'Miss Saigon' - news, cast, rumors...
03-22-11 | 01:08 PM
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'Miss Saigon' - news, cast, rumors...
since it's been rumored for a while now that a film version of the famous Claude-Michel Schonberg/Alain Boubil is in the works, here the latest news regarding casting
Will Anna Maria play Kim in Miss Saigon film version?
FUNFARE By Ricardo F. Lo The Philippine Star Updated March 21, 2011
As Funfare reported in a scoop several issues ago, it’s all systems go for the film adaptation of Broadway’s musical hit Rock of Ages, with New Line Cinema set to hold auditions on March 26 in Los Angeles for some roles still up for grabs.
Said Funfare’s Big Apple correspondent Edmund Silvestre, the source of that scoop, “It’s probably safe to say that Fil-Aussie rocker MiG Ayesa is out of the running for the movie version since his coveted role of Stacee Jaxx is going to no less than Tom Cruise who reportedly wants the part badly.”
The Mission Impossible star, who recently watched the L. A. staging of the musical currently on US tour and caught up with MiG and the whole cast afterwards, will be joined by Alec Baldwin (as Dennis), Mary J. Blige (as Justice) and Julianne Hough (as Sherrie Christian).
But there’s no bitterness on the part of MiG, we heard from the grapevine. From the ongoing US tour of the smash-hit musical, MiG is heading to Broadway to play Stacee Jaxx (and where he could be a Broadway sensation) night after night beginning March 24 at Helen Hayes Theater on Times Square. Funfare will cover MiG’s premiere night that is expected to draw film and theater luminaries.
With more Broadway musicals finding their way onto the silver screen in recent years (Les Miserables, Chicago, Phantom of the Opera, Rent, The Producers, Sweeney Todd, Hairspray, Mamma Mia, Dreamgirls, Nine), another long-running musical is said to be in the planning stage. It’s the megahit Miss Saigon which ran for a decade on Broadway (after opening on London’s West End) and made a then Filipina teenage singer/actress — Lea Salonga, who else! — an internationally-renowned Tony-winning stage performer and a Best Actress grand slam winner at that!
Edmund noted that, for the record, Miss Saigon is the 10th longest-running show on the Great White Way topped by The Phantom of the Opera, Cats and Les Miserables — all produced by Sir Cameron Mackintosh.
It’s been over 10 years now since Sir Cameron first revealed his desire to make a film version of Miss Saigon that also introduced to theater world numerous Filipino talents like, among others, Monique Wilson, Joanna Ampil, Jamie Rivera, Leila Florentino and Jenine Desiderio, who all played Kim; and Cocoy Laurel and Leo Valdez as The Engineer. (Mackintosh said in an interview that Leo is his favorite Engineer.)
As a reminder, Edmund added that Miss Saigon is, of course, a retelling of Giacomo Puccini’s opera Madame Butterfly about an American soldier who falls in love with a Vietnamese bar girl during the Vietnam War in the 1970s and then abandons her. “Hands down, it’s our most favorite Broadway musical of all time what with its breathtaking set designs (the helicopter drama scene is phenomenal), captivating songs and scores, and show-stopping performances by a cast of mostly Asian artists, many of them Filipinos, who only reaffirmed the world-class talents of the Pinoy.”
The long overdue plan, or dream, of bringing Miss Saigon to Hollywood resurfaced late 2009.
“That was when news came out that Lee Daniels, who helmed the Oscar-nominated drama Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire, expressed interest in directing the Cameron Mackintosh magnum opus, with Hollywood hotshot Paula Wagner — yes, Tom Cruise’s producing partner — as producer. Paula was the executive producer of movies like Mission: Impossible (II and III), War of the Worlds, Vanilla Sky and The Last Samurai, among others. She’s currently the founder of Chestnut Ridge Productions and Miss Saigon could be her company’s first production, according to her bio in Wikipedia.”
According to previous reports, the shooting for Miss Saigon was to start in 2010 with a target release date for 2011. It even has production credits in the movie archive of The New York Times with Daniels as director, Wagner and Cameron Mackintosh as producers, and Claude-Michel Schonberg and Alain Boubil as source material.
But to date, no production date or casting has been announced. Some big names in Hollywood have earlier been floated for the roles of the American G.I. Christopher “Chris” Scott, and the scene-stealing engineer (aka Tran Van Dinh) — the character that gave the legendary English star Jonathan Pryce a Tony Award and made Filipino Leo Valdez a stage phenomenon overseas.
