Chris Evans in Talks to Play Orin in LITTLE SHOP Remake

[CT2NYC]

Posted: 2/24/20 at 3:17pm

And I didn't realize Billy Porter had already signed:

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/chris-evans-talks-star-little-shop-horrors-1280781

[superiska123]

Posted: 2/24/20 at 3:25pm

Had no idea about Billy either! He seems like a very good fit for Audrey II. I'm not too crazy about Chris Evans as Orin, but he might surprise me.

I'm also probably in the minority but I think Scarlett Johansson could be a very interesting Audrey, and I'm much more excited for the possibility of her in the movie than Taron Egerton...

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 2/24/20 at 3:56pm

Gorgeous, talented cast all around. 

[Broadwaywest]

Posted: 2/24/20 at 3:57pm

Billy Porter was the voice of Audrey II in the Florida production of Little shop that was the pre-broadway run of the 03 revival. There clips of him on YouTube.

[Kitsune]

Posted: 2/24/20 at 4:05pm

After seeing Evans' turn in Knives Out, I think this could be fun. (No idea if he can sing, but the same goes for Scarlett Johansson).

[MayAudraBlessYou2]

Posted: 2/24/20 at 4:08pm

Interesting. I was actually thinking of Chris Pine or Chris Pratt for Orin. As they naturally fit into more stylized or over the top performances. (And in the case of Pine, we already know he has a great voice). But I'd love for Chris Evans to surprise us by being great at a type of role he hasnt been allowed to do thus far. Does he have any background in singing?

[darreyl102]

Posted: 2/24/20 at 4:08pm

Kitsune said: "After seeing Evans' turn in Knives Out, I think this could be fun. (No idea if he can sing, but the same goes forScarlett Johansson)."

Johansson sang  in 'Jungle book'  so we at least know she can carry a tune. Has Evans ever sang in anything?

[CT2NYC]

Posted: 2/24/20 at 4:25pm

If you look at Steve Martin, it's not as if "Dentist!" requires a legitimate singing voice. 

[VintageSnarker]

Posted: 2/24/20 at 4:35pm

MayAudraBlessYou2 said: "Interesting. I was actually thinking of Chris Pine or Chris Pratt for Orin. As they naturally fit into more stylized or over the top performances. (And in the case of Pine, we already know he has a great voice). But I'd love for Chris Evans to surprise us by being great at a type of role he hasnt been allowed to do thus far. Does he have any background in singing?"

Yeah, basically all of this. I don't think of his acting as that stylized or over the top but maybe he's got it in him. I don't know about training but he mentions loving to sing and singing a lot as a child during his talk show appearances. Best case scenario, he's another Gyllenhaal who just hasn't gotten the chance to be in a musical until now. 

[JP2]

Posted: 2/24/20 at 4:46pm

Some of y'all need to watch Scott Pilgrim.

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 2/24/20 at 6:10pm

JP2 said: "Some of y'all need to watch Scott Pilgrim."

I was scrolling down to say that, along with Not Another Teen Movie. The man can certainly handle stylized, over the top characterization.

[KnewItWhenIWasInFron]

Posted: 2/24/20 at 6:19pm

darreyl102 said: "Kitsune said: "After seeing Evans' turn in Knives Out, I think this could be fun. (No idea if he can sing, but the same goes forScarlett Johansson)."

Johansson sang in 'Jungle book' so we at least know she can carry a tune. Has Evans ever sang in anything?"

She also recorded an album of, I believe, Tom Waits songs, and she's the (excellent) singer of an Oscar-nominated song, "Before My Time."

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 2/24/20 at 10:34pm

darreyl102 said: "Kitsune said: "After seeing Evans' turn in Knives Out, I think this could be fun. (No idea if he can sing, but the same goes forScarlett Johansson)."

Johansson sang in 'Jungle book' so we at least know she can carry a tune. Has Evans ever sang in anything?"

Unless he was dubbed without attribution, he sang in a production number in NOT ANOTHER TEEN MOVIE. He is fine in the number and should be able to sing the Dentist.

[darreyl102]

Posted: 2/24/20 at 10:58pm

GavestonPS said: "darreyl102 said: "Kitsune said: "After seeing Evans' turn in Knives Out, I think this could be fun. (No idea if he can sing, but the same goes forScarlett Johansson)."

Johansson sang in 'Jungle book' so we at least know she can carry a tune. Has Evans ever sang in anything?"

Unless he was dubbed without attribution, he sang in a production number in NOT ANOTHER TEEN MOVIE. He is fine in the number and should be able to sing the Dentist."

Totally forgot about that!  it's been years since I've seen the movie. 

[rattleNwoolypenguin]

Posted: 2/25/20 at 1:24am

Dentist! Is not like a Rogers and Hammerstein song or anything haha.

Most people who only can kinda sing could get by.

[Ladylusiphur]

Posted: 2/25/20 at 7:50am

I haven't read much about the new version, is there any info about whether they'll be putting the missing songs back in? I absolutely adore the original movie and it'll be hard to top, but I do love quite a few of the show songs that didn't make the final cut. 

