Not that it would knock her out of the running but I can confirm Anna Kendrick is still with Pitch Perfect 2 till mid-august. Not saying they couldn't go 2 weeks without her...
This is really exciting. Walken is talented and well-known, but just risky enough to get people to tune in. I think he'll be great- he can sing and dance, and he's got a great kooky tone that will lend itself to the kind of cartoonish fantasy that this version of Peter Pan can be.
If they wanted to cast the closest present-day equivalent to Mary Martin in the role, I think Chenoweth would be the best option in terms of ability, physical type and name recognition. I don't think that's what today's TV audiences are looking for, though (why cast another "Mary Martin" when you can just re-watch Martin's version?) I'm guessing they'll cast it younger.
Also to clarify, I'm not saying Kristin Chenoweth is exactly like Mary Martin, but in terms of thinking about their getting a "modern day Mary Martin" as Peter Pan, Chenoweth is probably the first person I would think of.
I love Walken, but isn't he a lot too old. He is supposed to be their father...that would mean he fathered the kids in his late 50s / 60s. He would be terrific as Hook...but Mr. Darling...yuk!!
If they are looking for a star, I think Amy Adams is a great idea, but doubt she would do it. If not, how about...Kelli O'Hara, particularly if Walken is in it. She is as close to Mary Martin as anyone we have, and is younger...although the hi-def comment is valid.
Anne Hathaway if they need a name?
Didn't see the prior comment before I sent this...good point re Mary Martin-like not really necessary; but if they need a name, not a lot of candidates that aren't 40ish.
What about Celia Keenan-Bolger for Peter Pan? She was in "Peter and the Starcatcher" a couple of years back, so she has experience with the rough storyline. Kelli O'Hara would be good, but maybe slightly too old.
Yes, when the president of NBC says they are definitely getting a big star for the role, I'm sure that Celia Keenan-Bolger, Kelli O'Hara, and Michelle Williams from Destiny's Child are the first people to come to mind.
"Some people can thrive and bloom living life in a living room, that's perfect for some people of one hundred and five. But I at least gotta try, when I think of all the sights that I gotta see, all the places I gotta play, all the things that I gotta be at"
But ray, you don't seem to understand that Celia Keenan-Bolger is uniquely qualified to be in this, what with her having a rough idea of what it's about and all.
I wouldn't be surprised if Ariana Grande is being considered for Wendy. But the timing doesn't make sense if her new album is coming out in August. I can't imagine she would forgo press for that to do a musical (unless the early rehearsal commitments for Peter Pan aren't crazy).
For Peter...Cristin Milioti will be too busy with A to Z, right?