According to Edmund, among the A-Listers mentioned for the movie version were James Franco as Chris, and Hugh Jackman as The Engineer. One of the Jonas Brothers was also being eyed as Chris, according to sources.
As for the young, and innocent bar girl Kim (a role that also gave Lea Laurence Olivier Best Actress honors, and several New York theater acting trophies), a few young Asian and Asian-American actresses are reportedly being considered for the role.
At her age now, Lea would be too old to play Kim, a role tailor-made for her when she was discovered (at age 17) by Mackintosh and his team, who were spellbound by her flawless, angelic voice and beauty oozing with innocence and fierceness during an arduous worldwide search that ended in Manila.
According to the grapevine, Sir Cameron may have found his new Kim who could give justice to the demanding role.
Fil-Am Disney star Anna Maria Perez de Tagle (Hannah Montana, Camp Rock, Fame) is said to be in Sir Cameron’s very short list — possibly on top of that list — if and when cameras start rolling for Miss Saigon The Movie. Anna Maria is the daughter of Archie Perez de Tagle (son of Sylvia La Torre who came home in December last year to guest-perform in a concert at the CCP produced by Irene Marcos-Araneta and to take a month-long vacation with her husband, Dr. Celso Perez de Tagle, a dentist).
Revealed Edmund, “Unknown to many, Anna Maria was flown to London (all expenses paid!) in the middle of last year after Sir Cameron requested to meet her.
“During that trip, Anna Maria and her party, which included her manager Papa Jonas (real-life dad of the famous Jonas Brothers), were reportedly given VIP treatment by Sir Cameron and his people. Sources said Sir Cameron squeezed out Anna Maria’s raw emotions as she belted cuts from Les Miserables and Miss Saigon.”
Lo and behold, Sir Cameron was said to have fallen in love with Anna Maria. He and his people were reportedly blown away by what they saw and heard that he was quoted as saying, “Lea Salonga is reborn.”
The compliment came as no surprise given that Anna Maria is an ardent fan of Lea, not only for Lea’s talent and career path, but also for her squeaky-clean image and reputation as an international artist.
Ask anyone in Disney and they have nothing but praises and admiration for Anna Maria’s extraordinary talent and passion for work, as well as her demeanor and deep respect for her parents and peers.
“She’s the ultimate Disney star,” Edmund quoted a Disney insider as saying. “It’s like you always want to root for her because she’s the nicest kid on the block with great talent and beautiful personality. She’s the real deal.”
Edmund said that Anna Maria’s camp declined to comment about the London meeting, saying that nothing is final yet and that they wouldn’t want to preempt any plan Sir Cameron may have for Anna Maria.
Sources, however, said that movie or no movie, the multi-millionaire British producer is bent on bringing back to Broadway or West End the tragic story of Kim.
“And Anna Maria surely is in Sir Cameron’s radar,” concluded Edmund.
~~~
Franco as Chris... ? come on the guy's overexposed as it is.... no doubt Chris should be charismatic, but the singing is very important in that role. I didn't even really care for Peter Cousens singing ability as 'Chris' in the Complete Recording album - his voice I thought was too whiney at times.
another Jonas brother to ruin the party - please no... Nick didn't cut it in the Les Miz 25th Anniversary Concert Performance in my opinion.
Hugh as the Engineer - oh I can see that, no doubt, Hugh can ACTUALLY sing.
Will Anna Maria play Kim in Miss Saigon film version?
FUNFARE By Ricardo F. Lo The Philippine Star Updated March 21, 2011
As Funfare reported in a scoop several issues ago, it’s all systems go for the film adaptation of Broadway’s musical hit Rock of Ages, with New Line Cinema set to hold auditions on March 26 in Los Angeles for some roles still up for grabs.
Said Funfare’s Big Apple correspondent Edmund Silvestre, the source of that scoop, “It’s probably safe to say that Fil-Aussie rocker MiG Ayesa is out of the running for the movie version since his coveted role of Stacee Jaxx is going to no less than Tom Cruise who reportedly wants the part badly.”
The Mission Impossible star, who recently watched the L. A. staging of the musical currently on US tour and caught up with MiG and the whole cast afterwards, will be joined by Alec Baldwin (as Dennis), Mary J. Blige (as Justice) and Julianne Hough (as Sherrie Christian).
But there’s no bitterness on the part of MiG, we heard from the grapevine. From the ongoing US tour of the smash-hit musical, MiG is heading to Broadway to play Stacee Jaxx (and where he could be a Broadway sensation) night after night beginning March 24 at Helen Hayes Theater on Times Square. Funfare will cover MiG’s premiere night that is expected to draw film and theater luminaries.
