Alison Pill was rumored to be playing Carole in GIRLS LIKE US before it fell apart. The smartest choice would be to use the actual music and have someone like her star.
Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
Now that it's been officially announced, how about we discuss who should direct the film? I'm curious to hear your opinions on who you think would be a good choice. My personal choice is Ron Howard.
I would love to see Jessica Chastain as Carole King. I think she'd be a knock out in the role though I know she is older than the part probably requires.
"Some people can thrive and bloom living life in a living room, that's perfect for some people of one hundred and five. But I at least gotta try, when I think of all the sights that I gotta see, all the places I gotta play, all the things that I gotta be at"
Jessie should play the role on film because nobody knows the part better than her!! She is a brilliant actress, plus isn't she starring with Barbra in the Gypsy movie?
I honestly feel Anna Kendrick could and probably will play either part. She kinda fits both in a way. I don't think she's the best, but I wouldn't be closed to that. But I'd much rather have Jessie as Carole.
Jessica Chastain would be fantastic if she could sing it or if they used the original Carole tracks. If not, I'd love to see Jessie Mueller reprise her role.
What about someone out of the box, like Drew Barrymore? Can she sing? I feel like she could be a great Carole.
"I saw Pavarotti play Rodolfo on stage and with his girth I thought he was about to eat the whole table at the Cafe Momus." - Dollypop
Anna Kendrick could not look less like Carole King. And while Jessica Chastain is an incredible actress, she's almost 40. Considering the story focuses Carole's life from her late teens to her late 20s, Chastain's not at all an appropriate choice.
If they end up going with an A-list star, my money's on Emma Stone. She has the edge, a unique look, King's signature raspiness, is a hugely bankable name, and is clearly musically-inclined (though using her would involve using King's actual vocal tracks.)
Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
I don't think Anna Kendrick looks less than Carole King than Emma Stone. I agree Stone seems more of a Weill but she's just great, I'm sure she'd be magnetic as King. I personally wouldn't mind a Kendrick/Stone as King/Weill pairing. This is one of the few instances where going with the original performer would make sense, it'd be awesome if Mueller was cast and they surrounded her with stars like Stone. Who would be a good director? Bill Condon would be a good fit since he did an impressive job with the stage numbers on DREAMGIRLS (and wouldn't have to worry about filming book songs) but he's gonna be busy with BEAUTY & THE BEAST. Would Hanks give this to his MAMMA MIA director Phyllida Lloyd?
"Some people can thrive and bloom living life in a living room, that's perfect for some people of one hundred and five. But I at least gotta try, when I think of all the sights that I gotta see, all the places I gotta play, all the things that I gotta be at"
Tom Hanks did such a good job mining similar territory when he directed THAT THING YOU DO! that I almost wouldn't mind seeing him direct the movie himself. I imagine at the very least he'll end up playing Don Kirshner.
Depending on when it happens, I also wouldn't be surprised if Sony isn't already making overtures to Jennifer Lawrence to star.
Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
If Sara Bareilles can act at all, it would be wonderful to hear her singing Carole's hits. Obviously Jessie Mueller would be even better, but they'll probably go the Anna Kendrick route.
"Contentment, it seems, simply happens. It appears accompanied by no bravos and no tears."
As perfectly cast as she was in all her musical projects lately, I can't imagine Anna Kendrick (who has been very vocal about taking a break from musicals) taking on this project--even though I think she'd be genius in the part and the project is sure to be a hot property. I also thought about Jennifer Lawrence, there's something about her natural charisma that makes me have a hard time seeing her as the shy, insecure King from Act I. Still, she's one of the best of her generation and she has a history with Sony. Amanda Seyfried, whom Hanks and Rita Wilson cast in MAMMA MIA, also comes to mind as someone they'll be interested in seeing for the part. Somethingwicked, I never thought about Tom Hanks directing. He'd sure make for a great Kirshner.
"Some people can thrive and bloom living life in a living room, that's perfect for some people of one hundred and five. But I at least gotta try, when I think of all the sights that I gotta see, all the places I gotta play, all the things that I gotta be at"
I think Seyfried would be better as Cynthia Weil rather than Carole King. Im not sure who could play either Gerry Goffin or Barry Mann.
I wonder how they'll adapt it because I think the scenes with the various artists like the Driters, Shirelles etc towards the end of Act 1 wouldn't work as well on screen as they just about do in stage.
"I wonder how they'll adapt it because I think the scenes with the various artists like the Drifters, Shirelles etc towards the end of Act 1 wouldn't work as well on screen as they just about do in stage."