Some Interesting RENT Casting Ideas

[wickedfiyeroofoz]

Posted: 3/1/07 at 10:34am

Sorry If you have all seen this before...saw this on www.notstarring.com


Who was considered for the film Rent?


Christina Aguilera

Christina Aguilera was reportedly considered for the role of Mimi.
Actor who got the part: Rosario Dawson


Marc Anthony

At a point when Spike Lee was attached to direct RENT he reportedly considered singer Marc Anthony for the role of Roger.
Actor who got the part: Adam Pascal


Wilson Cruz

Wilson Cruz was reportedly attached to play Angel before Chris Columbus came on board to direct.
Actor who got the part: Wilson Jermaine Heredia


Neil Patrick Harris

Neil Patrick Harris was reportedly attached to play Mark at one point.
Actor who got the part: Anthony Rapp


Beyonce Knowles

At one point, Beyonce was supposedly considered to play Mimi.
Actor who got the part: Rosario Dawson


Spike Lee

Spike Lee was signed on to direct the film, but changed his mind during preproduction.
Actor who got the part: Chris Columbus


Brittany Murphy

When Spike Lee was attached to direct RENT, he tested Brittany Murphy for the role of Mimi. He left the project before it was ever cast. When Chris Columbus signed to direct as a feature film, he recruited the original Broadway stars (with the exception of Daphne Rubin-Vega who was pregnant, and Fredi Walker who agreed herself she had aged too much).
Actor who got the part: Rosario Dawson


Shakira

Shakira was reportedly attached to play Mimi before Chris Columbus came on board to direct.
Actor who got the part: Rosario Dawson


Justin Timberlake

Campaigned heavily to play Roger in the movie version of RENT both to Spike Lee (attached to direct but left the project) and to eventual director Chris Columbus. Dispite his want to play the role, he was never seen as appropriate vocally or in appearance.
Actor who got the part: Adam Pascal


Rikki Lee Travolta

Rikki Lee Travolta was reportedly attached to play Roger at one point.
Actor who got the part: Adam Pascal


Usher

Usher was reportedly considered for the role of Benny when Spike Lee was attached to direct.
Actor who got the part: Taye Diggs


Personally....I think Christina would've been ineteresting as Mimi...most of those are ridiculous though.

[Broadway Bob*]

Posted: 3/1/07 at 10:41am

I would still love to see Neil Patrick Harris as Mark. It's a real shame he never came to Broadway in the show, but only played it on the West Coast. Still hoping, maybe someday...

[trinaaron]

Posted: 3/1/07 at 11:25am

I think it is interesting that you put Rikki Lee Travolta in there. As far as anyone can tell he is AT MOST a local actor in Chicago (I think) who somehow managed through the wonders of computers to attach his name to the Rent movie, as well as the new James Bond film. What makes this so interesting to me is that well respected news sources were including his name in stories about who was in the running to play James Bond. If you google his name you get hundreds of hits, all of which are fake or can be traced back to a fake. Evidence of our wonderful media at work.

[littlechavela2]

Posted: 3/1/07 at 11:29am

the only person out of that group i could see working is usher as benny, singing wise at least. Idk how he acts, tho. Im glad it went to almost all the original cast, because they basically owned those parts

[EdmundOG]

Posted: 3/1/07 at 1:56pm

I can see NPH and Brittany Murphy working. Not Spike Lee, and given my massive hate-on for Chris Columbus, that's saying something.

[LuPonatic]

Posted: 3/1/07 at 2:01pm

Rosie O'Donnell

At one point, Rosie was supposedly considered to play Mimi.
Actor who got the part: Rosario Dawson

[LuPonatic]

Posted: 3/1/07 at 2:03pm

Mickey Rooney

Mickey was reportedly considered for the role of Benny when Spike Lee was attached to direct.
Actor who got the part: Taye Diggs

[LuPonatic]

Posted: 3/1/07 at 2:22pm

No those would be interesting!!!

[MotorTink]

Posted: 3/1/07 at 3:02pm

oh god, not Brittany Murphy. I thought Dawson was mis cast, let alone what Murphy would have been. It's bad enough they cast her as the voice of Tinkerbell in the upcoming movie.

[flutesinger262]

Posted: 3/7/07 at 5:02pm

I thought Brittany Murphy was being considered for Maureen

[ruthiefan_felix]

Posted: 3/7/07 at 5:27pm

I cud imagine how great Christina wud be as Maureen!
Imagine Christina Aguilera and Beyonce (or Mary Blidge... dont ask me y, cuz I loved her rendition of What I Did For Love at the Tonys maybe ~) singing 'Take Me Or Leave Me' !!!!!