THE COLOR PURPLE Movie Musical - News & Discussion Thread — Page 8

Brooks should have won the Tony. I was never the biggest fan of Cynthia on Broadway, it was scenery chewing 101 for me, but Im hoping they can get a screen worthy performance out of Fantasia. I loved her on Broadway, but it was very stagey. Looking forward to this!!

everythingtaboo said: "BritCrit said: "At the very least, it will allow her to avoid Mena Massoud syndrome (Headlining a Disney Live-action remake, the vanishing into obscurity for months after it gets released)."

Mena was very candid in a 2019 interview about his life post-Aladdin:

“It’s wild to a lot of people,” he says. “People have these ideas in their head. It’s like, I'm sitting here being like, OK, Aladdin just hit $1 billion. Can I at least get an audition? Like I’m not expecting you to be like, here’s Batman. But can I just get in the room? Like, can you just give me a chance? So it’s not always what you think.”

“I’m usually the wild card.”

“There’s always a wild card or two when you’re casting,” he says. “I’m usually the wild card. In a room of Caucasian guys, a director might be like, OK, let’s see, like, two guys who aren’t. And maybe they’ll be the wild card choice.”"

I was perfectly aware of this when making my comment, and it's certainly pretty depressing that Massoud had to deal with this.* It is also worth noting that Massoud and Bailey are entering the world of blockbusters from different positions (Massoud had only a few minor roles beforehand, whilst Bailey is an RnB rising star who gained three Grammy Nominations in the COVID-19 induced wait for TLM to start shooting), but the basic principle in the same - two relative unknowns headlining a Disney live-action musical and trying to find new roles whilst waiting for it to come out and introduce them to a wide audience. Massoud has since released a vegan cookbook and starred in one of those critic-proof Netflix romcoms, but his plight is still incredibly frustrating...



* - Yes, 2019 Aladdin wasn't the most exciting movie, but Massoud's failure to get cast feels inexplicable, especailly as "Hot Jafar" Marwen Kenzari continued to get roles in blockbuster movies despite his performance being seen as one of the worst bits of that film...

I recall just hearing then it was down to the two of them. Not sure of the timeline. And Jamie Foxx really wanted Fantasia, I recall reading.

Excuse me while I pick up my jaw, as it has hit the floor with news of this casting.

WOW!

I am SO IN.

Take aaaaallllll my money....

I’m so stoked! This feels like a fantasy fan casting come true in the best way. And how cool that we have a cast with representatives from the original Broadway run, the Broadway revival, the recording industry, and the film industry in this movie. It really feels like an all-star event to me now. Plus everyone can actually sing!

I’m also so excited for Fantasia. It’s so heartwarming to see her get this opportunity after so many ups and downs and false starts in her career. I’m definitely someone who’s always been curious about what her Effie could have been. I remember Oprah talking about wanting to make this movie with her back around when she was doing the role onstage, but that idea seemed to fade as years passed and Erivo fever hit.

I was chatting with a friend about Taraji P. Henson as Shug, and she told me to watch a clip of her on the new Jimmy Fallon show, That's My Jam. I had my doubts about the casting, but this silly performance has changed my mind:

TaffyDavenport said: "I was chatting with a friend about Taraji P. Henson as Shug, and she told me to watch a clip of her on the new Jimmy Fallon show, That's My Jam.I had my doubts about the casting, but this silly performance has changed my mind:

"

Wow. I love the idea of Andra Day. That would've been phenomenal. That being said, Taraji is going to blow this part out of the water.

Cynthia Erivo posted her congratulations on her Instagram. Very classy of her.

i also really hope that this movie has live singing in it

does anyone know if cynthia erivo auditioned for this movie?

teddy1996 said: "does anyone know if cynthia erivo auditioned for this movie?"

This film adaptation is happening after Cynthia’s film career has been somewhat solidified - she’s a 2 time Academy Award nominee, one being as Best Actress, so no… she did not audition for a role she has already played on Broadway and for which she won a Tony Award for. I’m sure she was offered the role in the film and we can speculate why she declined. It could be a number of reasons: the film adaptation of WICKED is in production at the same time and she chose to do WICKED instead? Didn’t want to revisit a role she’s already played? Met with the director and didn’t groove with him? They couldn’t negotiate a suitable salary? Could be many things.