McG in talks to Direct/Produce Spring Awakening film

[xerotheory7803]

Posted: 4/14/09 at 8:42am

Just saw this on a couple of movie news sites, hadnt seen it on here yet. As a director, hes done some music videos for Korn, The Offspring, Cypress Hill and Sublime, as well as both Charlie's Angels films, and this summers Terminator Salvation. Not sure how I feel about him taking on SA. I like how the article points out he started out as a songwriter, and now produces teen oriented shows, because that of course HAS to mean he knows how to direct a movie-musical. I do like his films though, so there is still hope. Heres the full article from The Hollywood Reporter.

McG has big-screen 'Spring Awakening'
Filmmaker in talks to turn rock musical into feature

By Borys Kit

April 13, 2009, 11:00 PM ET

McG is in talks to bring the Broadway rock musical "Spring Awakening" to the big screen, developing it with original book and lyrics writer Steven Sater.

McG is attached to direct and would act as a producer.

The project is not yet set up at a studio, though McG's Wonderland Sound and Vision has a first-look deal with Warner Bros. McG may opt not to go the studio route in order to make a more intimate, or indeed an edgier, movie version.

Set in 19th-century Germany, the coming-of-age story follows a group of teens discovering their sexuality and dealing with high-wire topics like masturbation, abortion, rape and suicide.

Sater and rocker Duncan Sheik based the musical on an 1891 German play and their resulting work resulted in a runaway Broadway success. The tuner won Tonys for best musical, best book, best original score and best actor.

McG, who is in post on the tentpole "Terminator Salvation," is not that odd a choice to helm a the film adaptation: The director got his start in the music business, first as a songwriter (he produced Sugar Ray's first album and co-wrote songs on the second) then as a video director.He also has kept one toe in the teen pool by exec producing such youth-centric shows as "The O.C.," "Chuck" and the upcoming drama school-set pilot "Limelight."

Sater, who shares the movie rights with Sheik and the stage producers of "Awakening," is repped by CAA, while McG is repped by Endeavor and Management 360.

[thirtythirtyninety]

Posted: 4/14/09 at 9:17am

To quote Darth Vader: "NNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!"

[ColorTheHours048]

Posted: 4/14/09 at 9:18am

I think he could actually do something really interesting with it. The movie definitely needs a young, fresh eye. While McG is no Scorcese, he's young(ish) and talented and I think he could bring an interesting vision to the table.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 4/14/09 at 9:33am

He executive produces Chuck so he's okay in my book.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 4/14/09 at 9:52am

[steven22]

Posted: 4/14/09 at 9:56am

if they do this right...I'm sure it could turn out great...really great...but if they do it like they did rent..and cut important pieces..then no...and I'm going to have to guess here...but I'm thinking this is going to be rated R.

[Adam Chris]

Posted: 4/14/09 at 10:38am

I don't see how this movie will work unless it's shot from the stage like Rent Live.

Otherwise, I feel like SA has the same challenge as the Chicago and Hair movie. It goes from story and then jumps to song which might be jarring on film. Unlike songs that flow as part of the story. That was one the problems I had when I saw SA on stage.

Even if it's shot well, in my opinon, it is still a cesspool of a story with hardly any redeeming qualites.
If they keep the spirit of the stage show then it will get slapped with an R rating.

I think those most interested in this show will be preteens, teens & some college age folks.

Most parents will not take their kids to see this movie which depicts destructive adolescent behavior and flaunts all the adults characters as narrow minded idiots.

SA would probably be served better as a HBO or Showtime presentation, not a cinema release.


Updated On: 4/14/09 at 10:38 AM

[Mrs. Lovett's bf]

Posted: 4/14/09 at 10:39am

Please god don't let this hack direct 'Spring Awakening.' He's responsible for the awful Charlies Angels movies.

[MrSweetNAwful]

Posted: 4/14/09 at 10:42am

Even with a song like Totally F*CKed I highly doubt this is going to be rated R. If it is it'll lose it's main fanbase. It's a show about teenagers that is important for teenagers to see. I don't think they'd waste the chance at an extra surge of money and risk another video rant from Crazy SA Fangirl about how she now can't go to the movie cuz her parents wont let her see R rated flicks.

