Weinstein in Secret negotiations with Morrison

[downhillskier]

I hope the rumor is only that, an incorrect rumor. Jeremy is wonderful in Finding Neverland. I admit I did not like the character he portrayed in Smash. That is long forgotten after watching the fantastic performance he gives in FN. He gives his all to a huge part that is physically demanding, as well as requiring tremendous acting, singing and dance ability. He deserves to take it to Broadway. I've never found Morrison interesting or appealing on Glee. I personally don't see him as a draw.

[Play Esq.]

Should the rumors prove true, is now a good time to ask that a shirtless scene be added to the script? :-P

He may not be the most interesting actor on the block...but he's still damn hot.

[DAME]

Really? I find him odd looking.

[CATSNYrevival]

^This. Morrison is only a draw for the tween moms with a teacher fetish.

[Princeton Returns]

Good body but rest doesn't do much for me

[dreaming]

I really liked Morrison in South Pacific and think he's better suited for the role than Jordan (IMO, he's the 'bland actor'). He's more mature and I prefer his acting.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Not quite. Jeremy Jordan was the Tony nominated star of Newsies. Despite its closing, Newsies has a pretty huge fan base.

Only on BWW would someone think of NEWSIES as a higher profile gig than being a regular on a network show, especially one specifically targeted to Broadway audiences.
Oh, I'm so with you, DAME. I find Morrison kind of creepy looking in a sort of lame, child molester kind of way...probably not who you'd want for J.M Barrie. I do love his voice on THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA album, but that's because I don't have to see him and the gorgeous voice of Kelli O'Hara's Clara would probably make anyone sound good.

[Mattbrain]

I'll bet dollars to donuts that Weinstein will issue a statement on the matter.

And as much as i hate to agree with DAME….yeah, I don't like the idea of Morrison in the role either.

[CATSNYrevival]

Of course he will. It's been established that he's not a fan of Riedel. Although, who is?

[Princeton Returns]

Is Matthew Morrison the person known in the states, or is he 'that guy from glee'? Because that's the other issue, his career really hasn't taken off outside glee and will seeing his name alone on a poster mean anything to anyone?

[dreaming]

I think Morrison is very well known, and frankly, I'm guessing that "the guy from Glee" will be enough of a title to get him recognized.

[CATSNYrevival]

Maybe they'll call him Glee's Mathew Morrison and he can be on the poster next to tinker bell with his hand in the shape of an L.

[RippedMan]

Weren't people saying Jordan was too young for the role? Makes sense if he's a stand-in. I doubt either way that this show will suffer or be a success depending on the leading man. It's going to be a tough draw either way. It didn't get the best reviews.

[Princeton Returns]

I think the shows biggest problem is its source material. It just isn't a family entertainment spectacle, and that's what they seem to want to change it into

[dreaming]

RippedMan-I still think they should give it another out of town workshop run-maybe with Morrison (he has yet to do the music from this team as I understand it) and open next season. I guess Harvey hasn't figured out you can't rush something to Broadway.

[RippedMan]

Agreed. Vocals: Jordan wins hands down. Morrison is a very bland leading man type. He was perfect for South Pacific because there's nothing challenging about the role and he wasn't carrying the show. I'm just not sure he has the "spark" that would make people want to come see the show. The whole show reeks of blandness, so to put such a boring leading man in the role... I don't know. Doesn't excite me.

[bwayrose7]

Add me to the Jordan camp: much more charisma, better looking, and seems to have a better knack for character. I'll admit, the only time I found his Smash character bearable was when he sang, but when he did, it was beautiful. And if we're saying that an unlikeable TV character is Jordan's problem, well, Mr. Schue hasn't been likable since Season 1, he's just kind of been creepy. Really hoping this isn't true.

[thebeautyis3]

It's funny to me that everyone here is calling Morrison a bland leading man type, when that is exactly how I describe Jordan to others. At least Morrison is somewhat more age appropriate for the role (granted, I think the whole production's representation of Barrie is misguided).

Morrison has done the music for this incarnation, I believe. He did a workshop less than two months before the show went to ART, so unless they rewrote the whole score... Also, he nominated Mia Michaels and Gary Barlow (I believe) for the ice bucket challenge and bought a new apartment in NYC. Which does imply he's still attached in some manner to the production.

He is definitely more of a draw than Jordan. If I polled my students, I would say at least half would know who Morrison was, where as I would be lucky if any of them knew of Jordan. My mother and several of her friends know "that guy from Glee," if not his name. So between the two... I think that Morrison stands more of a chance of drawing in the family tourist crowd (which seems to be what Harvey is aiming for) than Jordan.

[DAME]

"And as much as i hate to agree with DAME….yeah, I don't like the idea of Morrison in the role either. "

Excuse me. But have we spoken before?

[RippedMan]

I wouldn't say Jordan is not-bland - at least compared to say to someone like James Corden - but in Bonnie and Clyde and A Bed and A Room I found him to be watchable. Morrison is just like milk toast.

[ShakinBaconGirl]

I really hope Jeremy stays in. Besides being gorgeous and having voice that can't be matched, he was the best thing about the show when I saw it.

And I'm sorry but no one knows who Mathew Morrison is. They know "that guy from glee?" but that's about it.

[Sunny11]

I am team Morrison all the way. Disagree that he lacks charisma and acting chops. I remember when on Glee his character discovered that his wife was faking a pregnacy and he blew up, I couldnt keep my eyes off him, very well done. His singing voice is also lovely, his performance of Dannys Song was really sweet.

Morrison took part in the workshop earlier this year and the director out right said that the reason that he was not going to be in the preview was because it clashed with Glee. It sounds like they idealy wanted him to continue the role based on his performace in the workshop. IF he gets the broadway opening then I cant hold it against him that he didnt do the preview since he was honoring a longstanding committment to another project.

[thebeautyis3]

My point was that people at least know of "that guy from Glee." If I said "that guy from Smash" to someone outside of New York, I am certain I would be met with blank stares. Morrison is definitely more marketable to tourists than Jordan is.

[RippedMan]

We can debate it all we want, but the show is the star. Her direction is the star. It's not the leading man. They want someone serviceable, so I think either is a fine choice. They're not trying to reinvent the wheel. Look at her Pippin, the people were very "Broadway" style acting.

[ShakinBaconGirl]

To me, Morrison makes more sense in this role, but I really fell in love with what Jordan did. I also really doubt this show needs a marketable lead.

[valeposh]

In today's day and age, with shows closing left and right, I can't really blame producers for wanting a "marketable" lead. Look at If/Then. It'd have never made it through the summer without the pull of Idina. Granted, Morrison hasn't a smash hit on Frozen, but he's still more widely known than Jordan.