Warner Bros. Puts Jon Favreau’s JERSEY BOYS into Turnaround; Dominic Cooper, Paul Dano, and James Badge Dale Eyed for Roles

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 11/2/12 at 9:47am

Warner Bros. is second-guessing its musical adaptation of Jersey Boys. The Jon Favreau-helmed project had been on track at the studio for a January production start date and Christmas 2013 release, but Variety now reports that WB has put the project into turnaround. The film is based on the smash hit musical and tells the story of The Four Seasons, chronicling the group’s rise in the 1960s with such hits as “Sherry,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry” and “Walk Like a Man.” It’s a whole lot of fun, and having seen the show I’d liken it to a musical version of a lighter Goodfellas.

Per Variety, Warner Bros. apparently wasn’t too high on the film given its limited international appeal (ie. it’s not a gigantic money-maker). Producer Graham King is still shopping the project to studios like 20th Century Fox and Paramount, and he’s set to meet with the latter on Friday to discuss the possibility of setting it up there. Not only does the pic have a name director in Favreau, but it’s got a script by Hugo and Skyfall scribe John Logan.

Though no offers had been made, the cast that Favreau has apparently been eyeing includes Paul Dano, James Badge Dale, John Magaro (Not Fade Away), Dominic Cooper (Captain America), and Vincent Piazza (Boardwalk Empire). That’s one hell of a great ensemble cast, and I could see them knocking the roles out of the park. The story doesn’t shy away from the reality of the profanity-filled streets of New Jersey, and Favreau seems like an excellent choice to bring the story to life given his experience with Swingers. Here’s hoping the project finds a new home.

http://collider.com/jersey-boys-turnaround-paul-dano-james-badge-dale/208066/#more-208066

[Playbilly]

Posted: 11/2/12 at 9:58am

Rock of Ages fallout.

[jo]

Posted: 11/2/12 at 10:07am

Paul Dano has already accepted a very interesting role in a new movie project filming also in early 2013 - PRISONERS, with Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Melissa Leo. The script is among the toprated on the BLACK LIST (best unproduced scritps rated by producers, during the same year that "Social Network" appeared on it).

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/paul-dano-joins-prisoners-with-hugh-jackman-jake-gyllenhaal-20121008

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 11/2/12 at 11:33am

I see this going the way of IN THE HEIGHTS.

[castlestreet]

Posted: 11/2/12 at 12:14pm

I agree with the Rock of Ages fallout- a lot of Studios are going to look to Les Miz before any movie musicals get green lit. Granted, Les Miz is a gigantic property with huge international appeal- but nonetheless a movie musical is a movie musical, and Chicago was the last one to score with both critics and movie goers alike! I would include Mama Mia, but I don't remember how well critics felt about the film besides the usual love fest for Meryl.

[NOB88]

Posted: 11/2/12 at 12:57pm

I never thought ROA was a good idea as a movie (loved the stage show). But I think Shankman really screwed it up (ego, ego, ego). It could had been decent or better with the right person in charge.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 11/2/12 at 1:21pm

Such bullishlt. I hope studios look at how THE EXPENDABLES 2 did before they greenlight any other action movies.

[wickedfan]

Posted: 11/2/12 at 1:25pm

When including worldwide grosses, Phantom of the Opera, Mamma Mia, Hairspray and Sweeney Todd all turned a profit. Only Sweeney Todd received positive reviews from critics, though.

I suppose it was easy for Hollywood to dismiss the box office failures of Rent and The Producers due to a lack of an ensemble of major Hollywood names (ala Chicago, Mamma Mia and Hairspray), and Nine was probably dismissed as being too "artsy" to succeed despite its famous cast (no matter that none of those 3 films were any good. That's immaterial to Hollywood).

