Jamie Foxx and Usher Join Dreamgirls Film

[Craig]

Posted: 5/12/05 at 9:47am

https://www.broadwayworld.com/viewcolumn.cfm?colid=3175

[OrdinaryJukebox1]

Posted: 5/12/05 at 9:56am

Two more reasons for me NOT to see this film...why, why, why do people feel the need to ruin things?

-Vincent

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 5/12/05 at 10:04am

I never understand why people think that when a Broadway musical is made into a movie, the casting of actual movie stars ruins it. What would you prefer? The casting of complete unknowns in all the prinicple roles? DREAMGIRLS is not a very well known property. Not with the general public. If PHANTOM, the most successful musical of all time, couldn't find a film audience without a cast of major stars, how is a film like DREAMGIRLS going to possibly succeed?

Stars are a necessity. They are a good financial decision. And seeing as how nobody has either seen Jamie Foxx and Usher in these roles, nor has read the script to know how the roles actually work in the film version, any talk of casting ruining the film, is to me at this point completely premature. Its not like they have done something instantly egregious, like cast Matthew Broderick as Curtis.

I love the idea of finding an unknown to play Effie.

[Kavana]

Posted: 5/12/05 at 10:09am

David Alan Grier was a good Jimmy

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 5/12/05 at 10:11am

I agree MichaelBennett! Chicago is an example of success coming to a musical because it was done right, including the casting (some disagree, I know, but I was impressed w/ the cast - didnt expect to like them in the roles.) I dont understand why JF or Usher are such awful choices...has anyone heard them? I think JF just won an oscar for a singing role...didnt he? I am skeptical about Beyonce, but will wait as I am totally trusting Bill Condon to know what he is doing.

A star being made out of an unknown Effie would be terrific!!

[OrdinaryJukebox1]

Posted: 5/12/05 at 10:11am

blah, blah, blah...I don't like Jaime Foxx as an actor or singer, and I don't like Usher as a singer. I wasn't insulting every film for casting film stars, I was insulting the decision to cast people I don't care for. Simmer down...

-Vincent

[MATheaterLover]

Posted: 5/12/05 at 10:12am

I am excited to see Foxx, Usher, and Beyonce in the roles they were cast - I think each fits his/her role to a tee.

My only qualm so far is the idea of Eddie Murphy as James Thunder Early... seriously... SERIOUSLY, now... eeek... Bill Condon's got his work cut out from him there.

[robbiej]

Posted: 5/12/05 at 10:15am

Actually, I think Murphy could pull out a spectacular performance...have a career-reviver along the lines of Bill Murray in RUSHMORE or (my personal favorite of his) CRADLE WILL ROCK.

Posted: 5/12/05 at 10:17am

Not a fan of either performer but it seems to be pretty solid casting for those parts. My only question: The article calls CC the "Choreographer" for the Dreams-- wasn't he the songwriter?

[DAME]

Posted: 5/12/05 at 10:17am

And Don Cheadel is also on the dotted line baby.

[NCGuy]

Posted: 5/12/05 at 10:19am

Dame, who is Don Cheadle playing?

[Kavana]

Posted: 5/12/05 at 10:22am

C.C. as choreographer is another change i guess Bill has made.
so C.C. wont be involved with Michelle? hehe

[MrMidwest]

Posted: 5/12/05 at 10:46am

I suppose I wasn't paying attention when it was decided that Usher is an actor.

I suppose some of his songs are catchy and he can dance, but there's nothing particularly interesting about his voice. It doesn't help that he looks like he walked into a telephone pole.

Jamie Fox I can tolerate. He's arrogant in interviews, but he can act well enough.

[gavrochegirl]

Posted: 5/12/05 at 10:49am

Okay, Jamie Foxx is okay. He's cool. BUT THAT STUPID USHER?!?!? Cheesh, what a casting director...

[MrMidwest]

Posted: 5/12/05 at 10:51am

Hopefully this won't turn out like Carmen 2: A Dreamgirls Hip-hopera.

[rlbgbc]

Posted: 5/12/05 at 10:53am

Of the male roles with unannounced casting and using the process of elimination, I'd think Cheadle would be essaying the role of "Marty".

