Lea Michele in Talks for SPRING AWAKENING Film!

[Ejm105989]

Posted: 2/9/12 at 4:28pm

E! Online has just revealed that Spring Awakening's original Wendla, GLEE star Lea Michele, is being courted for her old role in the upcoming film version of the show. E! reports that the film's director, McG, told them that they're hoping the film's schedule can coincide with her GLEE committments to make this happen.

He tells E!: "I love Lea; we've talked about it...When I first got turned onto the show she was in it so it's her voice that echoes in my heart. I really think she's wonderful and we'll see where it takes us."

No production timeline has been announced.

He adds: "We're talking to Lea Michele because she made the role of Wendla famous and we'll see if that pans out and works with the timing of her schedule on [Glee]."

For the full report, click here.

As BroadwayWorld reported back in 2010, Terminator Salvation director McG will bring the "Spring Awakening" to the big screen, developing it with original book and lyrics writer Steven Sater.

Set against the backdrop of a repressive and provincial late 19th century Germany, Spring Awakening tells the story of adolescent self-discovery and budding sexuality as seen through the eyes of three teenagers - Melchior, Moritz and Wendla. In a haunting and provocative story, Spring Awakening celebrates the journey from youth to adulthood.

Based on the 1891 Frank Wedekind play, Spring Awakening features an rock-inspired score by Duncan Sheik, book and lyrics by Steven Sater. The Broadway production was directed by Michael Mayer and choreographed by the award-winning Bill T. Jones.

On transferring from the off-Broadway Atlantic Theater, the original US production of Spring Awakening became an overnight sensation. It grossed over $50 million during its two year run at the Eugene O'Neill Theater and a US tour is booked through to 2010. By the end of 2009, productions will have opened in Japanese in Tokyo, Korean in Seoul and German in Vienna. 18 foreign productions are in preparation around the world.

Michele's Broadway career began at a young age when she appeared in productions such as Ragtime and Les Misérables. She originated the role of Wendla in the musical Spring Awakening and currently plays Rachel Berry in the Fox television series GLEE. She made her film debut in New Year's Eve starring alongside Ashton Kutcher in 2011.

For more information on the show, visit www.springawakening.com.

Read more: https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/BREAKING-Lea-Michele-in-Talks-for-SPRING-AWAKENING-FILM-20120209#ixzz1lvFdAz3e

[steven22]

Posted: 2/9/12 at 4:31pm

As long as this happens in the near future, I'd be thrilled!

[JP2]

Posted: 2/9/12 at 4:46pm

But it's McG.

[peachesr82]

Posted: 2/9/12 at 4:57pm

It seems a shame that Michael Mayer can't take the reins on this but I'm all for Lea doing it as long as they do soon. Yes I'm sure there are younger, probably even better young actresses who could do the role, but, I sort of feel like she deserves this. It's always been her part, she was with it for such a long time, it sort of feels right. I doubt that will be the general consensus though.

[steven22]

Posted: 2/9/12 at 5:09pm

Bring the ORIGINAL Wendla, Haven Burton in! Hahaha jk but talk about a controversy!

[jpbran]

Posted: 2/9/12 at 5:30pm

I don't mind some of the age discrepancies in film adaptations (entire "Rent" cast, etc.) but these characters are supposed to range from 14-17, correct? She's 25 now and can't pass for much younger than 21 or so. (the "Glee" cast is barely looking like college seniors, much less high school seniors)

[E.Davis]

Posted: 2/9/12 at 5:32pm

I will say that depending on how she is styled she appears much younger. If you saw this weeks episode the scene with her in her bedroom she looked quite young.

[jpbran]

Posted: 2/9/12 at 5:39pm

Don't take my age gripes as an issue with her... I was one of the few who'd have actually been ok with her as the film Eponine.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 2/9/12 at 6:38pm

Did any of you see Grease? Audiences are pretty forgiving in their suspension of disbelief. She's a huge name and will sell tickets to the demographic. I wish they'd cast Groff too. That would be wonderful.

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 2/9/12 at 7:06pm

I am one of the people on here who loves Spring Awakening, but I actually think it will have to be re-conceived to work as a film. It also would work best as a low budget indie type film, but I havce a feeling Hollywood would never go for that.

Michael Mayers directed the stage version very well. I don't think he's up to the task with film, personally (and I haven't seen his other stage works etiher). Home at the End of the World was very clumsily directed (with Duncan Sheik doing the score I always wondered if this led to Spring Awakening). It DOES have a few brilliant moments and use of music, but... Of course the film was hampered by some miscasting, and the screenplay (by the novel's author Michael Cunningham, who is one of my fave writers but has let me down with his screenplays--see the well cast maudlin mess that's Evening for another example).

It may have been an impossible task to take a book that goes through an epic amount of time and is told from vastly different character perspectives alternately, into a 2 hour movie, but Cunningham and Mayer kinda somehow missed nearly all o the power and beauty of the great novel.

I admit I never saw his film of Flicka though :P Or his upcoming work on Do No Harm, a tv thriller (he did direct the pilot of Smash I believe and maybe some future episodes).

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 2/9/12 at 7:15pm

What's a McG?
Ne has musical experience?

