Jackman As Houdini?

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 11/22/08 at 11:00am

In the intro to the Playboy inteview of Hugh Jackman is the following: " He will likely next star on Broadway in Houdini , a high profile musical written by Spy magazine founder Kurt Andersen & scored by Danny Elfman".

[PiraguaGuy2]

Posted: 11/22/08 at 11:02am

Danny Elfman writes musicals?

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 11/22/08 at 11:04am

I guess he does now. He writes musical scores so why not. It sounds interesting.

Jackman could star in a show reading the phone book & it would succeed.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 11/22/08 at 2:10pm

The only reason I could see this is because of his role in The Prestige. There are several Houdini musicals though. It'd be nice if one finally made it to Broadway and with Jackman it could have a fighting chance.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 11/22/08 at 2:14pm

The only other one I heard of was a London show done ages ago called "Houdini - Man Of Mystery".

[jaystarr]

Posted: 11/22/08 at 2:20pm

He is also the cover of VANITY FAIR magazine in Italy.


Updated On: 11/22/08 at 02:20 PM

[PRFRMR20]

Posted: 11/22/08 at 2:28pm

There was an article about this about a year ago on Playbill. I remember the title was basically Houdini musical aims for Broadway 2009, or something. And, I remember it saying that Danny was writing the music... So, a year later, I imagine the material is close to done and if Hugh is attached, then probably has done a table read or at least been given a script and score to look at.

I like Hugh Jackman, but my only problem with this casting is he isn't really the right look for Houdini... Houdini was a short 5'5" stocky (but built) western european looking man (he has quite a distinct ethnic and mysterious look). Hugh Jackman just won People's Sexiest Man Alive. He is 6'2" lean and muscular. Looks more Western European (Australian) rugged. He doesn't look like he would be Ehrich Weiss (Houdini's real name). But, as CATS said, I loved The Prestige and enjoyed his performance. Hopefully, they do touch Houdini's past before fame and his roots to Judaism and the culture he grew up in....

My ideal casting idea would probably be Raul Esparza.

Updated On: 11/25/08 at 02:28 PM

[PRFRMR20]

Posted: 11/22/08 at 2:30pm

Does this look like the pic above?

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 11/22/08 at 2:33pm

How about Michael Cerveris with a wig?

[Q]

Posted: 11/22/08 at 2:34pm

Jackman didn't look like Peter Allen, either.

[PRFRMR20]

Posted: 11/22/08 at 2:38pm

I love the idea of Michael Cerveris! He would be amazing as Houdini!!

Q-Though he didn't look like Peter Allen, he looked a heck of a lot more like Peter Allen (especially regarding body type) than he does Houdini. Part of his magic was his use of short stature to fit into small places. 6'2" Hugh Jackman couldn't have fit into the milkcans, boxes, crates, etc...

[MrSweetNAwful]

Posted: 11/22/08 at 3:08pm

Wow, this sounds promising. Jackman in a new musical written by Danny Elfman, who does have some experience in writing musicals since he started with his band Oingo Boingo, who did a movie musical (Forbidden Zone), and he's written the score for The Nightmare Before Christmas and Corpse Bride (which had a few musical numbers in it.)

I also agree though, there are a few actors who could fit the look better. But whatever get's Hugh back on the boards!

[broadway86]

Posted: 11/22/08 at 3:09pm

Danny Elfman writes musicals?

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0107688/combined

[Fan2]

Posted: 11/22/08 at 9:13pm

There's a video interview with Elfman where he mentions Houdini.

* The Nightmare Before Christmas talk – we discuss how Disney at first didn’t like the movie and now they love it

* Milk talk – he’s done the music for the new Gus Van Sant movie

* I ask if there is a genre he hasn’t done that he’d like to do…he says he’s working on Notorious right now…the Biggie Smalls movie

* He also says he is working on a Broadway musical on the life of Harry Houdini! Says he is working on his 5th or 6th song right now and the songs are kind of manic

* He also says he might be doing a Cirque Du Soleil show at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood for 2010

Elfman Video Interview Updated On: 11/22/08 at 09:13 PM

[LimelightMike]

Posted: 11/22/08 at 9:44pm

I think Mike Cerveris would be the best bet to pull-off the role. Jackman's 6'2"-ish, Cerveris is 5'7"-ish. Houdini, the man, stood about 5'5" or something like that. Keep to the source, I say. It helps that he could pull-off the mystique aspect like nobody's business. This is me playing favorites, though.

Updated On: 11/22/08 at 09:44 PM

[PRFRMR20]

Posted: 11/22/08 at 9:53pm

LimelightMike - as I said above Houdini was about 5'5", so yes Cerveris is a very similar build. He would play the mystique like it's nobody's business

[MrSweetNAwful]

Posted: 11/22/08 at 10:00pm

Elfman and Cirque!?
Just when I thought I couldn't get anymore excitement out of this thread

[Square Peg2]

Posted: 11/22/08 at 11:17pm

"Looks more Eastern European (Australian) rugged."

PRFMR20, you know Australia isn't in Eastern Europe, right?

[PRFRMR20]

Posted: 11/22/08 at 11:36pm

Square Peg2-Thank you for your history lesson jk... I do know that Australia isn't in Eastern Europe. I said that Houdini was Eastern European (From Hungary, but has that Polish, Russian, German... look) vs. Jackman who is from Australia but has a more Western European look (England, Wales...) which makes sense because Australia was inhabited by the British and by the Western European civilization.

I put "Australia" in the paranthesis because I didn't want people to say he is But, he's Australian". I see the confusion but I was stating his Western European/Australian look. Hoping that makes sense...

Updated On: 11/25/08 at 11:36 PM

[sparrman]

Posted: 11/23/08 at 12:04am

True Jackman looks nothing like Houdini, but I think that could be overlooked, superficially at least. I think the biggest problem would be Jackman pulling off a Jewish character. As noted above, Houdini was Ehrich Weiss, a Hungarian Jew. Hard to believe that wouldn't be important in an autobiographical show, and man, Hugh Jackman doesn't look or seem at all Jewish.
Updated On: 11/23/08 at 12:04 AM

[LimelightMike]

Posted: 11/23/08 at 12:08am

RE: Jackman

Aside from the ethnic thing, I can't see him carrying an Elfman score. Cerveris on the other hand, with all bias aside, I truly think he could deliver something wonderful - were he to be considered for the role.
Updated On: 11/23/08 at 12:08 AM

[Square Peg2]

Posted: 11/23/08 at 12:45am

Yeah, no worries, PRFRMR20, I just found it funny to read!

As for my two cents, I tend to agree with Limelight Mike, I wonder if Hugh can pull off the score. Certainly not as well as Cerveris.

[Q]

Posted: 11/23/08 at 3:35am

"I wonder if Hugh can pull off the score. Certainly not as well as Cerveris."

But who would sell more tickets?

Show BUSINESS, remember - show BUSINESS.

[Plum]

Posted: 11/23/08 at 1:00pm

I'm sure I posted on this thread yesterday...oh well.

What I said then (and what I still think now) is that even in some alternate universe where Jackman and Cerveris had equal box office pull, I'd take Jackman, because I've seen Cerveris on stage and screen multiple times and only once (Passion on PBS) has he elicited a reaction stronger than a "meh" from me. Why he's called a great interpreter of Sondheim and gets lead roles in seemingly every concert or production of that composer's work is beyond me.

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 11/23/08 at 2:52pm

I don't know how many posters have seen photographs of the real Houdini, but it should be remembered that his acts were performed with as little as possible clothing. SOOOOO, my question is, artistic merits aside, who would you rather see naked, Hugh Jackman or Michael Cerveris?