MATILDA movie musical confirmed. - Page 5

[brian1973]

Posted: 1/9/21 at 1:39am

JBroadway said: "brian1973 said: "They are going to struggle to find an actress that’s A List at this late stage.



In what sense is this a "late stage?""

Well it’s due to start shooting in March.. so....

[JBroadway]

Posted: 1/9/21 at 2:20am

I haven’t seen that reported, but I guess I either missed it in one of the articles, or you know this from your undisclosed source.

Either way: I’m not very familiar with the traditional casting timeline, but with only 1 role publicly cast, it seems like if this is a “late stage,” they are in hot water for other reasons aside from Trunchbull. But I guess it will be harder to cast an A-lister last-minute than a less famous actor, which was your point I suppose. 
 

Even so, I don’t necessarily think this film needs to helmed by an A-lister. It’s a very recognizable property being put on Netflix. 

[NOWaWarning]

Posted: 1/9/21 at 3:23am

AEA AGMA SM said: "I don't know if the creatives ever saw or considered Missy Pyle for the stage, but she was the name I would often toss out as someone I could see taking it on. She's never shied away from taking on those types of "grotesque" characters, and at a reported 5'11" would certainly have that stature they were looking for."

Maybe your suggestion is why it was in my head. I agree she’d be stellar. What an underrated powerhouse.

 

[ColorTheHours048]

Posted: 1/9/21 at 7:55am

brian1973 said: "She is dreadful and would be dreadful in this. The comment about Fiennes just repeating his Voldemort is just bizarre and stupid. Are you saying he has no range? Have you seen all of his film performances?
"

Hey, friend, relax. Sorry, I didn’t realize you were his publicist. I’ll never speak ill of La Fiennes again.

That being said, no, I have not seen ALL of his film performances. He’s not my favorite actor and I don’t thrill at the thought of him playing Trunchbull.

[Tag]

Posted: 1/9/21 at 1:08pm

So are we also not allowed a male Edna in future incarnations of Hairspray?

[NOWaWarning]

Posted: 1/9/21 at 6:43pm

Tag said: "So are we also not allowed a male Edna in future incarnations of Hairspray?"

Well no one in the thread has argued against continuing to cast men as Trunchbull onstage, unless I missed their post. As has been mentioned, that casting of Trunchbull is in the panto tradition of British theatre. Similarly, casting Edna with a male presenting performer in drag is a part of drag history and tradition. I don’t see that changing.
 

Although, I don’t think a female presenting performer as Edna would be bad either. I read once that Harvey Fierstein advocated for Lainie Kazan, a John Waters alum and costar of Divine’s, to replace him on Broadway. That could have been amazing.
 

I also think an important aspect of this discussion is the understanding that film is a very different medium and the stage casting might not translate. Both in terms of believability and the conventions of film vs. the conventions of theatre. The Hairspray movie musical has already been made with a man as Edna, Harvey reprised the role in the live television version, and I suspect theatre audiences will continue to expect the role to be cast accordingly.

[brian1973]

Posted: 1/9/21 at 7:56pm

Sadly we live in a time where many people are quick to get upset over anything.

Case in point is casting a man in a woman’s role.

I do think though, that what works well in the theatrical setting of a live show, like Edna in Hairspray- is harder to justify on film. Especially in these sensitive times!

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 1/14/21 at 6:35pm

Baz says Emma Thompson will be playing The Trunch! They have also cast their Matilda already, it seems.

[Tag]

Posted: 1/14/21 at 6:41pm

It sort of feels like Emma's been there and done that.  They must have offered her A LOT of money.

[disneybroadwayfan22]

Posted: 1/14/21 at 6:47pm

Will never get over that Bertie was robbed, but F**K YES for Emma!!! She can never do wrong

[BroadwayNYC2]

Posted: 1/14/21 at 6:48pm

I’ve been thinking of Gillian Anderson with some makeup too.

[disneybroadwayfan22]

Posted: 1/14/21 at 6:50pm

Alisha Weir is the little Matilda!

[Globefan]

Posted: 1/14/21 at 7:17pm

NOWaWarning said: "I definitely think casting a cis man in the role would be a bad idea and hope it’s true that they aren’t. The panto tradition isn’t the same on film. And the history of men playing women for comedic effect on film has not aged well and is very problematic.

Also in the interest of avoiding insensitive cinematic traditions, I hope they don’t stick whomever they cast in a fat suit of some kind.

My first thought was Leslie Jones. She’s got the height to be imposing and she’s hilarious. If she could pull off the British accent and the songs, she would be my choice. Tilda Swinton would also be fun. And, I know she’s not a household name, but wasn’t Missi Pyle rumored for the stage show at some point?

I think Adele as Mrs. Wormwood would be everything. Please somebody make it happen!"

How about Mara Wilson as Mrs. Wormwood? 