[adamgreer]

Posted: 2/9/12 at 8:26pm

Lea Michele has developed into a complete annoyance, and her performance on Glee is ridiculously over the top. That being said, in Spring Awakening, when she was tightly directed and reigned in by Michael Mayer, she was fantastic. I still remember her performance vividly. As long as this happens soon, and McG can keep her on a short leash, I think this is a great idea.

However, if they're going to cast Michele, there is absolutely no reason why Jon Groff and John Gallagher Jr. (the best of the three, in my opinion) shouldn't get to repeat their roles, too.

Updated On: 2/9/12 at 08:26 PM

[Kad]

Posted: 2/9/12 at 9:03pm

Well... I'd say that Gallagher, Jr. reads much older than the other two do now.

But this is McG we're talking about here. His claims to fame are the Charlie's Angels films and Terminator: Salvation. How he got to the helm of Spring Awakening is mind-boggling.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 2/9/12 at 9:15pm

There are several reasons they would use Lea and not the Jonnies; An International hit TV series, top selling CDs, an Emmy nom, Golden Globe nom, People's Choice Award and the cover of every fashion mag in the world.

However I also think they should repeat their roles instead of Zac Efron et al.

[pinoyidol2006]

Posted: 2/9/12 at 10:06pm

At least she's getting to do something musical theater-related aside from gLee. She's been passed over for both Funny Girl and Les Mis, so I'm happy for her. I don't know how the movie will turn out, but I guess we'll see.

[Square Peg2]

Posted: 2/9/12 at 10:11pm

For those asking about McG's musical experience, I believe he was well known for directing music videos before making the Charlie's Angels films.

Makes sense, then, that he would be Hollywood's pick for this film (not mine, for the record).

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 2/9/12 at 10:54pm

Thought 1: gag.
Thought 2: Who the eff is McG?

[Kad]

Posted: 2/9/12 at 11:00pm

Someone too good to have a name.

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 2/9/12 at 11:02pm

McG directed Charlie's Angels and created The OC. He also directed such classic music videos as "Pretty Fly (For a White Guy)".


I'm sad that I knew that from memory.

[emida]

Posted: 2/9/12 at 11:02pm

adamgreer, I found it funny that you're considering her over the top acting in Glee as a bad thing when it's actually supposed to be over the top. Like it or not, that's how the character was created. Everything about Rachel Berry is over the top...

Anyway, concerning the news for her casting in the movie, I'd say that if they are going to do a movie, she deserves to be in it, but I really wished the 3 originals would all be in it. I wouldn't understand them casting Lea, but not Jonathan Groff and John Gallagher when they were the ones who got good reviews.

[Kad]

Posted: 2/9/12 at 11:29pm

What's all this nonsense about Lea "deserving" it, as if she's been denied so much in her professional life?

[emida]

Posted: 2/9/12 at 11:45pm

For me, it's mainly because she was attached to the project since she was 14 years old. I wouldn't mind someone else being given the role, but if she ends up being cast in the movie, it will be well-deserved.

I think I didn't express myself really well, which happens sometimes since I'm not a native english speaker. Anyway, my intention was not to imply that she had been denied a lot in her professional life nor was it to say that the role belongs to her automatically.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 2/9/12 at 11:45pm

adamgreer, I found it funny that you're considering her over the top acting in Glee as a bad thing when it's actually supposed to be over the top. Like it or not, that's how the character was created. Everything about Rachel Berry is over the top...

Yeah, I get that, but it's not just her performance on Glee...her entire persona, on and off camera, has become irritating.

What's all this nonsense about Lea "deserving" it, as if she's been denied so much in her professional life?

I never said she deserved it, only that I thought she was very good in the stage production (again, under tight control from Mayer, I would presume) because it was before she became "famous."




Updated On: 2/10/12 at 11:45 PM

[emida]

Posted: 2/9/12 at 11:51pm

^^^

I get that... her personality and the way she comes across in public is definitely not for everyone. I think she's the kind of actress you like or you hate. It's like there's no middle ground.

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 2/10/12 at 1:15am

"Deserves it"? I just don't buy that rationale. There have been far more iconic stage performances that deserved to be preserved on film only to be passed over due to fame or age. Now, yes, Lea Michele is in the public eye, but come on, how are we to believe she is going through puberty? She has definitely crossed into adulthood when it comes to film.

What would be far more interesting (and dark and real and tragic) is if they get actual 14- to 18-year-olds who look the correct age. For example (because I'm excited for the upcoming Hunger Games movie), is it more effective to have an actual 12-year-old in a death arena or someone who's 20 playing eight years younger?

Wedekind subtitled Spring Awakening as a children's tragedy. Now I know for legal reasons, certain roles must be cast 18+. But it won't be as stirring to cast an actress who's 25+, looks her age, and is unbearable on and offscreen. How is the audience expected to root for Wendla and take her side? And yes, I saw her stage performance. While I did think she was memorable, I've always found her to be ingenuine, and Spring Awakening was no exception.

If you want famous people in the movie, cast them in the adult roles and plaster their names everywhere (that's what they did for Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close, with an unknown kid in the lead role). By all means, get attractive enough kids, but make them age appropriate, Degrassi/Skins style. I'd almost prefer kids from Nickelodeon or Disney if we're saying the direction will/must be tight and strict for Lea's sake.