I'd wager it'll be a period piece, though which period I couldn't entirely say. The musical's "Runyonland" vision of NYC is deliberately vague on the time period, with characters, tropes, styles and archetypes from the 1920s through the 1950s appearing together. My guess would be that the remake sets a more specific time frame and edits a few details to make it cohesive.
As long as they get rid of those gay hating Salvos--nothing would ruin a wedding night more than to rip off that awful uniform and find a tambourine protector underneath--sick humour, please don't delete.
There just HAS to be a clever way to change that part of the story.
Last I checked, Danny Strong (EMPIRE's co-creator) turned in a screenplay set in the 1930's some 3 or 4 years ago. Far as I know, there's been no new action on this project. (Bummer-- it's prime material for a remake.)
Yes, let's waste more time imagining that this will EVER happen. Just like the other five times Guys and Dolls was announced as a film in the last decade or so.
Michael Grandage was previously directing the Danny Strong script when it was at Fox; John Goldwyn (Sam's grandson) was producing then and is still producing, so maybe the Grandage/Strong version isn't dead.
Before that, Harvey Weinstein, Craig Zadan & Neil Meron had the rights, but things fell apart because of complications with Jo Sullivan Loesser.
Someone in a Tree2 said: "^ Yep, Channing Tatum and Joseph Gordon Levitt were supposed to headline the remake Danny Strong was working on."
I would not be mad at that cast. They would likely do it justice. And I could see Lady Gaga doing really well with Adelaide. Anna Kendrick or Anne Hathaway would probably end up with Sarah.
They'd go with Titus Burgess maybe for Nicely...Joel Grey for Arvide?
Guys I’d like to see involved in some capacity are Aaron Tveit or Zac Efron or zachary Levi or Chris pine or hemsworths or Scott eastwood. But I will admit that today’s hollywood leading men. Don’t naturally lend themselves to that “man’s man” type of the 50’s.
For dolls I’d like to see Gaga or Laura osnes. I really just hope them cast a good mix of broadway stars. I find musical films to be great opportunities to feature broadway and west end performers to the rest of the world
Lady Gaga is 32. When did she have time to "get off at Saratoga for the 14th time"? If anything, she should play Sarah.
Megan Mullally would be perfect as Adelaide: funny and sympathetic.
Perhaps some genius will find a way, but I don't see how a remake works except as a period piece. With Indian casinos, the whole world of gambling is so different today, as are "gangs".
But I'm with bk. I don't see this happening as a feature film. It would work better as some network's "live" special, though I doubt it has the proper appeal to the "desired demo". Gaga might help with that, if she so desired.
The Pittsburgh Public did an acclaimed production a few years ago that set itself very firmly in 1959. It looked like Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, and it looked cool but didn’t actually gel, despite being supported by the script. It basically has to be more or less a 1930s piece, what with expies of Al Capone and Aimee Semple in the show.
One problem with the previous movie version that they did not stylize the production design. The dialogue sounds feeble and false in what is obviously a real coffee shop set.
I actually really enjoy the original movie except for whoever decided it would be a good idea to cut "A Bushel and a Peck" and "I've Never Been in Love Before." Talk about sinners.
bk wrote:Yes, let's waste more time imagining that this will EVER happen. Just like the other five times Guys and Dolls was announced as a film in the last decade or so.
I guess I missed those announcements. All things considered, I'd have to say that I don't see this happening, either. Seems it would be hard to adapt it in a way that would work for today's movie audiences. Even if it was set in the 30s (which you could do), the whole Runyonland thing probably would land with a thud...
CATSNYrevival said: "I actually really enjoy the original movie except for whoever decided it would be a good idea to cut "A Bushel and a Peck" and "I've Never Been in Love Before." Talk about sinners."
I don't know the reasoning behind swapping "A Bushel and a Peck" but there is no way Brando would have been able to handle "I've Never Been in Love Before" so that was probably a wise decision to replace that song (since it was unlikely that he was going to be replaced).