Russell Crowe Considering Sweeney Todd Movie- Page 2

[EponineThenardier]

Posted: 3/31/05 at 1:46pm

Ooooooh! If it is Russell Crowe then I'm gonna be really happy. Talk about bringing amazing sex appeal to the role.

I agree with what someone said earlier. Crowe is the sort of actor that if he can't do it perfectly then he likely won't do it at all. I think Kevin Kline would be a good backup for the role.

Julie Walters should be Mrs. Lovett!!!

[Plum]

Posted: 3/31/05 at 1:48pm

I thought Mendes was attached to direct until I read the Playbill article, which says he hasn't confirmed he'll do it, just that his production company is in charge of it. IMDB and Playbill have both been wrong, but to simplify things I'll say, okay- Mendes will direct. It doesn't change the fact the he takes his sweet time in between films, and right now he's doing Jarhead.

The article likewise says that John Logan is on board to write- can you provide a link to where it says the screenplay is finished, because I hadn't heard that.

I realize I sound like a horrible, sour little cynic here, but look at movie development of any kind and you'll see why I'm skeptical. How many years did projects like Rent and The Phantom of the Opera take to get off the ground?

[EponineThenardier]

Posted: 3/31/05 at 1:51pm

Mendes had better do it. I think he's one of the few who really do it justice. A movie musical with a good director *gasps*


Other casting:

Anthony: Heath Ledger (can sing)
Johanna: Anne Hathaway (has her name written all over the part now)
Tobias: Jamie Bell (come on! Cast him!)

[Plum]

Posted: 3/31/05 at 1:54pm

I think Heath Ledger is pretty limited as an actor. But then again, Anthony isn't the most challenging of parts, and the show isn't really about him, so I guess I wouldn't scream if he were cast. As long as he can sing- and I mean really sing. "Johanna" is too gorgeous a song to be ruined for star power.

[robbiej]

Posted: 3/31/05 at 1:56pm

'(who apparently is a glorious singer)'

Apparently??? And Thompson 'apparently' did musicals in college?

Now...I know ordinary mortals don't necessarily know these things, but COME ON people!

There's no apparently about it. It's documented on film and on vinyl!

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 3/31/05 at 2:26pm

Plum --

I work in the film business, so my knowledge of the script comes from people I know who work with John Logan, but as others can perhaps confirm, Sondheim also mentioned at WALL to WALL that the script is finished.

Heath Ledger by the way has a great singing voice, though I think he and Anne Hathaway might both be a little old for those roles, especially if they cast as young as Crowe and Collette. Joanna is probably 15 or 16 tops, and Anthony is probably 19 or 20.

Hathaway would also look terrible as a blond. My two cents

[MagicToDo82]

Posted: 3/31/05 at 2:37pm

Though I was rooting for John C. Reilly or Kevin Kline, I'm totally willing to give Russell a Chance...and Emma Thompson is a brilliant idea.:)

[buffyactsing]

Posted: 3/31/05 at 3:58pm

I can't think of anyone better (with star power) overall than Meryl Streep one of the best actress, and a really good singer (she was originally going to study voice at one point, but switched to theater). Plus, I think she can give a really good spin on Mrs. Lovett. (I like Angela Lansbury, but didn't like her over-the-top portrayal. Mrs Lovett of course needs to be bigger than life, but Ms. Lansbury, IMO, got cartoony at parts.)

[FabalaCohen]

Posted: 3/31/05 at 4:05pm

"Heath Ledger by the way has a great singing voice, though I think he and Anne Hathaway might both be a little old for those roles, especially if they cast as young as Crowe and Collette. Joanna is probably 15 or 16 tops, and Anthony is probably 19 or 20."

Anne Hathaway could probably pull off 15/16. I'd love to see her do this.

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 3/31/05 at 4:09pm

I have immense respect for Crowe as an actor, and I have no doubt that he would act the role marvelously.
If he can sing it is another matter.

And did someone actually say Nicole Kidman for Mrs. Lovett?
If that were true, I might actually have to stab myself in the eye.

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 3/31/05 at 4:14pm

John C. Reilly would make a HORRIFIC Sweeney. He's a great Amos...but he is NO Sweeney.

[Bal]

Posted: 3/31/05 at 4:16pm

Why couldn't Doogie Patrick Harris be Toby? He's a name..

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 3/31/05 at 4:30pm

I don't know a lot of things about the John Logan script -- but one of the things I do know is that Tobias in the script (as it is right now) is a child. Neil Patrick Harris and some of the others people have suggested, wouldn't work with the way the character is written at the moment.

[Plum]

Posted: 3/31/05 at 4:44pm

If we're going to have a relatively unknown theater actor as Sweeney, I've always been intrigued by the idea of Shuler Hensley doing the role. But there's no way on Earth that's happening, obviously. :)

Michael Bennet, thank you for the information on the script. I remain skeptical until there's at least some kind of timetable and quotes from Mendes on what he's doing, though. This whole story, as I said, is based on a horrible source.

And Priest? I'm taking away your scissors.

[Theatreboy49]

Posted: 3/31/05 at 4:51pm

i would lose faith in that show if crowe does it. If they do a movie I want real broadway actors. I must say Brian Stokes Mitchell was one of the best Ive ever seen. Id also love for Len Cariou or George Hearn in a supposting role (they wouldnt be cast as Sweeney, it is someone elses turn)

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 3/31/05 at 5:13pm

Yes, I agree that it's encouraging that the script is finished (and supposedly brilliant -- though I know it trims a fair number of tunes from it, and ads two -- but no surprise there).

But this film could easily be shelved if familiar properties like RENT and THE PRODUCERS fail to be at least artistic successes. A film of SWEENEY couldn't be cheap to make.

