Miss Saigon Movie Cast

[Wildcard]

If Jamie Chung can sing, I'd be up for her as Kim. I know she's older but she still reads young. She's beautiful, exotic and pure looking. Otherwise, I'm all for an unknown. I saw Jacqueline as Kim and I thought she read as too mature and not virginal enough for the role.

And a big no to Telly Leung. The boy cannot act, sounds like he inhaled a helium balloon, and is as masculine as Liza Minnelli

[SporkGoddess]

Jamie Chung looks great in terms of appearance. Of course, she'd have to be able to sing.

[eatlasagna]

i saw Jacqueline Nguyen as Kim and she was not that good in the role... she just didn't have the vocal chops

and I'm really liking the suggestion of Anna Kendrick as Ellen... something about that girl that I enjoy...

maybe they'll get Samantha Barks to be Ellen!

Jamie Chung... eh... I kinda like her but she comes across really bland... just saw Premium Rush and I found her acting to be pretty sub par... and she's really kind of bland as well as Mulan on Once Upon a Time...

[Bettyboy72]

I hope it's in 3-D.

[Brave Sir Robin2]

^ Betty, I hope you're serious because this could be great in 3D! I think Jamie Chung is too drab for Kim. I think Kim should be a newcomer, with stars as Chris, Ellen, Gigi, and the Engineer.

[ReggieonBway]

Has anyone brought up Anna Maria Perez de Tagle? God knows she could sing it, and she has experience in front of the camera.

[someone.else's.story2]

My picks:

Engineer: Kevin Gray (he's done the role and is fantastic, I believe he was the youngest engineer when he did it, but it's been 20 years and he could kill it now)

Kim: unknown

Chris: Aaron Tviet

Ellen: Samantha Barks

Gigi: Lea Salonga

[SporkGoddess]

I looked it up and apparently Kevin Gray is half-Chinese. So I'd have no qualms with that casting.

I'd also be okay with Ana Maria Perez de Tagle as Kim.

[Dave19]

I think Anna Maria Perez de Tagle does not look innocent enough for Kim and her singing is too generic to say the least. Kim really needs to be a better singer.

[theeatah]

Luke Evans is an obvious choice for Chris. He's played the role onstage. And with The Hobbit and The Fast & The Furious sequels, he might have the requisite profile.

[Dave19]

Wow yes, his voice is the standard that a Chris should have!

[EponineThenardier]

Kim: An unknown
Chris: Jake Gyllenhaal (right? right?! you know I'm right)
Ellen: Keira Knightley
Gigi: Lea Salonga

If they leave Lea Salonga out of the film it'll be heartbreaking

[Dave19]

What about Amy Adams for Ellen?

Jake is not a good enough singer for Chris. Have you heard the score with the endless and difficult notes?

Actually, I really doubt that Amy Adams, Anne Hathaway etc are good enough singers for this material.

I also don't understand the option of Lea Salonga as Gigi. She is by no means the right type.

I bet they put her on a picture somewhere as Kim's mother or something.

I could see Nicole Scherzinger as Gigi.

[SporkGoddess]

What about Ashley Williams as Ellen?

Edit: I feel stupid. I meant Allison Williams.

[emjullee]

Hello! First time to post in this thread. Got interested with the idea of Miss Saigon movie after watching Les Miserables. I read somewhere that the condition of this movie is that Les Mis has to reach a box-office record of around $500M or was it $200M?

Les Mis is currently doing well in the box-office for a movie musical. Here's to hoping Cameron Mackintosh pushes through with Miss Saigon movie.

Here are my thoughts on the casting:

1. KIM - Like what others have posted, I prefer the actress to be an unknown gem. Similar to how they discovered Lea Salonga. To quote the composers, "must have incredible charm, innocence, and lungs of steel." I would like to add that KIM must be talented in acting also. Miss Saigon held auditions last quarter of 2012, wondering if they were able to find that gem amongst those who auditioned. Because if they have, most likely, she will be considered for the movie.

If the producers, casting directors, director, can't find the right Kim, I hope they won't push it and just wait for the "right actress" to come along. The role of Kim is similar to the importance of Valjean's in Les Mis.

2. CHRIS - Agree with Aaron Tveit. He has the voice. Impressed with his performance in Les Mis. But an issue here is the star power. If they cast an unknown Kim, CHRIS should be a well-known singer/actor. How well-known would Aaron be by the time they make the film? Just don't let it be Zac Efron!

3. THE ENGINEER - Could be asian, half-asian, or any other ethnicity. He needs to be a well-known actor too. Honestly, if Robert Downing Jr. could sing, I would like him to play this role.

4. GIGI - Can't be Lea.

5. JOHN - He should be able to give justice to the piece "Bui Doi" One of my favorite songs in the musical.

6. ELLEN - How about Emma Rossum?

Going further, who do you think would be a good director for Miss Saigon?

[Dave19]

I don't think that Chris needs to be a big name. In fact, Kim and Chris are both victims of the war and it works better if they are both quite unknown. It adds to the tragedy and the love story. I think having a big name for Chris would actually ruin that feel a bit.

Also, the endless difficult and long notes Chris has to sing require an extraordinary singer.

There is room for big names in other roles (Engineer, John, Ellen?) I have never heard of Allison Williams. I looked her up on youtube and think she would make a very good Ellen!
Another person that keeps coming to mind is Amy Adams.

[lotiloti]

Eddie Redmayne as Chris

[SporkGoddess]

He's too... Hugh Grant-ish.

[lotiloti]

Redmayne is a fine actor.Grant isn't

[kieranbec]

I really like the idea of an Asian Ellen. Is Salonga past the point where she would fit this role? Because if not, I think that could be really powerful.

[MadonnaMusical]

Jessica Sanchez as kim.

[emjullee]

Yeah, Eddie Redmayne would be a good CHRIS, too. He's a very good actor. Like his nuances and how his eyes could "speak", strong voice as well.

[emjullee]

Maybe not a big name for Chris but an up and coming actor. Still, not too unknown as Kim (if indeed they will cast an unknown).

[AEA AGMA SM]

"Is Salonga past the point where she would fit this role? Because if not, I think that could be really powerful."

Lea Salonga might be getting a bit old for Ellen. Ellen should not be much past 30. She and Chris are just starting out "and want kids of their own." I think that you need to believe Ellen is still at the age where having a family with Chris is still an easy reality, not a desperate rush to pop them out before hitting menopause. I know Lea still looks relatively young, but she is turning 42 this year. Even now 42 (probably closer to 43 or 44 by the time this would actually start filming) is considered pushing it for having a child. In the mid 70s you would hardly ever hear a woman of that age talking about just starting a family.

[SporkGoddess]

Lea's too old for Ellen.

Redmayne is a fine actor.Grant isn't

But Redmayne has that "awkward British guy" demeanor and look to him. I just cannot see him as an American Marine.

[chewy5000]

Do we really need a Chris that sounds like Kermit the Frog?