dreamgirls the big screen adaption — Page 4

As most of you already know, Sheryl Lee Ralph played Deena in the original production. The story is loosely based on Diana Ross & The Supremes. None of the girls in the original production were light-skinned and none of the chicks in the Supremes were either (until Cindy Birdsong came along). Let's face it. A girl group with a light-skinned member in the '60s would not have a hard time selling themselves to the general public. The point of the story is these 3 black women overcoming the odds to become pop sensations. In this day and age, light-skinned women are more accepted by the mainstream. And Beyonce is still not a box-office draw a la Whitney Houston or Barbra Streisand. What movie has Beyonce carried without a big name male co-star?

Beyonce as Deena would be the biggest mistake since Ross in The Wiz.

And the producers have already said they intend to cast a name male star as the lead. Keep Beyonce out of this production.

Updated On: 1/12/05 at 02:40 PM

Mr. Silent,
I know where you are coming from trust me but we have to bring out the big guns for this one. I just don't want this project to turn out like the 1995 made-for-TV flick 'Divas' written by Thomas Carter & Kario Salem. One of the lead actresses was the then up-and-coming Nicole Ari Parker. See http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0112875/combined for details. Word on the street is that Christina Milian has some designs on the part of Deena on screen as well. This should be interesting.

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Again, I will suggest
Taye Diggs for Curtis
& Jamie Foxx for James...
and casting Beyonce is not a mistake. The show is based on the Supremes, but is not an Actual true story (if it were, they would have used real names.) Beyonce is perfect for Deena because she is light skinned and has blonde hair. She appeals to the white audiences today just as she would have in the sixties. Their smartest move would be to get her, because non-theatre-goers would attend this film, and make it the next best thing to Chicago. Wether or not people don't see her as Deena is not the issue when transporting a musical to a movie. Producers want money. It's really not a bad casting choice either. And by the way, Diana Ross is light skinned compared to Mary Wells. Diana was the lightest of the three.
Keep in mind, people, that Broadway actors are not huge box-office draws, unless they have created a name for themselves in movies (i.e. Nathan Lane or Rent, which has Taye, Jesse, and Rosario Dawson as their big names). A Lot of people mentioned so far in this thread are unknowns to the mainstream audience. And unless they get bigger stars for the other parts, those few don't have a chance. Honestly, who will see Dreamgirls with unknowns? (and I'm not talking about the loyal Broadway folk on this website)

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Beyonce is a wonderful choice for Deena. I'm repeating everyone here, but it's true. She's beautiful, has that very easy going, smooth voice and a very nice range, would be a good if not great box office draw and with the direction of Bill Condon can truly give out some nice acting. As for Effie, whether she's fat or thin, ugly or rather pretty, I just want her to be able to sing the hell out of "And I'm Telling you, I'm not Going."

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Silent -
In Goldmember, the focus was on Austin Powers. Beyonce did not take that focus away.

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In this type of production, the claws will be out. I'm one of the few people who hasn't fallen for Saint Beyonce's act for one minute. If Beyonce is to be in this movie, you might as well sign up Toni Braxton for the movie version of AIDA.

Silent, are you secretly one of those girls Destiny's Child dumped? Which one are you...Latavia? Latoya?...Farrah?


Lemme put it like this, if anybody else plays Deena everybody in the movie will be thinking that Beyonce should have played that role. She has it all! The sex appeal and she's a great performer. People keep saying Effie is the plum role, but Deena is a very nice part to play. She has a lot to sing and she can definitly steal the show if the Effie isn't up to par. Deena vs Effie is just Style vs Substance. Beyonce definitly holds the style bar higher than anybody else out there right now.

Still, I doubt she will except the role. Her people might think that it's too close to what happened with her in Destiny's Child.


Another good Deena would've been Aaliyah (R.I.P) She had a great falsetto that would've been really nice on Deena's songs. Sheryl Lee Ralph even said in an interview that Aaliyah would've been her choice.

Quote: Why not sign Beyonce up for the movie version of Aida?

RED FLAG!!!

Answer: Because neither of Destiny's children has the chops for the role, not even Beyonce. Beyonce has a high, whiny, at times shrill voice. The range was not there for AIDA's singing parts, acting notwithstanding. The young lady has some skill but she is not suited for every artistic endeavour. We don't even want to revisit Michelle's attempt at the part. Thank goodness Deborah Cox came on board when she did to save that sinking ship. Granted, AIDA was on its last leg when Deborah assumed the titular role, but were it not for her herculean effort that show would have been completely discredited when it closed.

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Updated On: 1/12/05 at 05:30 PM

Beyonce said she would not play Deena because the role is too close to home for her and TheTruth you know that.

This movie has been off and on for 19 years i will believe it when they shot the 1st day.
If anyone remembers in 97 the last attempt to make this movie they were a day away from filming in Harlem and they got shut down.

I really dont see this film doing big things but im happy they are trying again.

Gabrielle Union said on BET's 106 n Park that she will or wanted to play Deena also.

Deborah Cox has a very strong hard look about her...Perfect for Aida, not for Deena. Plus, she wasn't even believable as a superstar in her own career so what makes you think we're gonna by that on screen.


Ghetto, you know Beyonce didn't say that...And Gabrielle can't sing.

Light skin - dark skin - for the record - Diana Ross is far from light skin. All 3 supremes were dark skin black girls.

This is not the 60s. Black skin is a box office draw. There are many black faces on broadway doing very well.

Diana Ross is not dark-skinned.