Film versions of CURRENT musicals

[darquegk]

Posted: 6/4/09 at 10:44am

Rock of Ages has already been picked up for a film musical, tentatively starring Patrick Wilson. Which other current or recent musicals do you think will get this treatment? Many of the ones in the works now are for considerably older shows.

I don't know about you, but I can see Next to Normal working pretty well on film. Particularly in its Off-Broadway incarnation, with the occasional excursions into Diana's mind and the "rock star" Dr. Madden appearing in some hallucinations. Here's a cast I thought would work for that show as a film.

Next To Normal

Diana: Toni Colette
Dan: Jason Bateman (can he sing? If not, Michael C. Hall)
Natalie: Lea Michele
Henry: Michael Cera
Dr. Fine: Ben Stein
Dr. Madden: Jim Carrey
Gabe: I'm trying to think of someone better, but the only person of the right age, look and talent coming to mind as a "name" is Zac Efron, and it IS high time he start pursuing weightier material. This is well in his vocal range, anyway. And as far as his falsetto, which is not his strongest suit, Gabe only as to sing to a G legit and a D above that in falsetto, and that only happens maybe once or twice, and quickly.

Any others? I can't imagine what a good cast for Rock of Ages, along with Wilson, would be.

[PiraguaGuy2]

Posted: 6/4/09 at 12:29pm

Henry: Michael Cera

No no no no no.

[shh282]

Posted: 6/4/09 at 1:37pm

For Dan how about James Marsden?

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 6/4/09 at 1:39pm

I'm glad to see I'm not the only one tired of Michael Cera

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 6/4/09 at 1:41pm

Diana: Anna Gasteyer
Gabe: Michael Pitt
Dan: Patrick Wilson
Natalie: Jena Malone
Henry: Emile Hirsch
Doctor: Jeremy Sisto

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 6/4/09 at 1:42pm

Jason Bateman and Lea Michele would never be cast. Think John Travolta (again), Jim Carrey or someone marketable overseas. Decisions for these films are not based on talent or ability to sing. It is all marketing. The doctor would be played by Robin Williams or some comedian and they would trump up the rock star hallucination. Natalie would be played by whatever young starlet was hot at the moment (think of your Hilary Duff, Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale, Miley Cyrus-type of things). Especially since Superboy is such a hit single.

[americanboy99]

Posted: 6/4/09 at 2:42pm

I love the idea of Toni Collette. Wow. That'd be brilliant.

And there are young actors who are just as funny or funnier than Michael Cera and aren't stuck in the same schtick he does in every single film.

Jason Bateman is a terrific actor.

But I don't think NEXT TO NORMAL would translate to the stage very well. I feel like on-screen it would just read as camp.

[PiraguaGuy2]

Posted: 6/4/09 at 2:57pm

9 to 5 the Musical the Movie:
Frances McDormand as Violet Newstead
Anne Hathaway as Judy Bernly
Kristin Chenoweth as Doralee Rhodes
Alec Baldwin as Franklin Hart, Jr.
Kathy Bates as Rosalind Keith
Jason Sudeikis as Joe
Kathy Najimy as Kathy
Molly Shannon as Margaret

[americanboy99]

Posted: 6/4/09 at 2:59pm

Let's cast a REAL comedienne as Judy. I wouldn't want to read another review complaining about how the actress is too bland.

How about Ellen Degeneres (butchered the spelling, I'm sure- simply too lazy) as Violet?

[darquegk]

Posted: 6/4/09 at 5:05pm

Jason Bateman is a fairly successful and marketable actor. He's no superstar, but with Juno, Hancock, Arrested Development and other such roles under his belt, he's highly recognizable, if not an A-lister. The daughter would probably go to someone more "famous," but I stand by Jim Carrey working well as Dr. Madden. The role provides him opportunities to do the two things he wants to do these days: one, be taken seriously as a serious actor (the reality moments); and two, cut loose with his old comic persona ("Let's get it on now baby," "Open Your Eyes" and "Feeling Electric," which I'm sure would be restored for a film.)

As far as the film coming across as camp on screen, I'm not entirely sure it would. The tone of the show, ESPECIALLY the hallucinations, is spot-on to highly successful SHOWTIME series "Six Feet Under," which dealt with similar subject matter in a very similar way, employing a psychological ghost character and frequent hallucinations, often musical numbers, to let us inside the heads of this very dysfunctional familiy.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 6/4/09 at 5:10pm

I think Alan Ball directing would be a nice touch. Jason Batemen is great, but globally, he would never be touched. With the way casting has been going lately, it could end up Kidman and Jackman.

[jpbran]

Posted: 6/4/09 at 5:20pm

Six Feet Under was HBO. 6FU was back when Showtime was only making crap series, pre-Weeds.

[darquegk]

Posted: 6/4/09 at 5:24pm

Yeah. Alan Ball is the only person I think would do justice to the show as a film- let alone WANT to do this film.

[perfectliar]

Posted: 6/4/09 at 5:48pm

In the Heights will also be turned into a movie, possibly starring Jennifer Lopez (in some capacity.

[Gobstopper]

Posted: 6/4/09 at 7:18pm

If Lea Michele and Toni Collette were in the same movie (like the OP suggested), I would basically never leave the movie theatre. I. Want. That.

[SNAFU]

Posted: 6/4/09 at 7:23pm

"Jennifer Lopez (in some capacity."


Yes, as caterer in charge of the Kraft Service.

[I<3bway]

Posted: 6/10/09 at 4:57pm

Dan: I keep thinking Jim Carrey would be great for the part. Also Patrick Wilson would fit in since he's been getting a lot of roles lately in the film industry. I also think an interesting choice would be Dave Matthews.

Diana: I couldn't think of a certain person, but I was considering probably Christina Applegate or Brittany Murphy.

Gabe: Jesse McCartney or Zac Efron.

Natalie: This was a hard role to pick for too, but I was thinking Amber Tamblyn or Alexis Bledel.

[IdinaBellFoster]

Posted: 6/10/09 at 5:21pm

From those suggestions, it's pretty clear that you do not <3 bway.

[I<3bway]

Posted: 6/10/09 at 5:25pm

Well do you have better choices IdinaBellFoster?

If not. Then I'd hush hush, and keep your trap shut.

I like my choices. Updated On: 6/10/09 at 05:25 PM

[iamchanging9]

Posted: 6/11/09 at 12:16am

toni collette would be fabulous in this role but the thing is that this role is too close to her role on united states of tara. she wouldn't do another role in which a woman's mental illness affects her entire family.

Updated On: 6/11/09 at 12:16 AM

[cmwx122]

Posted: 6/11/09 at 1:16am

ahhaha agreeeedd

brittany murphy???? really?

[PiraguaGuy2]

Posted: 6/11/09 at 7:16am

Christina Applegate?

BWAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

[darquegk]

Posted: 6/11/09 at 3:29pm

Which part has Patrick Wilson been given in the Rock of Ages movie? I know that was the big news a while back.

[AndAllThatJazz22]

Posted: 6/11/09 at 4:11pm

These have got to be the most pathetic suggestions I've ever read in my entire life.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 6/11/09 at 5:16pm

Sorry I <3 bway, I agree with IdinaBellFoster.

Updated On: 6/11/09 at 05:16 PM