Follies Movie Dream Cast

[icecreambenjamin]

Posted: 8/6/14 at 8:29pm

It's about time for a Follies movie. Who would you cast?
I think that they should cast older broadway stars like Bernadette Peters, Mandy Patinkin, Patti Lupone, etc.
If Rob Marshall does a good job with Into the Woods he might be the best director for the job.

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 8/6/14 at 8:35pm

I think you'd need a new book for a film of FOLLIES, not because I hate Goldman's book, but because film is such a different medium. The camera gives us so much information that a virtually plotless piece like FOLLIES will seem really stagnant on film. (I assume someone will come along shortly with a counter-example.)

Maybe somebody should go back to the murder-mystery story. That sounds interesting...

[Gothampc]

Posted: 8/6/14 at 8:52pm

I always wanted to see Tina Turner as Carlotta. I'm Still Here is her life story.

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 8/6/14 at 8:52pm

I think you'd need a new book for a film of FOLLIES

Good luck getting that past the widow Goldman!

[Musical Master]

Posted: 8/6/14 at 8:57pm

For me, FOLLIES needs a top-tier screenwriter for the job to change the story but it can still have the ghost story that it needs. Not to mention that a starry cast that's really talented could be a plus. Yes icecreambenjamin, IF Rob Marshall does a good job with INTO THE WOODS then there might be a chance that FOLLIES might be his next musical film.

Here's my personal dream cast.

Sally- Kristin Chenoweth
Phyllis- Angelina Jolie
Ben- Hugh Jackman
Buddy- John C. Rilley
Carlotta- Nicole Kidman or Tina Turner
Stella- Kathy Bates
Hattie- Jayne Houdyshell
Salonge- Marion Cotillard
The Whitmans- Dick Van Dyke and Cloris Leachman
Heidi- Shirley Jones
Weismann- Christopher Plummer



Updated On: 8/7/14 at 08:57 PM

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 8/6/14 at 9:10pm

Your pics are bananas.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 8/6/14 at 9:27pm

My cast may be a bit too old now. But here's who I originally wanted

Sally- Cher
Phyllis- Lee Grant
Ben- Pierce Brosnan
Buddy- Victor Garber
Carlotta- Tina Turner
Stella- Bette Midler
Hattie- Linda Lavin
Salonge- Elaine Paige
The Whitmans- Jerry Stiller & Anne Meara
Heidi- Barbara Cook
Weismann- Warren Beatty

[mjohnson2]

Posted: 8/6/14 at 10:03pm

Musical Master, you do realize that even if you are in a film musical, you still have to be able to sing? Also, you need to be much older.
I think Meryl Streep could add some nice box office appeal to the movie and she is appropriately aged

[Musical Master]

Posted: 8/6/14 at 10:04pm

^Which character are you referring to? A lot of them CAN sing.

[Sally Durant Plummer]

Posted: 8/6/14 at 10:05pm

I've always said that for a film medium, Follies needs to have 2 incredibly powerful leads - Sally and Phyllis. Phyllis should be taken from the film world, as her role is flashier, and more "likable", plus the fact that her vocal demands are far less taxing. Sally, as the emotional center of the piece, needs to be from the stage. I would personally live Bernadette to reprise her role. I loved her take on the role.

As fir the script - I say leave it as it is, open up the scenes to the entire theatre, and briefly outside for "Mornings". It'll never happen, of course, but in a perfect world.

[theeatah]

Posted: 8/6/14 at 10:25pm

It's a pity Michelle Pfeiffer's stock isn't at a Streep level. She'd be way more appropriate for Phyllis than Streep.

Hugh Jackman is an obvious choice for Ben.

I could see Jack Black as Buddy.

Of the leads, I think Sally would be the hardest to cast. I can't think of a big enough name with the right kind of voice. Toni Colette would make sense but I'm not sure she has a soprano. Renee Zellwegger might also be a good fit in terms of character but not vocally.

Catherine Zeta Jones could probably pull off Carlotta with the appropriate Pro Tools trickery.

Queen Latifah would be a good fit for Stella. Updated On: 8/6/14 at 10:25 PM

[mjohnson2]

Posted: 8/6/14 at 11:37pm

Oops, I was referring to Phyllis

[Musical Master]

Posted: 8/6/14 at 11:49pm

^Actually there was a time when Jolie DID sing, and she has the "You're like a queen, you're like Jackie Kennedy" look and acting to pull it off more than Streep and Pfieffer could do (even if Pfieffer can sing very well). Besides Sally has been challenging when it comes to acting and singing, with her having the most songs; where Phyllis was always acting and dancing (Lucy and Jessie).

[SweeneyLovett]

Posted: 8/7/14 at 12:16am

Jolie could probably get a little training and become a smashing Phyllis. If Meryl was to play any character in Follies, I'd say Sally. I'm not sure if she could hit all the notes, but her voice always had a lighter, more soprano sound to me.