With more Broadway musicals finding their way onto the silver screen in recent years (Les Miserables, Chicago, Phantom of the Opera, Rent, The Producers, Sweeney Todd, Hairspray, Mamma Mia, Dreamgirls, Nine), another long-running musical is said to be in the planning stage. It’s the megahit Miss Saigon which ran for a decade on Broadway (after opening on London’s West End) and made a then Filipina teenage singer/actress — Lea Salonga, who else! — an internationally-renowned Tony-winning stage performer and a Best Actress grand slam winner at that!
Edmund noted that, for the record, Miss Saigon is the 10th longest-running show on the Great White Way topped by The Phantom of the Opera, Cats and Les Miserables — all produced by Sir Cameron Mackintosh.
It’s been over 10 years now since Sir Cameron first revealed his desire to make a film version of Miss Saigon that also introduced to theater world numerous Filipino talents like, among others, Monique Wilson, Joanna Ampil, Jamie Rivera, Leila Florentino and Jenine Desiderio, who all played Kim; and Cocoy Laurel and Leo Valdez as The Engineer. (Mackintosh said in an interview that Leo is his favorite Engineer.)
As a reminder, Edmund added that Miss Saigon is, of course, a retelling of Giacomo Puccini’s opera Madame Butterfly about an American soldier who falls in love with a Vietnamese bar girl during the Vietnam War in the 1970s and then abandons her. “Hands down, it’s our most favorite Broadway musical of all time what with its breathtaking set designs (the helicopter drama scene is phenomenal), captivating songs and scores, and show-stopping performances by a cast of mostly Asian artists, many of them Filipinos, who only reaffirmed the world-class talents of the Pinoy.”
The long overdue plan, or dream, of bringing Miss Saigon to Hollywood resurfaced late 2009.
“That was when news came out that Lee Daniels, who helmed the Oscar-nominated drama Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire, expressed interest in directing the Cameron Mackintosh magnum opus, with Hollywood hotshot Paula Wagner — yes, Tom Cruise’s producing partner — as producer. Paula was the executive producer of movies like Mission: Impossible (II and III), War of the Worlds, Vanilla Sky and The Last Samurai, among others. She’s currently the founder of Chestnut Ridge Productions and Miss Saigon could be her company’s first production, according to her bio in Wikipedia.”
According to previous reports, the shooting for Miss Saigon was to start in 2010 with a target release date for 2011. It even has production credits in the movie archive of The New York Times with Daniels as director, Wagner and Cameron Mackintosh as producers, and Claude-Michel Schonberg and Alain Boubil as source material.
But to date, no production date or casting has been announced. Some big names in Hollywood have earlier been floated for the roles of the American G.I. Christopher “Chris” Scott, and the scene-stealing engineer (aka Tran Van Dinh) — the character that gave the legendary English star Jonathan Pryce a Tony Award and made Filipino Leo Valdez a stage phenomenon overseas.
According to Edmund, among the A-Listers mentioned for the movie version were James Franco as Chris, and Hugh Jackman as The Engineer. One of the Jonas Brothers was also being eyed as Chris, according to sources.
As for the young, and innocent bar girl Kim (a role that also gave Lea Laurence Olivier Best Actress honors, and several New York theater acting trophies), a few young Asian and Asian-American actresses are reportedly being considered for the role.
At her age now, Lea would be too old to play Kim, a role tailor-made for her when she was discovered (at age 17) by Mackintosh and his team, who were spellbound by her flawless, angelic voice and beauty oozing with innocence and fierceness during an arduous worldwide search that ended in Manila.
According to the grapevine, Sir Cameron may have found his new Kim who could give justice to the demanding role.
Fil-Am Disney star Anna Maria Perez de Tagle (Hannah Montana, Camp Rock, Fame) is said to be in Sir Cameron’s very short list — possibly on top of that list — if and when cameras start rolling for Miss Saigon The Movie. Anna Maria is the daughter of Archie Perez de Tagle (son of Sylvia La Torre who came home in December last year to guest-perform in a concert at the CCP produced by Irene Marcos-Araneta and to take a month-long vacation with her husband, Dr. Celso Perez de Tagle, a dentist).
Revealed Edmund, “Unknown to many, Anna Maria was flown to London (all expenses paid!) in the middle of last year after Sir Cameron requested to meet her.
“During that trip, Anna Maria and her party, which included her manager Papa Jonas (real-life dad of the famous Jonas Brothers), were reportedly given VIP treatment by Sir Cameron and his people. Sources said Sir Cameron squeezed out Anna Maria’s raw emotions as she belted cuts from Les Miserables and Miss Saigon.”
