Glenn Close and Ewan McGregor in Sunset Blvd!

[Fan2]

Posted: 7/9/05 at 8:23pm

http://news.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/07/10/nfilm10.xml

>Mr Shaw said that McGregor and Hugh Jackman were both in the running for the role of Gillis. Both are box office stars. Jackman, who won rave reviews in the National Theatre production of Oklahoma!, is regarded as the better singer. But McGregor, who is at present playing to packed houses in the West End revival of Guys and Dolls, is considered a bigger draw.
Updated On: 7/9/05 at 08:23 PM

[MusicalDirector109]

Posted: 7/9/05 at 8:24pm

In a movie?? Updated On: 7/9/05 at 08:24 PM

[Beergoggles]

Posted: 7/9/05 at 8:26pm

i like this casting... Ewan will be amazing in this role!

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 7/9/05 at 8:27pm

At least Liza isn't doing it.

[wildcat]

Posted: 7/9/05 at 8:27pm

Somehow I don't think the "Trainspotting" crowd are going to flock to "Sunset Boulevard"...

[Beergoggles]

Posted: 7/9/05 at 8:28pm

probably not... trainspotting is one of my favourite movies ever! Yay for gritty realsim!

[BluCat500]

Posted: 7/9/05 at 8:28pm

Oh I wish it were Striesand...

[WesternSky2]

Posted: 7/9/05 at 8:32pm

Ewan?! *muffles a squeal* Brilliant.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 7/9/05 at 8:32pm

I don't like the way Jackman sings, I dunno why. I don't really like either of them for the role. I think they should go the Phantom route and casts unknowns/new comers in the Gillis and Betty roles.

[nodaybut2day2007]

Posted: 7/9/05 at 8:47pm

This is really exciting news. I can't wait to see/hear Ewan in a musical again.

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 7/9/05 at 9:03pm

So exciting! Yippee!

[jo]

Posted: 7/9/05 at 9:10pm

Sorry, but I am very disappointed that they chose Ewan over Hugh for his role. I don't buy the reasoning that Ewan is the bigger draw. In musical theatre??? In Hollywood???

I have seen clips of Hugh in the Australian SUNSET BOULEVARD production and he really fits the role to a T!

Barbra and Hugh would have been terrific!



Updated On: 7/9/05 at 09:10 PM

[Fan2]

Posted: 7/9/05 at 9:19pm

I agree with Jo - "bigger draw"? Because of "Star Wars"? And maybe because he's done "Moulin Rouge"? And who has done Broadway, won a Tony Award and played the role in Australia, winning an award for it? It's funny that they cast unknowns for Phantom, but now want a "bigger box office draw" in this when they have Glenn Close starring. Hugh reportedly saw Guys & Dolls a few weeks ago - I wonder if they both knew then about this. This article says they want it in the theaters by Christmas 2006 which means they would have to start filming probably at the beginning of the year - wonder if "other commitments" came into play (Hugh is doing X-3 until the end of the year). I also think it's interesting that since the news was in a British paper, it mentions Hugh doing Oklahoma! but nothing about Broadway/Tony Award.

[JenD512]

Posted: 7/9/05 at 9:25pm

I'm a huge Star Wars fan, and I love Ewan...but this should be Hugh's part. I don't think Ewan has the voice for it, and his American accent is terrible.

Once again, ALW has figured out how to screw up a movie musical (Gerard Butler, anyone?)

[jo]

Posted: 7/9/05 at 9:34pm

Fan2

Hugh's schedule may have conflicted with the desired release date for SUNSET BOULEVARD. I believe he is doing the 2 XMEN movies ( XMEN3 and WOLVERINE) back to back...plus there is some buzz that he may come back to Broadway possibly next spring for his limited run one-man show. Next year he has the Woody Allen movie, two voice-over roles ( with Kate Winslet and with Nicole Kidman) for release. Also, the postponed GOOD filming may come into the picture as well. A very busy movie career, on top of his stage forays.

I am also eagerly awaiting his new movie, THE FOUNTAIN, hopefully for release late this year as it is being touted in some movie circles as potential OSCAR candidate for best movie and for acting honors.

I think RUG and Paramount may have called this casting decision wrong. For one, I cannot imagine the chemistry between Glenn and Ewan. And they are not the best of singers, either. I hope they are not turning this into another semi-success like the movie PHANTOM, for which I had such high hopes before they turned it into "that" movie.

Jo

[Fan2]

Posted: 7/9/05 at 9:45pm

Hey Jo - oh believe me, I know Hugh's schedule LOL! I'm still not convinced "Wolverine" is being shot right after X-Men since they are still working on the script but I guess it's possible. I know he has a lot coming out next year, like the Woody Allen movie which is filming now and the voice-over roles which I think are done.

What's interesting is by the time Sunset comes out next year with Glenn and Ewan (although we still haven't seen it confirmed anywhere else - remember the Hugh/Anthony Hopkins thing?) Hugh will have had X-3 come out (which you know will be huge) and "The Fountain" which everyone has high hopes for like you say, so who knows who will be the "bigger draw" by the time "Sunset" comes out next Christmas. Maybe "Good" will even be filmed and ready for release - that sounds like a powerful movie also.

The disappointing part is that Hugh has said in interviews the two musicals he would most like to do in movies would be "Sweeney Todd" and "Sunset Blvd."

[JenD512]

Posted: 7/9/05 at 10:00pm

The London papers have also been casting the new James Bond every week as well--plus they also said the Williams sisters were going to be in X-Men 3.

Bummed!! (but if the trade is get Hugh back on Bway at some point next year, I'll be over it really fast!)

Did they finally manage to get the rights from Paramount for Sunset? I thought that was the major problem they were having getting the rights.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 7/9/05 at 10:03pm

Ewan is really a better fit oppostie Glenn Close. He looks younger - more boyish.

Hugh Jackman would have looked great opposite Streisand (who would have been horrifying).

[Fan2]

Posted: 7/9/05 at 10:11pm

I know about those Williams sisters rumors! I usually only believe an official source on these types of things but this article seems to quote someone who is apparently the co-producer so it seems to have credibility.

[jo]

Posted: 7/9/05 at 10:28pm

Who needs boyish??

William Holden was certainly not a boyish Joe Gillis in the classic movie version with Gloria Swanson!

Manly charm is what is needed!

I can't even imagine a dreamy waltz between Glenn and Ewan ( The Perfect Year), let alone a romantic scene between them.




Updated On: 7/9/05 at 10:28 PM

[SallyBrown]

Posted: 7/9/05 at 10:41pm

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

::is happy!!!!::

Posted: 7/9/05 at 10:44pm

NO! They are going to regret that after X Men 3 comes out... I am so disappointed they didnt' choose Hugh Jackman!

[kangaroo]

Posted: 7/9/05 at 10:52pm

I was REALLY hoping and thought that they were going to choose Hugh Jackman for the role... I really like Ewan, but I am a MUCH bigger fan of Hugh Jackmans, and I thought this was going to be his... look Hollywood, I can really sing and it's a shocker for you role. "But McGregor, who is at present playing to packed houses in the West End revival of Guys and Dolls, is considered a bigger draw" Let's see what they say after X Men 3 and the Fountain come out.

[SallyBrown]

Posted: 7/9/05 at 11:30pm

I shall point out that Ewan has lots of movies coming out as well....

<>

[jo]

Posted: 7/9/05 at 11:34pm

Assuming both are strong box office draws, it should have really come down to who has the better musical abilities and acting chops!


Jo