Rent on Film

I'm not sure if there are any other threads about this, but the announcement has been made that Rent, the movie, is in pre-production, scheduled to be released during the 2005 holiday season.
I initially thought that the project was very exciting... but once I heard all the rumors and buzz, I was nauseated. Not that I'm one to close my mind toward something before I see it for myself... but really...

-Rent was planned to be a TV movie rather than a feature film
-The movie may not include the original music
-Justin Timberlake, Marc Antony interested in roles

All of the above: strictly rumors. But I know that I am one of many who adore Larson's Rent, and would weep at the thought of it being butchered as a movie. "TV movie" and "Justin Timberlake" just aren't the kinds of things I'd expect, or want, to hear circulating around anything Rent-related.
As I understand it there are a few certainties: no cast has been announced, and the director and co-writer of the script is Chris Columbus. What is going on?! I'm not going to be overly critical of the man, but he has done absolutely nothing that would make me think that he'd be the right guy to direct something like this. Most people wouldn't touch a classic like Rent, and if I had been responsible for Home Alone and Mrs. Doubtfire, I wouldn't either.
I'm wondering if anyone else thinks that this is sounding really sketchy... I want to hear that Baz Luhrman is directing the entire original cast of Rent in the new cinematic adaptaion... not that Chris Columbus is auditioning boy band popstars to play Roger.

There have been several other threads about this, in fact. And most of them show that you are wrong.

Updated On: 10/3/04 at 12:34 PM

This is kind of interesting: when I was at the Chatterbox the week before last, Raul Esparza was speaking a little bit about the RENT movie. Apparently he was somewhat involved back when Spike Lee (oh, the irony....) was going to direct it. I don't remember if he actually had a part, or was being approached, or had auditioned or what, but that's not my point. Anyway, Raul has a pretty commendable way with his words, but the way he described this movie was heart-wrenching. He said that you SAW April's suicide and you SAW Roger in rehab. He said it was very real, and very emotional, and that it FELT like RENT. It was like THIS is the way it was meant to be. Then Seth took a segue into the current status of the film. Neither seemed too enthused. Knowing how it could have been makes me even more angry that when all is said and done, this movie isn't going to be how it should be.

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The screenplay that Raul Esparza described is, in fact, written by the same man (Steve Chbosky) who (with contributions by Chris Columbus) has written the screenplay to be adapted for the winter 2005 film. I read the screenplay written by Chbosky alone and was very, very impressed. It's new parent company is Revolution Studios, and Robert DeNiro, Julie Larson-McCollum, Kevin McCollum and all of the other producers of the Original Broadway production are on board to produce this film. Based on all that I know about it -- which is quite a bit, compared to most people -- this film is headed in the right direction. College students (unknowns) have already been auditioned for key roles such as Mark, Maureen and Joanne...

Filming for a feature-length, theatrical release begins in February 2005.

Also consider that "Home Alone" and "Mrs. Doubtfire" are both 12-15 years back in Columbus' filmography, were successfully made for a family audience, and in no way indicate that Columbus cannot successfully adapt Rent for the big screen. Movie musicals are so rare that if you wanted to find someone to trust to make this movie, you'd have few options besides Rob Marshall and Baz Luhrman (neither of whom have handled material quite this somber and of such contemporary relevance).

Updated On: 10/3/04 at 01:26 PM

Yup, Variety, Playbill and The Advocate all report that Chbosky and Columbus will share the credit for writing the screenplay.

Thanks, Evelyn.
I understand where you're coming from about the capabilities of different directors... I still think that there has to be a happy medium SOMEWHERE between Baz Luhrman and Columbus. I'm a Baz fan, so, in my biased little mind, I have trouble doubting his capabilities.
I'm curious as to how you found Choksby's screenplay. I'd like to read it if it's somehow available.

I love Home Alone and Mrs. Doubtfire.

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