Lo and behold, Sir Cameron was said to have fallen in love with Anna Maria. He and his people were reportedly blown away by what they saw and heard that he was quoted as saying, “Lea Salonga is reborn.”
The compliment came as no surprise given that Anna Maria is an ardent fan of Lea, not only for Lea’s talent and career path, but also for her squeaky-clean image and reputation as an international artist.
Ask anyone in Disney and they have nothing but praises and admiration for Anna Maria’s extraordinary talent and passion for work, as well as her demeanor and deep respect for her parents and peers.
“She’s the ultimate Disney star,” Edmund quoted a Disney insider as saying. “It’s like you always want to root for her because she’s the nicest kid on the block with great talent and beautiful personality. She’s the real deal.”
Edmund said that Anna Maria’s camp declined to comment about the London meeting, saying that nothing is final yet and that they wouldn’t want to preempt any plan Sir Cameron may have for Anna Maria.
Sources, however, said that movie or no movie, the multi-millionaire British producer is bent on bringing back to Broadway or West End the tragic story of Kim.
“And Anna Maria surely is in Sir Cameron’s radar,” concluded Edmund.
~~~
Franco as Chris... ? come on the guy's overexposed as it is.... no doubt Chris should be charismatic, but the singing is very important in that role. I didn't even really care for Peter Cousens singing ability as 'Chris' in the Complete Recording album - his voice I thought was too whiney at times.
another Jonas brother to ruin the party - please no... Nick didn't cut it in the Les Miz 25th Anniversary Concert Performance in my opinion.
Hugh as the Engineer - oh I can see that, no doubt, Hugh can ACTUALLY sing.
03-22-11 | 09:30 PM
#3
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Re: 'Miss Saigon' - news, cast, rumors...
I don't see how they can bring this to the big screen and do something like the helicopter landing in the stage version. I have seen it and it's quite impressive. However, anyone can film a helicopter landing. This will need the music and strong performers to carry it, and even if it gets that going there's still a strong possibility it will flop.
03-23-11 | 03:01 AM
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Re: 'Miss Saigon' - news, cast, rumors...
Ouch 
No, the on-stage spectacles that were big in the '80s don't have the same impact in the movies. It's no Les Mis, but I think the score is pretty solid. I would think that stuff like Nine would scare people off from filming B-list musicals, though.
I don't see how they can bring this to the big screen and do something like the helicopter landing in the stage version. I have seen it and it's quite impressive. However, anyone can film a helicopter landing. This will need the music and strong performers to carry it, and even if it gets that going there's still a strong possibility it will flop.
03-23-11 | 07:52 AM
#5
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Re: 'Miss Saigon' - news, cast, rumors...
I'm not sure why "Les Mis" is on their list of musicals that have been made for the big screen.
I can see Jackman as the Engineer, but I'll second no Jonas Brother as Chris! That's a role that requires a bit more than just singing and looking pretty. Are they trying to make this "Disney's Miss Saigon"?
I can see Jackman as the Engineer, but I'll second no Jonas Brother as Chris! That's a role that requires a bit more than just singing and looking pretty. Are they trying to make this "Disney's Miss Saigon"?
03-23-11 | 08:08 AM
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Re: 'Miss Saigon' - news, cast, rumors...
<iframe title="YouTube video player" width="640" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/XMCge2kFNhk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
03-23-11 | 08:12 AM
#7
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Re: 'Miss Saigon' - news, cast, rumors...
I honestly don't see why they don't make "Les Mis" as a movie musical adaptation. It seems like it would lend itself better than Miss Saigon. "Les Mis" has some sequences that could actually look better on the screen as well as sets that could be greatly expanded.
However, even if it's all well done, it could still flop.
However, even if it's all well done, it could still flop.
03-23-11 | 08:24 AM
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Re: 'Miss Saigon' - news, cast, rumors...
I honestly don't see why they don't make "Les Mis" as a movie musical adaptation. It seems like it would lend itself better than Miss Saigon. "Les Mis" has some sequences that could actually look better on the screen as well as sets that could be greatly expanded.
However, even if it's all well done, it could still flop.
However, even if it's all well done, it could still flop.
Then again, movies like Titanic and The Passion of the Christ were also risky, so maybe we just need someone with the balls to make it happen.
03-23-11 | 08:58 AM
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Re: 'Miss Saigon' - news, cast, rumors...
There was an interview a while back with Les Mis producer Cameron Mackintosh where he said he wasn't interested in seeing the play turned into a feature film unless it looked exactly how it looks on stage (ala Cats).