[Adam Chris]

Posted: 4/14/09 at 10:45am

I don't see how this is an important show at all. And I especially don't see how this benefits teenagers in general.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 4/14/09 at 10:49am

Congratulations to Jamie McGonnigal!!!

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 4/14/09 at 10:55am

Good God, this guys directing is dreadful

SA could make for a great film but not with this hack attached, hes whole approach to directing is to throw as much money, CGI, shaky cam etc on screen as possible.

[Craww]

Posted: 4/14/09 at 10:56am

McG is so edgy! I'm going to be disappointed if they don't manage to just hire the entire HSM cast for these roles, though.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 4/14/09 at 11:39am

How is he edgy? He does big studio pictures. I don't think he's AWFUL, but he's def. not that inspired. I think they need someone with a more indie eye. The only way this musical would work on film is if they use the songs are like "dream sequences" a la Chicago.

[darquegk]

Posted: 4/14/09 at 11:40am

I think the best way that this could be presented on screen is as a "soundtrack opera," like the film Tommy. There are "in character" musical moments, but the rest are underscored by famous singers performing the "narration songs." When it's not actually a character singing to another character, i.e. Blue Wind is basically in character, the book and musical sequences are underscored.

I'm expecting My Chemical Romance to put out a Totally F*CKed single if this happens. I could also not hate Imogen Heap doing Word of your Body.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 4/14/09 at 11:46am

Ohhh, Imogen Heap...I like....I like...

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 4/14/09 at 11:48am

Also, I hope the movie retains some grittiness. My reason for disliking the stage version was because it felt so overproduced and overdirected. The actors acted/looked like they were in some drama club performance. I didn't buy them in the roles for a second. (Granted, I saw the last cast, so who knows).

[Craww]

Posted: 4/14/09 at 1:22pm

How is he edgy?

How could you even question this? I mean...his name is McG! How could he possibly not be edgy?

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 4/14/09 at 1:33pm

I mean...his name is McG! How could he possibly not be edgy?

Word.

Considering how much I enjoyed the show on stage, I might watch it on DVD if nothing else is available.

[xerotheory7803]

Posted: 4/14/09 at 1:46pm

The more I've thought about this today the more none of it makes sense. Nothing hes done makes him seem like a good fit for the material. Dont get me wrong, I enjoyed the hell out of both Charlie's Angels movies, and I have high hopes for Terminator Salvation, but those are just mindless fun at the movies. Spring Awakening requires a bit more care to translate well on the big screen.

[wdwfreak]

Posted: 4/14/09 at 3:02pm

I really loved Spring Awakening on stage but am kind of scared to see how it will manage to appear on screen. If they don't get castmembers that were actually in the show, this movie will be a disaster.

[ZONEACE]

Posted: 4/14/09 at 3:04pm

Get ready for the worst musical film since Rent.

[ColorTheHours048]

Posted: 4/14/09 at 3:07pm

None of the actors from the show will be in this movie. They barely worked onstage. Movies are less forgiving. None of them look the appropriate age. It will be all unknowns, I'm sure, and it will make a profit on name alone.

And since when is someone like Rob Marshall "indie?" The movie version of CHICAGO was so glossy that I was nearly blinded. Don't get me wrong, it's a brilliant musical adaptation, but he's no Gus van Sant a la "Elephant."

I think McG will do fine with this. Have a little faith. If the movie version of this looks too polished, it'll come off as fake. There's no room for CGI or things like that, so there should be no worries there. Also, this is just a rumor.

[ColorTheHours048]

Posted: 4/14/09 at 3:09pm

And another thing: I'm sure when Sheik and Sater were talking about adapting the play into a rock musical, people were just as skeptical. Just saying.

[CSonBroadway]

Posted: 4/14/09 at 3:23pm

If it is done right, I actually think it could pick up a few Oscar nominations.

Just don't cast Vanessa Hudgens as Wendla or anyone from HSM for that matter.