[wildcat]

Posted: 3/31/05 at 11:30pm

Just to correct an earlier post on this thread, Russell Crowe has never appeared in GREASE in Australia. He toured in ROCKY HORROR as Eddie/Dr. Scott, and was fired midway through the Sydney season of BLOOD BROTHERS for Daniel Davis-like behaviour.

[Thenardier]

Posted: 4/1/05 at 1:05am

Angela isn't too old yet....

[Chrysanthemum62001]

Posted: 4/1/05 at 1:08am

Oh my. I just. I'm puzzled.

[Amanda2]

Posted: 4/1/05 at 2:43am

It says in the old Rocky Horror program bio for Russ that he performed in the stage musical Grease in 1983. He also subbed a few times for the guy playing Frankenfurter and did pretty well from what I've heard.

[wildcat]

Posted: 4/1/05 at 9:42am

Maybe he did GREASE in New Zealand. The only productions of GREASE produced in Australia were in 1970 and later in the '90s starring Guy Pearce.
Yes, I heard he went on as Frank in the ROCKY HORROR tour and was quite good.

[MATheaterLover]

Posted: 4/1/05 at 9:57am

In terms of movie musicals being stuck in production hell (Phantom, Chicago, Rent), Sweeney Todd has been up there all along as well. A number of years ago, Tim Burton was set to direct a film version. I think this production has been getting alot of publicity, and with a screenplay in the bag and Sondheim seeming to be very positive about it, I think it'll finally see the light of day.

I would love to see Jamie Bell as Tobias! I've been saying that from the beginning.

I'd rather see Jake Gyllenhaal for Anthony over Heath Ledger. He apparently can sing quite well also, and I think he's got more acting range and is a bit more youthful than Ledger.

[MissMonika]

Posted: 4/1/05 at 10:00am

alritey. i totally thought this was a joke but apparently not. i know he could pull off the acting but i hope he can pull off the singing.

[WISHIHADATONY]

Posted: 4/1/05 at 10:51am

Sticktopriest--wait and watch the news. Apparently, there are negotiations underway with the folks who represent Nicole Kidman and those who represent Meryl Streep.

Some of the powerbrokers behind this film want KIDMAN because they consider her ALMOST ASSURED box office. Additionally, they feel it will be much easier finalizing negotiations with Mr. Crowe if they sign Ms. Kidman to play Mrs. Lovett. Apparently, Crowe and Kidman have been friends for over 20 years and have wanted to do a project together for a long time. It is my understanding the "Kidman camp" thinks this project IDEAL for Nicole. They point out that she had to withdraw from the film version of THE PRODUCERS because the PRODUCERS changed shooting schedules that interfered with other projects Kidman was already contracted to. Apparently, Nicole Kidman is "dieing" to do a "real film musical" after her taste of MOULIN ROUGE. Also, those in her camp say this woman's talents have no boundaries and point out she can sing and perform Mrs. Lovett in a way that will astonish us. Some of Ms. Kidman's representatives were a bit hesitant about Nicole playing Ulla in THE PRODUCERS film to begin with; they simply felt the part was too small for an Oscar winning star of her current stature. They feel Mrs. Lovett is perfect for her to show EVERYTHING she can do. They have said this will be another chance to do a character "from inside out," similar to the way she performed her Oscar winning role in THE HOURS.

Ms. Kidman and her people want the world to see that the same actress who is about to be on the big screen as Samantha in BEWITCHED can morph into a "Dickensian like singing witch" as Mrs. Lovett in SWEENEY TODD.

I heard them compare Nicole Kidman appearing as Mrs. Lovett to the fact that Angela Lansbury created the part of the glamorous madcap MAME on Broadway and years later "totally morphed" and indeed could have seemed to be a different performer when she played the outrageously grotesque and bufoonish part of Mrs. Lovett.

Having said that, there are some very powerful people behind this production who realize Kidman's talent AND her current "box office certainty." But, they are said to find the thought of Hollywood's former reigning queen, Meryl Streep as Mrs. Lovett, virtually impossible to resist.

I have been told Meryl Streep WANTS this part much more than Ms. Kidman does. Kidman wants to do the part, she wants to work with Crowe and wants to do a full out musical. However, she does not have the passionate desire to play the part that Ms. Streep apparently has.

The "smart money" is telling me that Meryl Streep is about to sign for the film. Many years ago Carol Burnett said that you have to be good enough for a part but you also have to "want it with a passion" in order to pull out all the stops to "get" the part against the competition.

Ms. Streep has made it clear that she wants to be Mrs. Lovett onscreen.

Watch for "signing" news within the next ten days. :)

Updated On: 4/1/05 at 10:51 AM

[wildcat]

Posted: 4/1/05 at 11:13am

The project that Nicole Kidman dropped out of THE PRODUCERS for was, in fact, a film in Australia called EUCALYPTUS...co-starring and executive produced by Russell Crowe. This project became front page news in Australia recently when Crowe pulled the plug on it within days of the first reading, supposedly because he was not happy with the size of his role compared to Kidman's. The entire schmozzle has ended most acrimoniously, so I very much doubt that Ms. Kidman will be rushing into another film with Mr. Crowe in the immediate future.
Also, I wonder where Ms. Kidman's 'people' have seen evidence of Ms. Kidman's hidden musical theatre skills, as she has never revealed them anywhere other than the set of MOULIN ROUGE where her vocals, according to the music department on the film, were put together over a matter of months, a la Vanessa Redgrave in CAMELOT. At least Meryl Streep has actually done musicals onstage in the past. Nicole has no musical theatre experience whatsoever, nor has she ever played a role remotely like Mrs. Lovett.