Broadway Star Joined: 6/26/11
I think in general we do underestimate stars abilites in the singing department many can carry a decent tune and it's like louise is a particularly hard part singing wise.
Good Picks:
Laura Benanti
Anne Hathaway
Sierra Boggess
Tammy Blanchard
Laura Osnes
Meh Picks:
Katherine McPhee
Lea Michele
WTF Picks:
Laura Bell Bundy
Scarlett Johansson
Megan Hilty
Sutton Foster
Vanessa Hudgens
Leslie Kritzer
Streisand would not share the screen with Leslie Kritzer, please! It would be Lucille Ball and Madeleine Kahn all over again!
Have we all forgotten what happened at the conclusion of one of Ms. Streisand's particularly exhaustive searches for one of films, hmmm?
Who says lightning doesn't strike twice?
Louise will ultimately go to Jason Gould.
Stand-by Joined: 9/29/04
Kristen Bell as June...
Anne Hathaway or Natalie Portman as Louise...
Woodley would be inspired. She's a wonderful actress.
They better find a 50 year old Louise to play opposite Grandma Rose!,,,
Beverly D'Angelo would be a good Louise.
I must admit that this list made me chuckle repeatedly. Some great names there, but for the role of Louise in a film version of GYPSY? 'I wonder how old I am' would be a guaranteed laugh line in the hands of most of these ladies - unintentionally, of course - and Madame Rose would have had to have been traveling around with the Newsboys acts for decades for their ages to be even vaguely credible on screen. Hardly any of them would be able to pull off the birthday scene in the hotel credibly. The only two on the list that could are Lea Michele (who would need to somehow drop her whole Rachel Berry persona, an endeavor that didn't go all that well in NEW YEAR'S EVE) and Vanessa Hudgens (whose singing is so nasal that it makes my sinuses ring) and I don't particularly want to see either in the role. Would they be able to do the older scenes credit? Perhaps, actually, the only name worth considering seriously in this list is Sierra Boggess. The close-ups in the PHANTOM concert and the early scenes make me think that perhaps she could pull off the younger scenes.
If Shailene Woodley sings, then (as mentioned above) she might be an interesting pick. I think Anna Kendrick could also do well.
Then again, I'm not sure that the world needs a film of GYPSY with Barbra Streisand in the first place. I didn't particularly warm to the idea when it was announced and I haven't found a reason that endears it to me yet.
Sutton Foster? Laura Bell Bundy? Those are some hilarious picks.
I think Natalie Portman is as good of a person as they could get, Anne Hathaway almost seems like too safe a choice. If they cast a younger type, definitely Jennifer Lawrence over Shailene Woodley.
The more I think about Natalie Portman as Louise, the more I like the idea.
Jennifer Lawrence and Shailene Woodley are just about perfect in the acting department. Don't know if they can sing, but it's already been mentioned that Louise is not the most difficult of musical roles. Hell, Natalie Wood even did a credible job of singing her songs in the '62 film version.
I'm thinking, for the sake of Babs' vanity, they'll get Natalie Portman or Anne Hathaway. While Lawrence and Woodley are perfect age wise (at least according to the original script), you just know they're gonna have to pull all kinds of strings to make Babs appear younger than she actually is, so, hiring one of those two might raise a few questions.
Either way, I think any one of these 4 ladies would be terrific. Just keep Lea Michele far away from this. She gets on my nerves every time she opens her mouth.
I vote for Lesley Ann Warren as "Louise". Elliot Gould should be "Herbie". Jon Peters can play "Tulsa".
I don't know what her musicality is like, but who I'd really be interested to see as Louise is Jessica Chastain. If this past film season proved anything, it's that there's nothing she can't do, and she certainly has striking features that would make her totally believable as Streisand's daughter.
Featured Actor Joined: 6/14/11
Kids, it is a little know singer name Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta. It's done deal. Shooting start Jan'13 for a Dec. '13 release. Directed by SPIELBERG. Scoff all you want peeps, but that who it is...
Hathaway as Louise, Anna Kendrick as June. Kevin Kline as Herbie. Done.
Claudia Draper, that's a load of crap. "Stefanie Joanne Angelina Germanotta' is embarking on a two year long world tour beginning this summer (she's attempting to break a world record for the tour's duration,) so she's not available any time in the near future, let alone to begin shooting in January.
Babs, Spielberg, and Lady Gaga ... yes, scoffing here.
Can't think of anything worse.
Oh, wait, yes I can ... hire Marvin Hamlisch and the Bergmans to write some "additional songs" for Rose. Then hire Dustin Hoffman as Herbie.
Kevin Kline as Herbie? Hmm...not a bad thought...
Apparently, Dustin Hoffman wanted to play Herbie with Bette Midler back in '93. I actually don't think he'd be too bad in the role, but with their Focker past, it would be a little distracting.
I like the Kevin Kline idea a lot. I can see them having good chemistry together. Maybe even Jeff Bridges??? If he'd ever want to work with Babs again.
I love the suggestion of Jessica Chastain! Probably the most inspired suggestion that I've heard so far. While I think Portman would be able to brilliantly show us the subtle/timid aspects of Louise, and the more sexualized version, Chastain would probably turn in an electrifying performance that could easily match whatever Streisand does. I'm not sure what type of training Chastain has in musical theatre, but in an interview she gave on Movieline right before Oscar nominations were out she said she would love to do a movie musical, this would be perfect for her.
Won't Chastain be on broadway when they're filming?
"Anna Kendrick?
She is pretty, but not glamorous. Has stage and screen credits..."
You took the words right out of my mouth, Returning Member.
Absolutely! An oscar nominee with strong film resume, a Broadway baby, extremely talented, believable in the Cinderella context. potentially totally winning in the transformation. While not exactly known for warmth, that could be an advantage as she could surprise everyone in the role. Couldn't be better.
And I'm very surprised that Playbill omitted her!
Updated On: 3/30/12 at 12:16 PM
Wood was pretty good in the movie, but no one was exactly surprised when she looked in the mirror and said "Mama, I'm pretty. I'm a pretty girl." Ditto with someone like Hathaway.
With someone like Kendrick, who is certainly quite pretty but not known for it - think Gypsy Rose Lee - that moment can be heartbreaking.
I think Anna Kendrick screams June, not Louise. See the movie CAMP for an example of a great performance where she plays a very pushy performer with a hard edge, just like June. I also don't think she's visually striking enough to really emphasize the transformation Louise will have to undergoe on film, where as that could be breathtaking with someone like Chastain.
Jordan Catalano, I imagine THE HEIRESS is going to be a limited engagement for four months or so beginning in the fall, which could line up perfectly with the rumored January start date for GYPSY. It could extend due to demand, obviously, but I would think Chastain's status as arguably the most in demand actress in Hollywood at the moment would necessitate a fairly stritct run.
Featured Actor Joined: 6/14/11
Yes, you are right, the Born This Way Ball. They have "built in" 6 to 8 week breaks for filming. Don't believe, that's fine. BTW, BABS is performing in Brooklyn at the new Arena they are building on Oct. 21 & 22nd, 2012... watch for these annoucments soon. LOVE IS THE ANSWER!
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