If so, I also don't think you'd need huge vocal skills to tackle 'Now/It's Just the Gas' either, it's more the comedy/dramatic timing, and I can imagine Chris being pretty great. He's got the arrogance down in Knives Out, (and to a lesser extent Fantastic 4), so he just needs to amp that up to 11 and have fun with it. :) 

[quizking101]

Posted: 2/25/20 at 8:10am

Initially I was excited for Billy Porter, but after finding and seeing the tryout video online. I’m...much less so. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for him getting every bit of work he can get. However, there is supposed to be a certain level of menace to the character that Billy’s voice simply does not have.

I get more of a feeling of unintentional comedy that Seymour is being pushed around by a sassy gay plant as opposed to actually feeling threatened by the thing that will ruin his life.

[mtgeek100]

Posted: 2/25/20 at 8:18am

If Chris Evans can sing I’m down for this! If not, I’m yet again going to be annoyed that an a list name is put above singing ability when it comes to a movie musical.

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 2/25/20 at 10:13am

Scarlett has a nice enough voice but everything I've heard her sing has been jazzier and pretty low pitched. I'm not sure that she has the vocal range for Audrey.

[RumTumJM]

Posted: 2/25/20 at 10:53am

What's everyone's feelings about Porter doing the voice of the plant?

I know he's big now & it works on that level. But, didn't they already try this out with the 2003 pre-Broadway run & fire him because the voice didn't work as well as a deeper voiced actor?

[Christoph]

Posted: 2/25/20 at 1:03pm

1. Porter would be a great fit for Audrey II

2. Egerton seems a bit too hunky for Seymour in my humble opinion, but I guess they could dowdy him down to some extent.

3. Scarlett definitely can sing, but I have never heard her ever belt.  I think Audrey needs to be a belter, so not sure about that.  It is possible she can do it, but for some reason I get the impression her vocal range is on the limited side.  Then again, weren't they shopping the revival of South Pacific to her prior to casting Kelli O'Hara?  So who knows?

4. Evans I think is a surprising and very interesting choice.  Never saw Not Another Teen Movie, but if memory serves he sang a number or two in What's Your Number (or whatever that lowbrow comedy with Anna Faris was called).  If he was not dubbed, then he has a surprisingly good and strong singing voice (plus doesn't he tap dance as well?).  Either way "Dentist" does not exactly require the vocal chords of a Hugh Jackson or Ezio Pinza.

[bfreak]

Posted: 2/25/20 at 1:24pm

I wouldn’t be so quick to judge how Billy Porter is going to be in this for two reasons. First, it’s a different medium, so the way his performance will be presented on film will be different than onstage. Also, it’s been so many years since he performed the role, and many years have passed. It’s possible he has a better understanding of the character now, will deepen his performance, and overall do a better job. I’m not saying it’ll automatically be fantastic, but I’m willing to give it a chance.

[seaweedjstubbs]

Posted: 2/25/20 at 1:32pm

RumTumJM said: "What's everyone's feelings about Porter doing the voice of the plant?

I know he's big now & it works on that level. But, didn't they already try this out with the 2003 pre-Broadway run & fire him because the voice didn't work as well as a deeper voiced actor?"

I think it’s important to note that EVERYONE (except Hunter Foster) was “fired” from that production. And the new cast didn’t really make the show more successful, critically or financially.  Plus, 2003 Billy Porter is quite different than 2020 Billy Porter.

And I echo those who recommend watching Scott Pilgrim VS The World if they’re questioning Chris Evans’ ability to play an over the top stylized character. Honestly, his character in that film is kind of a modern take on Orin!


I personally just can’t imagine this being very good, no matter who they cast. I think that’s part of why it’s been in development hell for so long - anyone remember when they were gonna make this a non-musical remake? The Frank Oz film is, in my opinion, one of the best stage to screen adaptations ever, and even Oz couldn’t quite figure out how to make the stage ending work on screen - yes, I’ve seen the BluRay with the original ending. I understand why audiences rejected it. And the absolute worst part of this remake will be a CGI Audrey II. The Audrey II puppets in the Oz film are truly incredible; but modern filmmakers would probably never go through all the trouble it took to do it back then. But who knows? I’m hoping to be pleasantly surprised by the whole thing - if it ever actually happens.

[darreyl102]

Posted: 2/25/20 at 1:35pm

^This! All of this!! Peoples aspect into a character changes over time and it's been almost 20 years since he played the part in the tryout production. Actors evolve over time and his approach will certainly be different than his first time around. He's an older , more mature actor

Glenn close played Norma very differently decades after playing it the first time. I wouldn't worry too much about him just yet. 

Updated On: 2/25/20 at 01:35 PM

[Hot Pants]

Posted: 2/25/20 at 1:52pm

I think Evans can definitely act the part very well. Playing slime balls isn’t what people associate him with, but when he does it, he does it really well. I don’t know if he can sing or not, but Orin isn’t a super demanding role when it comes to vocals, so he’ll probably be fine.
I’m not entirely sure about Porter as Audrey II. I can see it working, but I wonder if his higher tenor voice will have the right malice. I’ve yet to hear him when he did it in 2003, but it’s worth noting that his interpretation could’ve greatly changed in that time. I think he has the potential to be great in the part, but I could see it not really working at the same time. I’ll keep my mind open about his casting.