Universal, Barbra Streisand And Joel Silver Tap Julian Fellowes To Script ?Gypsy?

[somethingwicked]

It is laughable how many people keep referring to Laurents's death being some kind of facilitator of this film being made. It was green-lit and first developed when he was still alive, and if he didn't want it to happen, it never would have happened. End of story.

In a NY Times article that addressed the possibility of Streisand being too old to play Rose, Laurents said, “First of all, they can do magic in Hollywood. Second, does it really matter?”

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

I welcome as many GYPSY adaptations as it takes to get it right, though it might never actually work out on film. I'm in the minority who thinks Rob Marshall could have made a wonderful movie with this material, a much more natural fit for him than NINE. However, you need the right leading lady and I also think you need the right director. I think Fellowes is a great screenwriter, but I'm not sure the screenplay has been a major issue with the other adaptations--though none have benefitted from a brilliant screenplay by any means--whereas both leading ladies in the films were less than stellar, and neither director knew how to make the story or the musical numbers work for a different medium. I'd love to see Mike Nichols interpretation, it's unfortunate that Streisand is set as Rose though.

EDIT: I'd hardly refer to Pete Hammon as a "blogger," he has tons and tons of experience as a journalist in Hollywood. Deadline is probably the single most comprehensive and reliable source of industry-related news right now.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Is this all going to be a flash back, like AMADEAUS, with someone younger playing Mama Rose, because,

BARBRA IS TOO DAMNED OLD FOR THE ROLE, PERIOD!

[Gaveston2]

Despite everything I posted above, I should admit I think Streisand looks very good for her age and, yes, I will see this movie if it ever gets made, regardless of my reservations.

[CATSNYrevival]

Maybe they'll go ahead and use the same computer software Disney used to make Jeff Bridges look younger in Tron Legacy and erase all the wrinkles.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

I think Streisand's age is important but more than that, I'm concerned about the fact she hasn't acted the hell out of a role in so long! I also feel like her singing has swerved into autopilot mode. I want a completely unabashed Rose, not a carefully studied and calculated one. When Streisand is on, she's on, her performance in FUNNY GIRL is one of the best star turns I've seen in a Hollywood movie, but the problem is that--much like Liza Minnelli but obviously for different reasons--her brilliant acting has been replaced by something else that doesn't work quite as well.

[TheatreDiva90016]

"Maybe they'll go ahead and use the same computer software Disney used to make Jeff Bridges look younger in Tron Legacy and erase all the wrinkles."

Yes, I've said this countless times on this board.

[Michael Bennett]

Word at Universal is that the script is going to somehow address Streisand's age: I'm amusing with some framing device.

[somethingwicked]

But wouldn't that become a moot point if Streisand is still playing Rose for the scenes within the framing device, Michael Bennett?

I know I'm in the minority, but I say they need to just go with it. This is one of the greatest performers of all time playing one of the greatest roles of all time. Is it a stretch? Beyond. But are audiences going to be willing to suspend their disbelief? Absolutely.

[best12bars]

It'll all be a flashback from the nursing home.

Streisand will pull a Benjamin Button with special effects. They'll solder her face on from Funny Girl.

Meanwhile the maid will overhear June and Tulsa planning to elope and try to blackmail them both if they don't hire her cousin as a cook.

[egghumor]

Somethingwicked: "But are audiences going to be willing to suspend their disbelief? Absolutely."

Not according to this thread -- and this one is made up of many hardcore musical theatre queens! Many of us just ain't buyin' it.

[EricMontreal22]

SomethingWicked, at least in my case the crack about Laurents was meant as a joke--I think everyone is aware here that he was one of the one's pushing for the film, and seemed to imply he would be involved. That said there could be something for Streisand wanting to work on it more without his involvement... (I'm sure he wasn't too involved in her performance filming his screenplay for The Way We Were, of course...)

[Almira]

I wonder if the Laurent's estate will allow them to alter the original script.

If I remember correctly, the Bette Midler version was contractually bound to film the play as written and not add new scenes or alter dialogue.

[egghumor]

Lead producer Joel Silver is known as the "King of Action Films." From reviewing his long list of film productions, the only that involved music (more than underscoring) was XANADU!

[random person 112]

I can suspend my belief, many children are given to grandparents due to their parents issues today, and given that people often apply, rather falsely or not is for another debate, contemporary standards to period pieces. So i think she mit be okay.

