Christopher Walken cast as Captain Hook in Peter Pan Live!

I'm not sure how I feel about this. Like Walken, but I'm mixed on him as hook.
Christopher Walken is Captain Hook

LOL WHAT?

There is nothing about the existence of this event that isn't hilariously, inherently corny.

I have no idea how anyone could have a problem with this.

Amazing.

Can we please have Beyonce as Tiger Lily? Ugga-wugga-boo-tay!

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He was definitely one of the bright spots in the otherwise pedestrian Jersey Boys film. And oh my God was he great in Seven Psychopaths a couple years ago! That guy can make the dreariest dialogue pop with life. He's given me the first reason to watch this show since it was announced.

I agree, MB.

I also thought for a moment if there was anything "decidedly British" in the writing of the role, since most actors cast either are British or attempt the accent. I can't see Walken doing that (or wanting to, or caring about it) ... so we'll have a Hook with a slightly Queens, NY-meets-Southern-California vibe.

I don't think it matters in a musical fantasy. And I don't think there's anything in the role as written that makes it awkward.

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To that point too Best12, this musical version of PETER PAN is fundamentally a very "American-ized" retelling of the story. The long running Cathy Rigby productions were very caught up in the British origins of the piece (Rigby was the 1st Peter Pan I ever heard attempt a cockney accent) -- and did a number of re-writes to make it more like Barrie's play.

But when you look at what this musical version is-- and what it will always be - it is a rather old fashioned 1950s idealist Americana take.

To that end, I hope NBC understands that and doesn't try to re-invent the wheel by casting a male Peter Pan, re-writing the script to make it hip, etc for THIS musical version of the story. They should embrace it for the quaint and charming piece it is.

According to live Twitter feeds from the upfronts, NBC tried to cast Kristen Bell as Peter Pan the scheduling wouldn't work. But a woman is definitely playing Peter Pan. A lot of people on Twitter are thinking that Pink should do it.

Awwww, Kristen Bell would have been so cute as Peter.

Anyway, idk about Walken as Hook. But, if you guys think he'll be great, I trust your word. He was great in Hairspray. I just think there would be better choices like Tim Curry

I would be very surprised if Kristen Bell were the first choice for this project. If they are going to cast a female, there are a lot of A list actresses who potentially would make a great Peter Pan. The fact that an A-list film actor like Walken has been cast as Hook gives me hope they'll get someone more along the lines of Amy Adams, Reese Witherspoon, etc.

Or Miley. :P In my dreams would Amy and Reese do this!

Greenblatt confirms Peter will be played by a woman (and mentions Kristen Bell). She would be lovely but I bet they end up with someone more exciting now that Walken is involved.

"We were talking about doing it with a man at one point, but we've had several women who wanted to do it and they're either busy or their schedules don't work. It's not like we can film this at any time; I need this person from Aug. 5-Dec. 5, so that knocks out the Kristen Bells of the world, who was somebody I talked to about doing it and she was interested but she's doing House of Lies," he said, noting he spoke with the Frozen star before she announced her pregnancy. "It's tricky finding the right person in the schedule that we need it but we're actually close. [Peter is] going to be female."


PETER PAN is going to be a Female

Yes! I really love this news. It's out of the box and something none of us guessed and that makes it even more exciting. As for Kristen Bell, I'm honestly quite shocked. I love her, she can definitely sing, and she's cute. It'd be interesting to see if cute equated to a good Pan.

I figured the role would go to a female. The amount of male A+ celebrities that would be willing to play Peter and that would be available for a solid 4 months is very very very slim. I've never been a fan of Pink's voice but I'm sure she'd do well. Can't wait to hear about the rest of the cast!!

Now that I think about it, I seriously wonder if Destiny's Child's Michelle Williams will find her way into the cast (not as Pan of course). She has the name and stage experience, and probably has the availability.