[apdarcey]

Posted: 5/12/05 at 10:54am

well i guess so far the "names" that they have cast are good for their roles... maybe it will turn out ok... i think jamie foxx will actually be really good... and beyonce too, i think she is perfect for deena (originally i was skeptical because i thought she was being rumored for effie)... because hey, she basically pulled a real life "deena" move on her group, so she knows the character very well and she has a great voice... here's my question though, why is cc the group's choreographer? whatever happened to effie's brother and his relationship?

[rKrispyt]

Posted: 5/12/05 at 10:55am

It said there were only 2 people left to cast?

Who is for sure on for this project right now, cause I'd only heard Beyonce before JF and Usher.

All I can say is that I applaud and appreciate even more the folks putting together the Rent movie. It would have been so incredibly easy to put in big 'pop' stars or film stars into that movie like with Chicago and make it work, but I think we can all agree that the members of the Broadway cast are going to blow away any 'Justin Timberlake' type they would have cast.

I WISH honestly that they were doing that for the Dreamgirls movie. Especially after having seen the Actor's Fund Benefit Concert...I am currently yearning for Heather Hedley, Billy Porter, Norm Lewis, Audra and Lillias to be on that screen, doing what I know they do so well.

I hate to be rude but...considering the depth of what I say in the InConcert performances from those actors and actresses...I just really don't think people like Beyonce can even compare.

Yes, I get that it's a marketing thing and all but...I dunno, it'd be nice to see more people pulling Quality above all that bs like the Rent movie seems to be doing (although I'm sure they have their own showbiz bs tricks of the trade and stuff they're using).

Just my two cents.

[DAME]

Posted: 5/12/05 at 10:55am

The casting director has nothing to do with Usher being cast in the film dear. Maybe you should learn how things work before making a statement like that.

[apdarcey]

Posted: 5/12/05 at 10:56am

and cheadle would be a good marty...

[robbiej]

Posted: 5/12/05 at 10:57am

Now...I love me some Lillias White...but girl would be tripping over that VEEEEEEEEEERY long tooth were she to play Effie Melody White.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 5/12/05 at 11:06am

It's true that Lillias is too old for Effie...especially on film! Would love to see her get more work in films, tho, love her so much!

I still maintain that Condon has a firm hand on this project and is taking the casting VERY seriously. Usher may not be able to act, but we dont know yet. Everyone else seems very good for their roles...already getting excited to see the buildup for AIATYING!

Seeing Hilary Swank beat up her parents in a lifetime movie (which is hilarious!), I'd never thought she'd win 2 oscars

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 5/12/05 at 11:32am

The RENT film is kind of a different beast. Fundamentally, its a very tough film to market, and the decision was made to keep it low budget and to primarily target the die hard fans of the play.

DREAMGIRLS is going for something much bigger, and they are obviously looking to make it an all star "event film" that will no doubt have a lot of marketing appeal to a large cross section of movie goers, particularly the under-estimated black audience which Hollywood has only recently discovered can be an incredibly formidable presence at the box office.
Updated On: 5/12/05 at 11:32 AM

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 5/12/05 at 12:42pm

Ya know, I'm fine with Foxx, Murphy and Usher. They can all act and sing well enough and Murphy especially should be a hoot as Jimmy. Condon's doing OK so far.

But, just like the show, the success of the movie hinges COMPLETELY on the casting of Effie. I saw the show eight or nine times on stage and the only times it didn't work is when an underpowered singer was in as Effie (usually when a second or third understudy had to go on after the main Effies had blown out their voices). It undermines the balance of the entire show and it just doesn't work. Let's hope Condon gets that right because he could perfectly cast every other role, but without a poowerhouse Effie the project is sunk.

[TonyaFanatic]

Posted: 5/12/05 at 12:45pm

usher can so act. hes perfect for cc. everybody shut the hell up, its not even a huge role. usher can sing very well. so can jamie foxx. jamie is a very talented musician also. he writes songs, produces them and arranges music. beautiful voice.

totally agree with margo 2. as usual :)

Updated On: 5/12/05 at 12:45 PM