[Globefan]

Posted: 1/14/21 at 7:20pm

Leslie Jones would've been great too as Trunch 

[BroadwayNYC2]

Posted: 1/14/21 at 7:32pm

Hell, let’s get Grace Jones

[NameGreg]

Posted: 1/14/21 at 7:50pm

Globefan said: "Leslie Jones would've been great too as Trunch"

Personally I don’t see that at all, I think she’s a very limited actress.

Not sure about Thompson. She can probably act it but I don’t think she’s a very good singer, and I’m not sure if she has the type of physicality for it, though they’ll likely just use a lot of visual trickery to get around it. I still think if they were going with a mainstream actor it should’ve been Fiennes.

It is pretty sad that Bertie doesn’t get to reprise the role, as it means he’ll never get the kind of widespread acclaim for it that he deserves. To me he’s pretty much irreplaceable in this role, and no matter what tricks they use to make Thompson seem like this incredibly athletic, huge beast, it won’t ever be as thrilling to me as Carvel actually being that big and pulling all that off.

[darquegk]

Posted: 1/14/21 at 9:29pm

Mara’s cameo will be smaller and less showy. She isn’t loud and brash; her whole persona as a podcaster and voice artist is that she’s small, detached, smart and kind of icy in a bemused but sexy way.

They’re not going to cast her in something and then not let her do the Mara Wilson Voice, anymore than you’d cast Mark Hamill (another actor who does most of his work behind the microphone) as a villain and not let him growl and chew scenery in a Mid-Atlantic accent.

[disneybroadwayfan22]

Posted: 1/14/21 at 10:29pm

I’m going to guess Mara as the Acrobat. A long ago, she did say that she would love to be the Baker of Trunchbull’s cake.

And speaking of Trunchbull, how are they going to make Emma giant when she’s anything but? That’s mainly one of the reasons why Trunchbull is written for a man.

Updated On: 1/14/21 at 10:29 PM

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 1/14/21 at 10:45pm

disneybroadwayfan22 said: "I’m going to guess Mara as the Acrobat. A long ago, she did say that she would love to be the Baker of Trunchbull’s cake.

And speaking of Trunchbull, how are they going to make Emma giant when she’s anything but? That’s mainly one of the reasons why Trunchbull is written for a man."

There are so many ways to make someone appear a different size on film, many of which don't even necessitate the use of CGI, anything from forced perspective shots to the good old-fashioned "stand on this crate that's out of the frame" trick. The size difference that they wanted to see on stage would have been the least valid reason to carry over the casting of a male actor in the role.

And, for what it's worth, Emma Thompson is reported at 5'8" tall, which puts her only a few inches shorter than Ralph Fiennes, who's reported to be 5'11"

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 1/14/21 at 10:45pm

Emma Thompson is 5’8” while Pam Ferris, who played miss trunchbull is the 1996 film, is 5’7”
I don’t think Emma’s height will be any issue

[NOWaWarning]

Posted: 1/14/21 at 11:10pm

I don’t know why I never thought of Emma Thompson! I actually think that’s pretty great casting.

[BCfitasafiddle]

Posted: 1/14/21 at 11:19pm

Great casting, but really was hopeful for Ralph Fiennes.

[ColorTheHours048]

Posted: 1/15/21 at 9:31am

disneybroadwayfan22 said: "And speaking of Trunchbull, how are they going to make Emma giant when she’s anything but? That’s mainly one of the reasons why Trunchbull is written for a man."

Meryl Streep played Julia Child, who is a full 8” taller than Meryl Streep, and you would never know Meryl was not that height in real life if that was the only movie you’d seen with her. That’s not to mention that Pam Ferris played Trunchbull at 5’7” and - again - you’d never know. Film trickery can be that seamless.

I’m excited about this casting news. Emma Thompson is a damn treasure and even at her worst, she’s a delight.

[Plannietink08]

Posted: 1/15/21 at 9:53am

darquegk said: "Mara’s cameo will be smaller and less showy. She isn’t loud and brash; her whole persona as a podcaster and voice artist is that she’s small, detached, smart and kind of icy in a bemused but sexy way.

They’re not going to cast her in something and then not let her do the Mara Wilson Voice, anymore than you’d cast Mark Hamill (another actor who does most of his work behind the microphone) as a villain and not let him growl and chew scenery in a Mid-Atlantic accent."

I’d love Mara’s cameo to be something like little Matilda is trying to reach a book from a top shelf but can’t quite get to it. Mara comes along, picks it up and hands it to her. Gives her a knowing smile and walks off. 

[JBroadway]

Posted: 1/15/21 at 10:55am

Thrilled by this casting! Emma Thompson is truly one of the greats, and she will be excellent in this role. Much prefer her over Ralph Fiennes, partly for the reasons I outlined earlier in this thread about the risk of transphobia, but also because I think Thompson is genuinely a better fit for the role. Her singing voice, while not world-class, is better than your average movie star, and it'll be more than sufficient for the role of Trunchbull - which is more character-driven anyway. 

Maybe Mara Wilson can play the Acrobat? 

Updated On: 1/15/21 at 10:55 AM