Posted: 12/9/09 at 7:51pm

Zeta-Jones is not a big enough B.O. draw to warrant the casting. IF "Follies" is made (and that's a big IF), its only hope for success is to have top stars or enough "sort-of" stars who've won awards (NINE) to get the needed attention. I don't think they'd risk it on CZJ alone.

[bjh2114]

Posted: 12/9/09 at 9:28pm

Zeta-Jones is not a big enough B.O. draw to warrant the casting.

Cause you know... starring in a film of the same genre you won your Oscar for means absolutely nothing these days.

[ljay889]

Posted: 12/9/09 at 9:29pm

If this film does actually happen, there's going to be a very starry cast like NINE. They will need it to sell tickets. Zeta-Jones wouldn't be the only star.

[mywonderwa11]

Posted: 12/9/09 at 10:11pm

ljay is right...if this film does happen the cast is SURE to be star-studded. And since when is CZJ not a box office draw? Everyone knows her from Chicago, everyone knows she won an Oscar for it, and everyone loved her in the film. Why would people not love to see her in another movie musical?

I think she would be terrific!

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 12/9/09 at 10:17pm

So instead of skewing the women too old they're going to skew them too young? I do think she'd make a good Carlotta, though.

[E.Davis]

Posted: 12/9/09 at 10:38pm

Ya but, if she played Carlotta...She would only Dazzle us with one song. Unless they added more, like The boy can Foxtrot....Just a thought

[Unknown User]

Posted: 12/9/09 at 10:53pm

First of all Aaron Sorkin writing the script is BRILLIANT-there are not many better writers for film and television out there.

Second-CZJ is a phenomenal performer-but wrong for Phyllis- Unless they wait a few years and she ages a little more. So the way that movies are made now, that could work...maybe

She is certainly a big enough name to star as one of 4 leads-the question would be who would the other 3 be? All four would have to be box office stars.

I will say that as long as Kathy Bates is in the film-and hopefully playing Stella and singing "Who's That Woman?"-it will make all of my dreams come true.

[E.Davis]

Posted: 12/9/09 at 10:56pm

OMG....I was just thinking Kathy Bates for Stella

[Unknown User]

Posted: 12/9/09 at 10:59pm

E. Davis-cause great minds think alike. I'm sure we could bounce around MANY names in roles-so many great ladies of the screen. That's the great thing about Follies-you have SO many chances for great women to shine.

[E.Davis]

Posted: 12/9/09 at 11:15pm

Maybe Christine Baranski could do Carlotta in the Movie?.....What do you think?

[ljay889]

Posted: 12/9/09 at 11:16pm

^ lol.

[E.Davis]

Posted: 12/9/09 at 11:18pm

Take that as a you don't like the idea...lol

[ljay889]

Posted: 12/9/09 at 11:19pm

Guess you didn't see her at Encores!

[E.Davis]

Posted: 12/9/09 at 11:23pm

We I did, and yes it was not her best, but that is also only 2-3 weeks of rehearsal...Maybe with more time....Come on i am trying to be an Optimist...I am told I need to be more optimistic....:)

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 12/9/09 at 11:24pm

I'm somewhat skeptical a film of FOLLIES is ever going to happen, but if it does I'm not sure I'm ready for the dissent on this board when the cast ends up being name stars, for whom the score will be heavily altered.

[ljay889]

Posted: 12/9/09 at 11:26pm

I think most stars would be able to handle the vocals of Phyllis, Ben, and Buddy. But if a non-singer is cast as Sally, her music will certainly be heavily altered. Sally has the hardest music in the score.

[E.Davis]

Posted: 12/9/09 at 11:32pm

yes, I feel if they cast name over talent, it might be possible that they cut half of the score...ala NINE. I mean a lot of the numbers are Flashbacks or homages to the past...I am trying to see how the "Ghosts" of the past would work on film....especially if the sing.

Also Act 2....That is prolly the problem in question.

On a side note...Kathryn Joosten for Carlotta...HAHAHAHA

[Unknown User]

Posted: 12/9/09 at 11:35pm

Sally certainly has to be an amazing actress who can sing. Ben is probably the second hardest role vocally. As for the secondary ladies, Justine Johnson with One More Kiss is a bear to handle, but the others are doable with capable singers (like the before mentioned Kathy Bates-who is a fine singer, and 100% appropriate for the show and most of the roles.)

I think Follies could work on film, it would be tricky, but as we are seeing in recent years, musicals need to reworked for the screen. Gone are the days of basically putting the stage show up on the screen (or you try to like with The Producers and it bombs.)

Chicago, Dreamgirls, Sweeney Todd-all were successful enough and were re imagined greatly from the originals. I think NINE will be the same-movie going audiences are not normal theatre audiences. Truth be told-we would go see almost ANY musical that was turned into a movie-so for it to work for the mass audiences-it HAS to be a drastically imaginative concept-and that is how Follies will have to be.

And did I mention that Kathy Bates really should play Stella?

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 12/9/09 at 11:35pm

They would have to cut a lot of music from FOLLIES; if they don't it will be absolutely deadly as a film.

I would expect ONE MORE KISS to be the first thing to go.

I would also imagine they will need to build in more plot and more back story. FOLLIES is about twice as unconventional as NINE is. It would a HUGE gamble to film it. Updated On: 12/9/09 at 11:35 PM

[PalJoey]

Posted: 12/9/09 at 11:50pm

Backstory, yes, but the danger is that more plot will just make the four main characters even more unpleasant.

It will never happen, but I would love for them to put back into the score the duet for Ben and Sally on "All Things Bright and Beautiful." I have loved that yearning melody ever since I first heard it in the overture. Then it was part of "Marry Me a Little." But the most exquisite version of the song is sung by Brent Barrett and Sally Mayes on her CD "Boys and Girls Like You and Me."