That collective sigh you heard earlier today was the reaction of thousands of theater queens worldwide (this one included) reacting to the news that Jake Gyllenhaal is set to star as Joe Hardy in a new movie version of Damn Yankees.
Variety reports that Gyllenhaal will join Jim Carrey (as Mr. Applegate) in a Hollywood remake of the classic Richard Adler and Jerry Ross musical. Apparently, Craig Zadan and Neil Meron ("Chicago," "Hairspray") have been working for a few years on the project, and after numerous machinations have received the greenlight from New Line Cinema. The plan is to get a screenplay draft together (from Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel) before shopping the project around to prospective directors, as well as Lola candidates.
I think it's safe to say at this point that the movie musical genre is officially mainstream again. This has been years in the making, of course, but it's interesting to note that it's no longer news in itself that Hollywood is making musicals. We're back to talking about the individual projects rather than the resurrection of the genre. Of course, that's great, but I think we all know that it's only going to last as long as the projects continue to make money.
On a related note, Rob Marshall's film version of "Nine" will reportedly hit theaters in November. Now, I'm as excited as the next TQ about this movie. (Although I would have been a lot more excited if Javier Bardem had stuck with the project.) And the cast is certainly chockablock with familiar, Oscar-winning faces (Daniel Day Lewis, Judi Dench, Nicole Kidman, Marion Cotillard, Penelope Cruz, Sophia Loren). But is anyone else out there as skeptical as I am about "Nine" and its mainstream appeal? Please don't get me wrong: I *love* this musical. But I have a really hard time conceptualizing its potential audience.
I dunno, not every movie has to attract a huge audience or be popular with everyone. So I think there's hope for "Nine" finding a niche. I've never seen it, never heard the music, so I'm looking forward to it. I have seen "8 1/2" though.
And even though I'm not a Jim Carrey fan, not predisposed to like anything that has to do with the Yankees I do want to see Jake Gyllenhaal.
Posted by: Esther | February 27, 2009 at 07:13 PM
I dunno about the promise of 'yankees'... Jim Carrey has this way of practically making everything he stars in unwatchable to me; it just becomes an extention of the same character and mannerisms (ok, maybe not 'doing time on magnolia drive' but he was young and still somewhat cute then)
On the other hand, now I've got "In a very unusual way" stuck in my head and will be eagerly anticipating Nine in november. ;)
Posted by: Matt | February 28, 2009 at 10:14 PM
But... but... OMG... according to IMDB, Saraghina (aka the one who rocks out "Be Italian") is FERGIE from the black eyed peas.... that could either be wonderful or it could easily destroy the entire piece :(
Posted by: Matt | February 28, 2009 at 10:18 PM
Matt: Carrey sometimes works for me (Eternal Sunshine, The Truman Show) and sometimes doesn't (virtually anything else). So I remain open minded. Plus there's Jakey. Woof. And I repeat, woof.
As for Fergie, I know nothing. The last time I listened to popular music, Pat Benatar still had a career. But I know that, in the recent Nine revival, the Be Italian number was forgettable and the piece still worked overall. Quite well, in fact.
Also, you have a little bit of schmutz on your upper lip...oh, no, wait, it's gone...
Posted by: Chris Caggiano | March 01, 2009 at 12:24 AM