Tina Turner as Carlotta really does sound like fun. How 'bout Catherine Deneuve as Solange? She could sing well enough for that role.

[madbrian]

Posted: 8/7/14 at 7:08am

Sally- Emma Thompson
Phyllis- Michelle Pfeiffer
Ben- Robert Downey
Buddy- Martin Short
Carlotta- Goldie Hawn
Stella- Darlene Love
Hattie- Angela Lansbury
Solange- Charlotte Gainsbourg
The Whitmans- Don Correia and Sandy Duncan
Heidi- Kiri Te Kanawa

Updated On: 8/7/14 at 07:08 AM

[binau]

Posted: 8/7/14 at 7:15am

Bernadette was so great in the role. I would be happy to never have to see the show again now. But it would be cool if she ever did a film version ^_^.

Updated On: 8/7/14 at 07:15 AM

[themysteriousgrowl]

Posted: 8/7/14 at 7:37am

"The widow Goldman" will always make me laugh.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 8/7/14 at 8:59am

Unless something was written into the contract when the rights were sold, she'd have no say over what is in the screenplay. I'm still loving the thought of a Follies where Solange is younger than everyone else in the cast.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 8/7/14 at 9:41am

I'd like to get some intelligent actors in these roles, actors who really have the ability to use the lyrics to build the character, actors who can actually portray thoughts occurring and emotions building and developing, rather than simply projecting a mood and singing relatively on-key.

After her stunning Mrs. Lovett at Avery Fisher Hall, Emma Thompson obviously would be a glorious Phyllis. None of the other names mentioned excite me.

All in all, I'd rather not see Follies filmed at all than see it done poorly. The director would have to be inspired to do the ghosts well--and creatively, not with CGI or overused cinematic tricks.

[Musical Master]

Posted: 8/7/14 at 9:56am

Hi PJ, who would you love to see in these roles?

Updated On: 8/7/14 at 09:56 AM

[Gothampc]

Posted: 8/7/14 at 9:57am

I think Emma Thompson is one of the most brilliant actresses alive. But can we believe her as a showgirl? She's always been a "plain Jane" looks-wise. In thinking over some of the choices, I think since this would be for the movie screen that the actresses would have some hint of glamour.

[dreaming]

Posted: 8/7/14 at 9:58am

In a few years, Catherine Zeta Jones would be a dynamite Phyllis-and they could do quite the "Lucy and Jessie" number as she's a dancer. (Besides, she actually has that glam appeal-you could believe she was a Follies girl; Annette Bening is another thought I had for Phyllis)

As Sally-not sure (I'd kind of like Bernadette)

Ben-Richard Gere (something about him)or Victor Garber (he played the role-and was very good-at Encores)

Buddy-not sure-you need someone very likable (Danny Burstein was perfect in this I thought-obviously he's not A-lister enough but someone in that vein)

Carlotta-Tina Turner works or some television person (that's kind of who the role is meant for-a washed up TV star)

Not sure about the others.

My request: KEEP MERYL STREEP AWAY!!! I'm sick of her doing every single thing. It's a little boring and unoriginal.



Madbrian-You must have read my mind with Kiri Te Kanawa as Heidi

[LucyEth]

Posted: 8/7/14 at 10:49am

I agree that Catherine Zeta-Jones would make a splendid Phyllis. Call me crazy, but I think the entire "Chicago" cast could easily be transferred to "Follies" without a hitch. Zeta-Jones as Phyllis, Richard Gere as Ben, Renee Zellweger as Sally & John C. Reilly as Buddy. Character-wise they fit perfectly, and they acquitted themselves nicely in "Chicago." And with Rob Marshall directing, it would be like old home week. Shirley MacLaine as Carlotta would be a coupe.

Would also love to see Marshall do a film of "Spider Woman," I think he'd be perfect for the material, having staged it originally. (But then, I thought he was ideal for "Nine," and it was the granddaddy of all train wrecks.)

[PJPan]

Posted: 8/7/14 at 11:06am

LucyEth (love the name) - Shirley MacLaine would be wonderful for Carlotta.

Taking some points from other posters, I think Michelle Pfeiffer and Emma Thompson could be an interesting duo (also John C. Reilly as Ben).

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 8/7/14 at 11:35am

Isn't Carlotta supposed to have been in the Follies with Phyllis and Sally, and thus around the same age as them? Shirley Maclaine is 80 years old now. It would be a bit difficult to believe that she's around the same age as some of the 50 to 60 year old actresses being mentioned for Phyllis and Sally.

Dame Kiri Te Kanawa would be great for Heidi, but I think it would be even more poignant if they could lure Teresa Stratas out of retirement for the role (if this film ever came to be).