[Gaveston2]

I'd hardly refer to Pete Hammon as a "blogger"....

There was no derogatory intent on my part. I referred to him as "the blogger" because we were discussing his blog and I didn't remember his name.

[beautywickedlover]

I wonder if they plan on using the original happy ending where Rose and Louise reconcile or the unhappy ending where Louise laughs at Rose's dream and then the light marquee with Rose's name disappears.

ETA: I am sure there are many people who also want Taylor Swift to stay waay from this film and not play June or Lousie.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

I'm so happy this is back on track because I want it so bad. I don't care if it's good, I don't care if it's crap, I just want it.

[Michael Bennett]

I think the likelihood of Streisand looking younger than her age are probably good- in the spirit of the show being a musical "fable" I'm willing to give Streisand the benefit of the doubt that they may figure out a way to make her age completely secondary to what I'm sure they hope will be a performance to justify the film being made-- I do know some pretty impressive people are circling the project and don't think they would be if they thought they might come away looking foolish for being involved.

[JP2]

"Not according to this thread -- and this one is made up of many hardcore musical theatre queens! Many of us just ain't buyin' it."

Except that if the film is made, and it is a success - both critically and commercially - most will act as if the comments in this thread never happened.

It's not like this is the first. Most fanboys had a hard time with RDJ as Iron Man for the same reason. "He's way too old" and "He hasn't had a starring role in years".

[redmustang]

She's only been on screen three times in the last 20 years - and two of the movies were as Roz Focker. She hasn't performed in a film musical for almost 30 yrs - Yentl 1983. And now, at this late date, she wants to film possibly the greatest stage role in possibly the greatest stage musical ever written. Oh, and she turns 70 in April. Has everyone on the West coast, Ms. Streisand AND Universal included, gone mad?

[Michael Bennett]

Why would the fact that she hasn't made a musical movie in 30 years be relevant? It's not like they are recording it live and i doubt she's forgotten how to lipsinc for the camera...

[somethingwicked]

In addition to what Michael Bennett said, redmustang, you're leaving out what Pete Hammond was talking about in the Deadline piece- Streisand has her first starring role in a movie in almost two decades coming out this year in THE GUILT TRIP opposite Seth Rogen, which has the potential to be a sleeper hit. It was slated to be released this month and the buzz on it has been so good that the studio pushed it back to a prime release date in November, so the timing for her to be making a more prominent return to the spotlight is actually pretty perfect.

Also, it's not as if she hasn't been able to get big roles in big movies for all this time. She hasn't wanted to. Those are two very different things. Take a look at the grosses for her last world tour before you start doubting the power of her celebrity. Streisand's name still packs a punch, and those who are skeptical of her casting will be just as quick to see this movie as those who are excited about it. This is a legend taking on legendary material, and it's an "event" no matter how you slice it.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Has anyone seen her latey?
She certainly doesn't look 70 or even close, with lighting, make-up and film magic, I think she'll pass for late 50's (still a tad old, but tons of Actresses that age have played Rose and got away with it.
As for the film itself, with her name and the name GYPSY, the excitement will be there.
Living up to it will be a chore, but definitely interest and newsworthy.

The fact that she hasn't made a musical only adds to the build-up.
Live, her voice ain't what it was, but taped for film, my money is she will sell the songs.

[egghumor]

Streisand playing Rose -- as originally conceived and written -- is about as plausible at this point in time as Sarah Palin becoming our next POTUS

[emilyfaye48]

it would be interesting to see a production of the show with accurately aged actresses. Technically speaking Mama Rose should be played by an actress between her mid-20s to mid 30s, with Louise and June being teens or early 20s. I'd be curious to see how it would work. I think it might change a lot about how we feel toward Rose having a younger more historically correct actress in the role. I feel like at the end of the show, although we agree that Rose was harsh and vicious we can see what motivated her, especially when it's an older actress whom you really feel has no options. But the real Rose was in her late teens or early 20s when her children were born so it might not feel so truthful that she "was born too early and started too late." I think realizing how young she was in real life when all this was happening makes her story more deranged and makes her a much greater villain in a way. But that's just my piece of pondering. I always feel so sympathetic toward Rose at the end of the show, but I don't know if I would feel that way if she was younger.