Jessica Sanchez as Kim in MISS SAIGON movie?

[Patash]

"She is such a robot and lacks any emotional depth when she sings."

Clearly coming from someone who didn't see Jessica stand her own with Jennifer Holliday.

And people saying she's too young? How old do you think the real Kim's of the Vietnam war were? If anything she's already getting close to being too old. I so a tour in which there was about a 30 - 35 year old playing Kim and it ruined it for me. I love the idea of someone so young, so fresh, so fragile looking -- and all they've gotta do is focus on her watery eyes as she sings with that perfect voice and the audiences will melt.

[Wynbish]

She starts out at 17. I'm not entirely sure how old Tam is to figure how old Kim is in the second half.

[Owen22]

"If anything she's already getting close to being too old."

This!

[random person 112]

Kim is 19 or 20 when the second act starts.

[Wynbish]

This all leads to a discussion people can have about any movie musical. What is the ratio of importance of acting and singing ability?

I have never said that Jessica cannot sing, and I maintain that I do not think she is right for the role.

I agree that Kim should be an amazing unknown or little-known, just like Lea was when she was cast at 17 years old. Chris may have to be a name for the draw. Rock of Ages has an unknown as Drew, and advertising for it has almost ignored him to showcase the minor characters with big names in them. You can't advertise Miss Saigon without Chris.

How old are Chris and John supposed to be?

[random person 112]

John is listed as in his twenties or thirties.
Chris is in his early 20's-early 30's.

[Wynbish]

Who should be the Engineer? Personally, he's my favorite part.

[SporkGoddess]

I like Ken Jeong for the Engineer.

Jessica Sanchez is only half Filipina, correct? I agree that half Asian won't cut it--there are so few good roles for Asians in movies. I also don't think that she has the "look" for Kim, she's young but she doesn't give off that ingenue vibe to me.

As for being too young, I don't think that the actress playing Kim has to actually be in her teens. I think 19 or 20 would be the perfect age, like Lea Salonga was. At 16 your voice is still developing.

[jo]

Lea was only 17 when she won the audition for the role of Kim. She turned 18 while in the original production at the West End. I was lucky to have seen it a month after it opened at the Drury Lane in London.

Actually, while she was considered the lead actress, she shared the weekly performances with another Filipina, Monique Wilson, who also won the audition in Manila. Monique has more Caucasian features, as implied by her surname.

[maila]

Jessica actually looks very southeast asian, I didn't even think she had mexican blood when I first saw her, so I was surprised to learn she is part mexican. I think she's perfect lookwise for Kim. Also heard that Zack Efron is also being considered for Chris. I also read somewhere that Jessica was offered a full scholarship at the Theater of Arts in Hollywood. She is known for her power belt but she can also sing sweet and soft like when she sang "dance with my father" and "you are so beautiful".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZXBlvWa25M
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WN93rh__-uo

[jsg03jd]

Jessica Sanchez has a mediocre voice. Not impressive at all. (Ditto on that guy who won AI this year). Plus, her wannabe urban vibe gets on my nerves.

I'd rather they find an "unknown" for Kim.

[eatlasagna]

I can only take so much of Ken Jeong... don't think I could watch him do the Engineer... i'd rather Jackie Chan get a crack at it... he's a pretty big star...

[My Oh My]

I definitely vote Lizzie as Tam. She'd make an adorable one!!!!!!!

[jimmycurry01]

I'd rather see Jake Gyllenhaal as Chris than Zac Effron any day of the week. Zac is cute and has an alright voice, but he is no Chris. Jake has the voice, the acting ability, and the physique of a Marine. Since that Damn Yankees remake doesn't seem to be happening anytime soon, it would be a good vehicle for him to show off what he can do.

[Dave19]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WN93rh__-uo

If she wouldn't start every sentence with a moan, and tried to sound less Christina Aguilera and more Lea Salonga, and got rid of that poppy vibrato, and if someone would kick that "wanna be urban vibe" out of her, and if she would take some good acting classes, and if they could "make-up" the Mexican look away (which I think is possible), then she could actually make a quite decent Kim.

[Wynbish]

Spoiler if you don't know the show

In one movie, Kim will enter the Miss Saigon bar contest for the first time, meet and sleep with Chris, angrily tell him about losing her family and home, somewhat marry Chris, watch the last helicopter leave (which has Chris in it), be a single mother, kill Thuy, meet and confront Chris's wife, say goodbye to Tam, and kill herself.

In my opinion, this is not a "she can sing and she'll probably be okay as an actress, but her voice will make up for it" part.

[Princeton Returns]

I might be alone in this (and it might be because I'm a Brit) but I've always imagined Chris as that all American type of guy, and no one would be more perfect than Chris Evans.

Second choice would be Matt Bomer

[Dave19]

"I might be alone in this (and it might be because I'm a Brit) but I've always imagined Chris as that all American type of guy, and no one would be more perfect than Chris Evans."

The role of Chris is one of the hardest roles to sing, it's all about the delivery of the emotion in the soaring notes.

In my opinion, this is not a "he can act and he'll probably be okay as a singer, but his acting will make up for it" part.

They should be very, very careful with this casting, because none of the names mentioned for Chris are actually good enough singers. This could make or break the movie.

Look what happened with the Phantom film......

[jimmycurry01]

Chris won't make or break the movie. Chris isn't a large enough role to make or break the movie. The role of Chris is a supporting role, and just because it is difficult for you to sing does not not mean it is a difficult role to sing. It isn't. Saying Chris makes or breaks Miss Saigon is like saying Raoul makes or beaks The Phantom of the Opera.

[moncruzz]

If they ever offer it to him, Zac Efron would be a fool to dismiss the role of Chris, like he dismissed Footloose because it was "another musical".

He probably wouldn't win an Academy for it, but I think he'd do just fine.

[Dave19]

With "this" I was referring to "this way of casting", and it goes for Chris as well as the other roles.

[SporkGoddess]

Chris Evans singing:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8l12rEeJH40

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZOIkvf9Cl4

[Wynbish]

I wish James Marsden and Matthew Morrison weren't so old now. John can be their age, especially in the second half, but not Chris.

Bracing myself, but what about Jonathan Groff? He's got the Broadway credentials, Glee fanbase, and a winning smile.






Nathan Fillion for John!

[coverboyz]

Kelly Clarkson for Ellen, Taylor Hicks for Chris and Jennifer Hudson for John.

[Patash]

good casting, coverboys. They can call it "miss sAIgon".

[Wynbish]

Seacrest could be the Engineer. "THIS... is... Miss Saigon."

"Engineer out."