Rock of Ages probably seemed like a sure thing to a lot of studios. A successful musical being directed by someone who already had success in the genre, with a great deal of major Hollywood names (including one of the most famous men in the world: Tom Cruise), plus the recognizable songs of the 80's all added up in their heads as a sure fire mega hit. When it not only failed, but actually bombed, it put the movie musical back on life support. It's no wonder Jersey Boys is being put on hold.

If Les Miserables succeeds, or at the very least turns some sort of profit, it will help a great deal to the future of the movie musical and Jersey Boys will probably be put on the fast track.

[inlovewithjerryherman]

Posted: 11/2/12 at 1:32pm

wickedfan, "Hairspray" was a huge success critically.

The success of Les Mis will probably have an effect on what happens with "Jersey Boys" - and "Iron Man 3" as well. If the latter is a smash, it will further justify execs greenlighting a "passion project" for Favreau.

[wickedfan]

Posted: 11/2/12 at 1:44pm

You're right, I stand corrected.

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 11/2/12 at 3:14pm

Jon Favreau isn't directing IRON MAN 3, but he is an exec-producer and co-star.

Jon is an established director, Cowboys & Aliens aside, so I don't think his talents are the problem.

With the Rock of Ages debacle, no big stars attached to help secure crucial international financing, it is really the problem boiled down in the article:

"It’s a whole lot of fun, and having seen the show I’d liken it to a musical version of a lighter Goodfellas."

As great as the show is, the reality is that a lot of people see it again and again because the songs are great songs they know, presented mostly in a straight-forward concert fashion. So they can overlook the fact they're at "a musical." They need a bigger hook to get audiences to see a film version as opposed to the theatrical version. Or the local "golden oldies" tour coming through town.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 11/2/12 at 4:00pm

That would have been a dream cast, Badge Dale is an interesting choice. I guess they were planning on using the 4 Seasons' voices?

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 11/2/12 at 5:38pm

"With the Rock of Ages debacle, no big stars attached to help secure crucial international financing, it is really the problem boiled down in the article:"

Are you saying there were no big stars in Rock of Ages? Tom Cruise, Alec Baldwin, Catherine Zeta Jones?

[Brave Sir Robin2]

Posted: 11/2/12 at 7:10pm

I'll be honest, I'm indifferent. I don't really care for Jersey Bous, but I am still hoping In The Heights pulls through. Any other major movie musicals in development?

[Jon]

Posted: 11/2/12 at 9:18pm

I don't think the success or failure of Les Miz would affect Jersey Boys. Les Miz is a famous title around the world. Are the Four Seasons well known outside the U.S.?

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 11/2/12 at 9:27pm

AEA, I was trying to say that the ROA debacle, and no big stars attached to JB.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 11/3/12 at 12:32am

Here's the problem with turning jukebox musicals into movies-you lose the live aspect which is so crucial.

With Rock of Ages, one of the true joys of it live is seeing these killer power ballads performed live and having singers wail on these songs. It's stunning. The movie, without the live element and all the lipsynching to autotune just has no energy or momentum.

Jersey Boys also is a kinetic event. It's the live performances, essentially a concert, that electrifies audiences. It won't translate on screen with a canned soundtrack. It will read so flat.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 11/3/12 at 2:22am

Exactly Bettyboy72.

[kidbroadway2]

Posted: 11/3/12 at 8:24pm

James Badge Dale was terrific in Flight. Seriously fantastic. I'd love to see him in this.

[darquegk]

Posted: 11/3/12 at 8:43pm

I'd be willing to wager that Jersey Boys as a film would heavily downplay the musical and concert elements of the stage show and focus much more on being a gritty music biopic a la Ray.

A lot less "musical numbers" and more talk and atmosphere. Jersey Boys, even onstage, has a "docu-musical" feel, so I don't think it's fair to compare it to the success or failure of a song-and-dance piece like Rock Of Ages or even Les Mis. Better maybe to put it up against other musical biopics... but then, that genre has slowed to a crawl itself.

[amoni]

Posted: 11/3/12 at 9:27pm

Pssst, once Favreau is detached, it'll be on track again.