Michelle Pfeiffer MUST Be Phyllis In The FOLLIES Film

[qolbinau]

Kelli is far too young. She won’t read 49 in 1971, which is not 49 in 2019. I want to see her in the role but not yet. The stakes of the show don’t seem very high if she is still young and beautiful enough to ‘Move On’, no pun intended.

[broadwaybabywannabe2]

Bettyboy72 said: "With all the delicious names being tossed around we will probably all be saddened when they trot out the awards bait cast-Streep, Dench, Bening, Hawn, Mirren, Keaton, Zeta-Jones and the like."

sorry no sad tears here for this cast list if it is the actual cast...I MEAN MY GOD!!.

[devonian.t]

Definitely Goldie Hawn somewhere in this cast.

And Bebe.

[Mrs Mangel]

Is Leslie Caron still performing? There's Solange, right there.

[1971FolliesFan]

Needless to say, and Jordan said it already, but the notion of casting Dame Lansbury for this shouldn't even be a question. And if it is, here is the answer in the first 45 seconds: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxJOqmxqKQk

As a side note, I do hope that the style will be more conceptual, as was the original Broadway production, than a strait-laced look. In other words, there should be suggestions of theatre areas, but no clear representation of setting; perhaps Fosse-esque lighting and camerawork. 

[ljay889]

Zellweger is the ideal Sally, in terms of age and fragility, but I can’t imagine how they’d get her to sing those songs. Well, I guess they could give her the Staunton key of “Too Many Mornings.”

[LovesBway!]

singer234 said: "Renee Zellweger could be an interesting Sally."

 

/

Interesting as in bad?

[Brave Sir Robin2]

I wonder if she’d read too you’d, but I’d love Audra McDonald as Sally. Give her a chance at that Oscar for her EGOT, and give her a bigger Hollywood break outside of her television work.

Hugh Jackman would be a perfect Ben, and I’d love to see Vanessa Williams as Phyllis.

Jenifer Lewis as Hattie or Stella would be a HOOT. Maybe try and get Patti for Carlotta, give her a big Hollywood moment?

[jimmycurry01]

Brave Sir Robin2 said: "I wonder if she’d read too you’d, but I’d love Audra McDonald as Sally. Give her a chance at that Oscar for her EGOT, and give her a bigger Hollywood break outside of her television work.

Hugh Jackman would be a perfect Ben, and I’d love to see Vanessa Williams as Phyllis.

Jenifer Lewis as Hattie or Stella would be a HOOT. Maybe try and get Patti for Carlotta, give her a big Hollywood moment?"

Rarely is a movie musical a big Hollywood moment, these days. We have had more misses in the past two decades than we have had hits.

With two British production companies behind this, it will be very interesting to see what direction they go in terms of casting the film.

[Jarethan]

I want to second the person who suggested Leslie Caron for Solange.  It would be criminal if she is up to it and, wants to do it, and does not get the role.  Re Lansbury, I don't think she is an ideal fit, but -- if she is up to it -- she could do Broadway Baby (she clearly could belt in the past, and she has always been a GREAT actress, needed to put over the brassiness).  Her age would also add a whole other level of pathos.

I am a big Michelle Pfeiffer fan, but she may be too old for the role -- I think of Phyllis as being late 40s; it will probably depend on whether they try to go for a male star (like Jackman) for Ben, i.e., is Phyllis hired first or second?  I think Renee Zellweger and Catherine Zeta Jones would be serious candidates for Phyllis if they try for someone with movie name recognition.  I also think Zellweger would be a good Sally...she does frailty very well.  Maybe we will have a repeat of the Chicago leads.  

I do like the idea of Audra for Sally, with a humungous BUT.  If the movie takes place in the time-span for the original Follies. a white Ben and a Black Sally would never have been viable, especially given Ben's career drive.  I think it is easier to be color blind on stage than on film...I don't think the authors intended the show to be about inter-racial relationships the 40s through 60s.

I would love to see Patti Lupone as Carlotta.  I don't think anyone would be as good as her.  Carlotta can be any age (I can't remember if she is in Who's That Woman, but she could easily be excluded in order  allow her to be older.

It would be great if they could cast a real dancer to lead Who's That Woman; since she was supposed to be in the Follies around the same time as Phyllis and Sally, she would probably need to be in her 50s.  

 

 

 

[laurensambrose]

A friend of mine suggested if he can sing, it would be amazing to see Daniel Day Lewis come out of retirement to play Ben Stone

[AEA AGMA SM]

laurensambrose said: "A friend of mine suggested if he can sing, it would be amazing to see Daniel Day Lewis come out of retirement to play Ben Stone"

I hope not. He sucked all the charm out of Guido Contini in Nine. I have no desire to hear him mutter and stammer his way through a Sondheim score.

[QueenAlice]

Just wanted to note for posterity that many of the people involved with the producing of the planned FOLLIES film (BBC films) were also involved with the film JUDY and I would be quite surprised if Renee Zelwegger isn't being considered for Sally.  As far as film is concerned, she is pretty ideal casting (and remember even if they cast Renee Fleming, they would likely lower the keys for the songs to make them more conversational - this is the truth with almost every movie musical).

I also suspect, given that this is a British production, that we will see a fair number of UK based actors in this.  I echo most of the suggestions posted here - people like Nicole Kidman and Catherine Zeta Jones will likely be pursued.

I would love to see Michelle Pfeiffer in this but age wise she is likely more appropriate for Carlotta. And she would be fabulous in that part too.

[Jordan Catalano]

Some of Y’all are acting like Pfeiffer is now playing Great Grandmothers and women near death. She’s 61 and looks 10 years younger.

[Jarethan]

Jordan Catalano said: "Some of Y’all are acting like Pfeiffer is now playing Great Grandmothers and women near death. She’s 61 and looks 10 years younger."

She is still a very beautiful woman, but there is no way that she looks 50.  I have been very impressed that she has not gone the artificial route, because she does look her age...a beautiful 61.  Unless they can successfully play with the calendar AND hire a 60ish actor for Ben, I dont think it will work.  Also, that means that Sally and Buddy,and arguably Stella, will need to be older, which might reduce their casting choice.

 

[Valentina3]

You know just because the stage show is written for characters in their 40s/50s doesn't mean the movie has to stick with that. They could always be coming back for a 45-year reunion for all they care. Let's cast whoever the heck we want, as long as they're right voice/look and make up a coherent cast overall.

[QueenAlice]

Well, no, as the show is currently written at least, it has to be set in the 1970s or many of the characters (from the actual era of the Ziegfeld Follies) would be dead and certain plot points regarding time wouldn't be applicable.  I don't particularly have a problem with actors in their 60s playing the four leads, but it would still expressly be that they are playing characters in their 50s. That's again just as the show is written and it would be very hard to change that.  Some of the suggestions on All That Chat (people like Goldie Hawn and Susan Sarandon as Sally and Phyllis are wildly inappropriate age wise at this point though).