Les Mis is my wife's absolute favorite musical. She's waiting for a feature version like I'm waiting for The Hobbit.
Les Mis is my wife's absolute favorite musical. She's waiting for a feature version like I'm waiting for The Hobbit.
03-23-11 | 02:52 PM
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Re: 'Miss Saigon' - news, cast, rumors...
Ran across this story recently
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/movi...iserables.html
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/movi...iserables.html
Tom Hooper could direct Les Miserables musical, could have directed 'Iron Man 3'
February 23, 2011 | 5:15 pm
Hooper
EXCLUSIVE: Of all the filmmakers to see their stock boosted this Oscar season, none has enjoyed the Google-like jump of Tom Hooper. Like any director with an Oscar nomination and a $100-million hit on his hands, "The King's Speech" helmer has been wooed by numerous studios in town.
Perhaps the most interesting offer that we've heard about? It comes from Marvel and involves some shiny gizmos. According to a person who has worked closely with Hooper but who asked not to be identified because the director did not authorize this person to speak on his behalf, the Brit was offered the director's chair on "Iron Man 3," the latest installment in the Robert Downey Jr. franchise. He turned it down, and "Lethal Weapon" writer Shane Black wound up landing the job several weeks ago.
While Hooper won't be steering Stark Industries, another person who has worked closely with him said he was weighing an offer to direct "Les Miserables," a new version of the classic novel and Broadway musical set in 19th-century France. The movie, which is being developed by "Atonement" producer Working Title, is conceived as a big-budget musical.
A "Les Mis" movie would mark a return to the big screen for the story of Jean Valjean after a 1998 non-musical version (which, coincidentally, starred "King's Speech" star Geoffrey Rush as the villainous Inspector Javert). If Hooper accepted the gig, it would continue a European trend for the director: His "The Damned United" was also across the pond.
Hooper has not taken a new job since "Speech" wrapped shooting about a year ago.
When we interviewed him earlier this season, Hooper said he wouldn't mind continuing the "Speech" pattern and directing another historical or period story. "I'm certainly on the lookout" for something like that, he told 24 Frames.
A representative at Hooper's agency International Creative Management did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the two projects.
The "Iron Man" offer is reminiscent of last year's bid by Sony for "The Hurt Locker" director Kathryn Bigelow -- another filmmaker who saw her fortunes polished by Oscar season -- to direct its reboot of "Spider-Man." She turned it down to make "Triple Frontier," an action-movie passion project.
--Steven Zeitchik and Nicole Sperling
February 23, 2011 | 5:15 pm
Hooper
EXCLUSIVE: Of all the filmmakers to see their stock boosted this Oscar season, none has enjoyed the Google-like jump of Tom Hooper. Like any director with an Oscar nomination and a $100-million hit on his hands, "The King's Speech" helmer has been wooed by numerous studios in town.
Perhaps the most interesting offer that we've heard about? It comes from Marvel and involves some shiny gizmos. According to a person who has worked closely with Hooper but who asked not to be identified because the director did not authorize this person to speak on his behalf, the Brit was offered the director's chair on "Iron Man 3," the latest installment in the Robert Downey Jr. franchise. He turned it down, and "Lethal Weapon" writer Shane Black wound up landing the job several weeks ago.
While Hooper won't be steering Stark Industries, another person who has worked closely with him said he was weighing an offer to direct "Les Miserables," a new version of the classic novel and Broadway musical set in 19th-century France. The movie, which is being developed by "Atonement" producer Working Title, is conceived as a big-budget musical.
A "Les Mis" movie would mark a return to the big screen for the story of Jean Valjean after a 1998 non-musical version (which, coincidentally, starred "King's Speech" star Geoffrey Rush as the villainous Inspector Javert). If Hooper accepted the gig, it would continue a European trend for the director: His "The Damned United" was also across the pond.
Hooper has not taken a new job since "Speech" wrapped shooting about a year ago.
When we interviewed him earlier this season, Hooper said he wouldn't mind continuing the "Speech" pattern and directing another historical or period story. "I'm certainly on the lookout" for something like that, he told 24 Frames.
A representative at Hooper's agency International Creative Management did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the two projects.
The "Iron Man" offer is reminiscent of last year's bid by Sony for "The Hurt Locker" director Kathryn Bigelow -- another filmmaker who saw her fortunes polished by Oscar season -- to direct its reboot of "Spider-Man." She turned it down to make "Triple Frontier," an action-movie passion project.
--Steven Zeitchik and Nicole Sperling
