TCP Movie - LaChanze or Fantasia?

[fbueller]

Posted: 12/17/07 at 10:27am

Who would you rather see as Celie?

Posted: 12/17/07 at 10:32am

Fantasia. LaChanze is too old for the film version and doesn't have the draw that Fantasia will to get butts in the seats.

[NYC_or_Bust]

Posted: 12/17/07 at 10:33am

to be honest. I'd love to see LaChanze. And yes, i'm probably alone on that choice, but i'm sorry, when you beat out names like Foster, Rivera, Lupone...there's something to be said about your performance. Having seen LaChanze do the role, i think she's perfectly capable of doing the movie version.

I havent seen Fantasia do the part, but that's not to say, i wouldnt be eager for her to do it either considering the great reviews that I've heard.

But to all the naysayers about casting a no name in a star role...had you been in bed with the producers of Dreamgirls, whos to say that Jennifer Hudson would be an oscar winner today?...

[uncageg]

Posted: 12/17/07 at 10:35am

I was actually thinking about this in the shower this morning! Fantasia would probably bring in more people but I think I would still like to see LaChanze. Fantasia is doing a fine job live but I wonder, after her TV movie how her performance would transfer to the screen. I have only seen LaChanze in the role though.

Posted: 12/17/07 at 10:41am

Yeah but Jennifer Hudson wasn't exactly a no name, she did have some notoriety from American Idol, and the producers cast A-List African American Celebs like Eddie, Jamie, Danny, and Beyonce to balance it out, even though Beyonce definitely was not the best choice for Deena.

[NYC_or_Bust]

Posted: 12/17/07 at 10:59am

Same with Lachanze in this case...She'll have the notoriety of being the tony winner for this role and perhaps they could shadow the Dreamgirls thing...casting A-listers to "balance it out".

[pab]

Posted: 12/17/07 at 11:01am

My hope is that they don't make the movie at all.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 12/17/07 at 11:07am

None.
Anika Noni Rose should be the one.

[Malaijah]

Posted: 12/17/07 at 11:18am

I definitely would want to see Elisabeth as Shug. Can't picture anyone else doing it.

[defyingravity11]

Posted: 12/17/07 at 11:20am

LaChanze! She may be a little old for a film version, but no one has been able to hold a candle to her performance.

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 12/17/07 at 11:26am

If there is a movie, I'd wanna see Fantasia.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 12/17/07 at 11:59am

I'll second the hope that the movie doesn't get made at all.

[sondhead]

Posted: 12/17/07 at 12:29pm

I've seen both live, and Fantasia hands down.

[bwaylvsong]

Posted: 12/17/07 at 12:33pm

Neither- they'd probably get an even bigger name.

[LifeofTheParty2]

Posted: 12/17/07 at 12:44pm

I agree, bwaylvsong, they will probably just get a bigger name. But, given the choice between the two, I'll say LaChanze. Fantasia's acting just would not work in a movie. For me, personally, it doesn't even work onstage.

Posted: 12/17/07 at 12:46pm

Please...more people knew of Jennifer Hudson due to American Idol than people know LaChanze from the Tonys.

I love LaChanze, but Broadway fanatics live in a bubble sometimes. Outside of the New York Theater community, practically nobody knows who she is. However, American Idol (and the 3 Divas shocking elimination that involved Hudson) made all the talk show/entertainment show headlines. Even Elton John commented on it. The comparison is not even close.

And if the movie does get made, I really don't see anyone but Fantasia doing it. After all, she is the reason why the Broadway show got a resurgence in ticket sales and acclaim. The Color Purple only became a big deal again on Broadway once she started doing it. Updated On: 12/17/07 at 12:46 PM

[xoxRogue]

Posted: 12/17/07 at 12:49pm

Isn't Whoopi good enough!? Heh

I mean, the movie was already a hit...and it had Danny Glover and Oprah. Those are some big names.

I don't know if I would like to see the musical put on screen.

[onbroadwaynow]

Posted: 12/17/07 at 12:55pm

there will never be a movie considering that the first time it was made it was so ground breaking and is now considered a classic.

if somehow they were to redo the color purple and make it a musical movie then neither fantasia or lachanze would be celie. fantasia's performances do not transfer to screen at all, and it wasnt to grand to start with. and sadly LaChanze is not known enough in the film industry to get the part.

but seriously, never going to happen.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 12/17/07 at 2:12pm

Since it is Oprah's baby, if Oprah DECIDES she wants a movie, it will get a movie. There will be no hurdles to jump or producers to convince. It Oprah someday decides to commit the musical to film, it is a done deal.

The film would be cast with stars and much like like other film musicals, it will not matter if the person can sing. Celie would be Beyonce, Alicia Keys, Rihanna or Hallie Barry, J-Hud or some other a-lister with international box office mojo/or international appeal. The supporting cast would be full of stars as well and of course Loretta Devine would be in it, because I am convinced she is in every film (as well she should be.) She has to be the hardest working actress in the business.

[Pascal/Menzel/Bundy]

Posted: 12/17/07 at 4:09pm

Only one of them has a The Tony, but unfortunately this isn't a perfect world and she likely will not get casted...

[Jonny boy]

Posted: 12/17/07 at 4:17pm

I would want to see Fantasia ... hands down!!

[sidneybruhl]

Posted: 12/17/07 at 4:46pm

If this project does happen, I say they go the "Hairspray" route and search for an unknown to play Celie. Following the "Hairspray" formula, they then can surround this person with a cast of well-known performers.

[me2]

Posted: 12/17/07 at 4:53pm

LaChanze is just too beautiful. Age-wise, I also question whether it would work.

Also, people love Fantasia. They're never going to buy her as ugly either. Maybe someone else?
Broadway Blog: From the Mouth of Stephanie J. Block II

[adamgreer]

Posted: 12/17/07 at 5:59pm

There is a reason Oprah never discussed this until Fantasia was doing the show.

[DickonDefysGravity]

Posted: 12/17/07 at 10:39pm

LaChanze all the way. Fantasia is ridiculously over-the-top and NOT an actress...who can play the role.
LaChanze is gorgeous, but I really hope they consider her over Fantasia.

...Latoya London could probably do it too...