Oh, Jesus. They're making a Tennessee Williams biopic.

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 11/12/15 at 12:12pm

I don't know how I feel about this news, but who do you see as Tennessee with our current batch of film actors?

 

http://deadline.com/2015/11/tennessee-williams-biopic-movie-broad-green-pictures-1201619163/

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 11/12/15 at 12:14pm

This actually sounds awesome.

[GreasedLightning]

Posted: 11/12/15 at 12:15pm

I think that this could be incredible, if done right. 

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 11/12/15 at 12:27pm

Who do you see as Tennessee with our current batch of film actors?

 

Tom Hanks?

[nasty_khakis]

Posted: 11/12/15 at 12:28pm

As far as biopics go his life could be really interesting and his mannerisms and quirks are awards-bait for an actor.

I'd honestly prefer a 'slice of life' biopic that focuses on a moment in his life and not so much a life-spanning epic where things get glossed over.

[Felm_heart]

Posted: 11/12/15 at 12:33pm

Depending on the age they're focusing on, I think Joaquin Phoenix could be interesting. Or Tom Hardy could be fun. Oscar Isaac? But it'll probably go to Tom Hanks, right?

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 11/12/15 at 12:36pm

Hmmm.  Let's hope this sees the light of day.  It could be years before anything materializes as the property was just obtained.  

I'm still waiting for the 2 (two) bio pics "confirmed" by HBO and yet-to-go-into-production: 

GYPSY & ME with Sigourney Weaver about the older Gypsy Rose Lee and her relationship with her son Erik Preminger. (Confirmed in 2007)

BOB FOSSE with Bryan Singer directing a script based on Sam Wesson's recent biography. (Confirmed in 2011)

Updated On: 11/12/15 at 12:36 PM

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 11/12/15 at 12:40pm

Nasty_khakis, I totally agree that it would be nice to see something very focused on a specific moment. I think that always works best with movies about artists. 

 

I love Joaquin. 

 

Zachary Quinto may not look like him, but he channeled Tennessee strongly in Glass Menagerie and it was the first time I saw that character really work.

[Felm_heart]

Posted: 11/12/15 at 12:56pm

I just googled "Zachary Quinto moustache" and I am DOWN. Let's get this thing into production!

[Jane2]

Posted: 11/12/15 at 12:59pm

The man who directed a play I was in is blamed for being instrumental in William's death.

[Roscoe]

Posted: 11/12/15 at 2:49pm

They'll hire Benedict Cumberbatch, or Michael Fassbender, or Eddie Redmayne or some other British It-Boy of the moment for the lead.  Tom Hooper or Danny Boyle will direct from a script by the inevitable Julian Fellowes, or maybe Alan Bennett.

 

Oscar nominations will follow, of course.

[TheGingerBreadMan]

Posted: 11/12/15 at 3:04pm

Spectacular news! Let's hope that this materializes soon. 

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 11/12/15 at 4:24pm

My first casting thought was Quinto.

[VintageSnarker]

Posted: 11/12/15 at 4:48pm

"As far as biopics go his life could be really interesting and his mannerisms and quirks are awards-bait for an actor."

 

I don't see Tom Hanks doing that considering the way he played Walt Disney. Roscoe's prediction doesn't sound that far off.

[Braniff Forever]

Posted: 11/12/15 at 4:58pm

I could see James Franco. He's very literary

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 11/12/15 at 7:55pm

Tom Hanks is a horrible choice (OK, I just strongly dislike the actor, but still...)

I agree with Khakis that I would much rather if they just focused on one period of his life instead of trying to adapt the sprawling (and I mean sprawling) biography.  Actually a great book on Williams from this year, Follies of God would make interesting material, focusing on his relationship with the actresses of his plays.  Either way, unless it was a miniseries, following his whole life (checking off key points like an unhappy, sexless adolescence, his first failures, his sudden great success, his increasing dependency issues and paranoia and then ending with his side end) woul dbe hard to make effective.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 11/12/15 at 8:14pm

I have not had the time to read that lengthy Lahr bio but have heard nothing but raves from those who have.  This movie could save me a lot of time.

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 11/12/15 at 8:24pm

My one complaint of the bio was its structure is beyond odd--I could find no thematic rhyme or reason why it jumps all over the place chronologically.  Which made it a more interesting read than the similarly huge Fosse bio mentioned above--which I enjoyed but is as straight forward as it could be--but...

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 11/12/15 at 8:39pm

I agree with Eric that Follies of God could make a heck of a dramatic movie. Which maybe is how it should end up, because the book's credentials are frankly very suspicious. Still a fascinating read.

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 11/12/15 at 9:03pm

Oh they are--any factual book with so much quoted dialogue like that gets me wondering (see Riedel's recent Razzle Dazzle which has pages of full dialogue from events with only a handful of people, none of whom he even seemed to interview.) 

[Auggie27]

Posted: 11/12/15 at 10:31pm

I'm a "Follies of God" enthusiast from its early days; but a movie it would not make.  I have the Lahr book, but haven't done more than crack it. I've read most of the other Williams bios, and can only say: it's a lot of life to put in a single film, no matter the length; I'd rather seen an HBO miniseries. Quinto seems more of a Frank Merlo.  I have stranger idea, outside the box:  Peter Sarsgaard.  

Updated On: 11/12/15 at 10:31 PM

[followspot]

Posted: 11/12/15 at 10:49pm

Follies of God is fantasy fiction, imho, albeit well written.  I'm glad it's Lahr's exceptionally well researched and documented bio that's getting the film treatment.

[Ado Annie D'Ysquith]

Posted: 11/13/15 at 8:42am

I would actually love to see this made, as well. All of your casting ideas sound great- with the exception of Roscoe's, but I know he was being very tongue-in-cheek!

Hmm...if I were to pick a slice of life to focus on...perhaps a childhood look leading up to the creation of Glass Menagerie? I know Laura's character was directly inspired by Williams' sister. You could call the movie "Blue Roses." (Okay, I was kidding about the title thing.)

[Brick]

Posted: 11/13/15 at 11:26am

I've slowly been reading the Lahr biography and it is an incredible book. It makes Williams' - in all his manic and vulnerable glory - come to life and is exhaustingly researched.

There couldn't be a better book to serve as a basis for a film and a Williams pic is overdue.

[Kad]

Posted: 11/13/15 at 12:11pm

Hopefully they'll actually depict his sexuality in a meaningful way.