Jamie Foxx and Usher Join Dreamgirls Film — Page 2

Jennifer Hudson as Effie...ALL THE WAY!

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Jennifer Hudson would be great.

I am not crazy about Beyonce being cast and I am not crazy about Eddie Murphy as Thunder Early. When I heard Usher was doing the movie I thought he might be good in the role. The boy can dance. I think an unknown needs to be cast as Effie. And I hope they are not messing with the C.C. White character. Choreographer? If memory serves me correctly, David Geffen refused to have the concert version filmed. He wouldn't even let PBS do it because he said the motion picture was in the works. I am sure some of you may know this.....does he have a lot of say concerning the cast and the script? It sounds like there will be some changes. So it would have been nice to see the original show, even in concert form, presented on film. It is not fair to judge this movie yet....but I have a feeling I am not going to be too crazy about it. And I LOVE Dreamgirls. However, I will go to see it.

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I wonder if the two supporting ladies in Ray (one of them being my fave Ms. Regina King) will find themselves in the film. I would love to see the woman who played Ray's wife as Michelle, and not sure where to put Regina, but she can make anything work.

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I don't think Usher's voice is anything special at all! He is very whiney.

And who said Chicago worked because it casted popstars? Umm, what popstar were casted in Chicago? They basically chose actors who are known for their acting, and also had a secret talent for singing, and dancing. The only exception was Queen Latifah - she was a rapper (not a popstar) with a hidden secret talent for singing.

Now Usher - that is casting a popstar with a medicore voice, and acting skills.

CC being made into a choreographer is an incredibly minor change. In the show, he's the songwriter and is there with them every step of the way. It's easily believable that CC might have helped choroegraph the group in their talent show days. He could still be the songwriter as well. It adds a dimension to the character and gives Condon an excuse to add CC to a dance number or two. It's a good idea -- it makes CC a slightly more interesting and dynamic character than he is in the stage version. A nice, but hardly significant change.

Geffen has always owned the film rights to the show as well as a bunch of other subsidiary rights. He's long been very protective of the property, having refused many overtures for a film version over the years. He and Dreamworks are the producers, so while Condon has a free hand to a point, Geffen can always step in if he doesn't care for the direction Condon is taking the project in (doubtful that'll happen, though).

And I'm very happy he didn't allow the concert to be filmed. While it was valuable to have a full account of the score (which is why he allowed a CD), it lacked polish and was too often poorly sung (Hedley was a disaster -- Lorrell's music was way out of her range and she was painfully flat throughout "Ain't No Party"; Audra had way too much vibrato for Deena; and Lillias choked on "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" -- probably the worst rendition I've ever heard from her).

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My only issue with the casting is:
If they changed CC into a choreographer, does this mean he's now going to be coming back to Effie singing "Effie I have a dance and only you can dance it the way it should be!!!" ?
How is that going to fit the story, expecially the 2nd Act?

Agree w/ you Margo...the change in CC's part wont throw off the storyline.

I also agree that noone was in good voice for the recording of the concert. I was very disappointed as well (especially in Headley, who I really like...just out of her range.) I do think that the timing of the concert was unfortunate. I would not have wanted to get up and sing that score the week of 9/11, and didnt Billy Porter (who I love) have to rerecord half of his vocals? It is still a great recording of one of the greatest scores ever written...thank God for Geffen!

"You're lyin', you're lyin', I've never been so thin!"

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That is true about Billy Porter
He was sick when he did the concert
I was extremely disappointed in Heather Headley, but she was miscast to begin with
I would cry tears of joy if they kept "It's All Over" in the film version, it's a shame it wasn't included on the OBCR

Updated On: 5/12/05 at 01:53 PM

i think they will keep the operatic format. thats one of the most powerful and effective elements of the show. and like Margo the Incredible did say earlier, Geffen is soooooo protective of the material. he didnt want it touched unless it was in the right hands, and with that piece of information, plus the genius of Bill Condon, i say the film will be a success.

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Can't wait to see who's going to play Effie. Thank God they're looking to cast an unknown. Can anyone think of a few "unknowns" EXCLUDING all former American Idol contenders??

Lorell is going to be Fantasia if I have anything to say about it! I think she would be a great addition to this mix. Homegirl is fiyah! If she does get the part, whoever plays Effie will have to be redikuluz! If they are truly looking for an unknown for Effie, I think Lorell will be a somebody that is already a star because I think it throws the symetry off to have Beyonce and two unknowns. It's better to have Lorell and Beyonce be known and then introduce the person playing Effie as the centerpiece.

I'd like it if they mix in some broadway people into some of the minor roles.



Usher has quite a few acting credits. I thought he did well in his dramatic role in "Light It Up" with Vanessa Williams and he's had some minor appearences in "She's All That" "The Faculty" and appearences on "Moesha." His part is not that big anyway, and he can sing the role. I'd rather see Usher in this than him releasing his 18th single off his CD "Confessions."