Glenn Close and Ewan McGregor in Sunset Blvd!

http://news.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/07/10/nfilm10.xml

>Mr Shaw said that McGregor and Hugh Jackman were both in the running for the role of Gillis. Both are box office stars. Jackman, who won rave reviews in the National Theatre production of Oklahoma!, is regarded as the better singer. But McGregor, who is at present playing to packed houses in the West End revival of Guys and Dolls, is considered a bigger draw.

Updated On: 7/9/05 at 08:23 PM

i like this casting... Ewan will be amazing in this role!

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Somehow I don't think the "Trainspotting" crowd are going to flock to "Sunset Boulevard"...

Oh I wish it were Striesand...

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I don't like the way Jackman sings, I dunno why. I don't really like either of them for the role. I think they should go the Phantom route and casts unknowns/new comers in the Gillis and Betty roles.

So exciting! Yippee!

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I agree with Jo - "bigger draw"? Because of "Star Wars"? And maybe because he's done "Moulin Rouge"? And who has done Broadway, won a Tony Award and played the role in Australia, winning an award for it? It's funny that they cast unknowns for Phantom, but now want a "bigger box office draw" in this when they have Glenn Close starring. Hugh reportedly saw Guys & Dolls a few weeks ago - I wonder if they both knew then about this. This article says they want it in the theaters by Christmas 2006 which means they would have to start filming probably at the beginning of the year - wonder if "other commitments" came into play (Hugh is doing X-3 until the end of the year). I also think it's interesting that since the news was in a British paper, it mentions Hugh doing Oklahoma! but nothing about Broadway/Tony Award.

Fan2

Hugh's schedule may have conflicted with the desired release date for SUNSET BOULEVARD. I believe he is doing the 2 XMEN movies ( XMEN3 and WOLVERINE) back to back...plus there is some buzz that he may come back to Broadway possibly next spring for his limited run one-man show. Next year he has the Woody Allen movie, two voice-over roles ( with Kate Winslet and with Nicole Kidman) for release. Also, the postponed GOOD filming may come into the picture as well. A very busy movie career, on top of his stage forays.

I am also eagerly awaiting his new movie, THE FOUNTAIN, hopefully for release late this year as it is being touted in some movie circles as potential OSCAR candidate for best movie and for acting honors.

I think RUG and Paramount may have called this casting decision wrong. For one, I cannot imagine the chemistry between Glenn and Ewan. And they are not the best of singers, either. I hope they are not turning this into another semi-success like the movie PHANTOM, for which I had such high hopes before they turned it into "that" movie.

Jo

The London papers have also been casting the new James Bond every week as well--plus they also said the Williams sisters were going to be in X-Men 3.

Bummed!! (but if the trade is get Hugh back on Bway at some point next year, I'll be over it really fast!)

Did they finally manage to get the rights from Paramount for Sunset? I thought that was the major problem they were having getting the rights.

I know about those Williams sisters rumors! I usually only believe an official source on these types of things but this article seems to quote someone who is apparently the co-producer so it seems to have credibility.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

::is happy!!!!::

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I was REALLY hoping and thought that they were going to choose Hugh Jackman for the role... I really like Ewan, but I am a MUCH bigger fan of Hugh Jackmans, and I thought this was going to be his... look Hollywood, I can really sing and it's a shocker for you role. "But McGregor, who is at present playing to packed houses in the West End revival of Guys and Dolls, is considered a bigger draw" Let's see what they say after X Men 3 and the Fountain come out.

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Assuming both are strong box office draws, it should have really come down to who has the better musical abilities and acting chops!


Jo