Stoke Yourself For Stoker
Tuesday, August 2, 2011 at 5:06PM 
JA from MNPP here, curious if y’all have been following the delightful casting news that’s been coming out bit by bit day after day for Oldboy director Park Chan-wook’s first English-language film Stoker. I mean just the fact that PCW is making an English-language movie’s exciting enough – not that I have trouble with subtitles, I'm fervently infatuated with every movie he's made, but it means one of my favorite directors is getting to round up some of my favorite Hollywood actors, which he’s doing in spades.
First, some background: Stoker’s script was written (under a pseudonym) by Prison Break actor Wentworth Miller, and is described as “a dramatic thriller about a young woman whose eccentric uncle comes back into her life after the death of her father.”
Attached to the script way back when it was first being talked about were Carey Mulligan and Jodie Foster, which already got us thinking something really good is going on with the script or Park's exciting enough all on his own to snatch up such solid names... hopefully both! Unfortunately scheduling got drawn out and Carey took off to star opposite Michael Fassbender in Steve McQueen’s upcoming film Shame (can’t blame her for wanting to go hang with Fassy for awhile) and Jodie went to work with Roman Polanski on Carnage (also can’t blame that). But Park & Co. managed no downgrade in their replacing – Mia Wasikowska and Nicole Kidman (making up for this) stepped right in. Now them's a two-fer.
The role of the “eccentric uncle” was rumored for awhile to be recent Oscar picker-upper Colin Firth, but somebody apparently decided to age the character down a whole bunch and the role went to the 50 year old Firth’s 33 year old Single Man boyfriend Matthew Goode instead. Even though he might not pack the immediate wallop that Firth does, Goode’s shown a lot of promise in the past – he was mesmerizing in The Lookout.
We don’t have word yet when filming begins, but we're thinking it must be soon since three more names have hopped on board over the past week – Lucas Till, who played Havoc in the recent X-Men movie; Alden Ehrenreich, a cute young thing that caught Steven Spielberg’s eye and can be seen in both of Francis Ford Coppola’s most recent efforts; and most awesomely Jacki Weaver, who shoulda won that Supporting statue last year for her terrifying turn in Animal Kingdom just for the way she arched her eyebrows and smiled that sinister Grinch’s smile. If you’re keeping count, that's three count ‘em three singular Aussie actress sensations for the price of one. Can’t beat that!
Reader Comments (14)
Wow, I actually had no idea Mia Wasikowska was australian.
Do I wish that Colin Firth hadn't dropped out? Yes. Has this made me any less excited for PCW + everyone else in the cast? Not one bit.
The idea of Jacki and Nicole opposite each other is just crazy, CRAZY (and considering that they both should have walked home with Oscars last year. YAY). I have to admit, I'm sort of iffy on Mia Wasikowska, the most interested I've been in her is when Annette Bening pronounced her name at the Golden Globes making it sound all exotic. She seems nice enough, but I find her so bland.
We've been discussing this film on a fansite forum for Nic I'm part of:
http://www.nicolesurbanlegend.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=17253&p=272779#p272779
This is the first time I've seen photos of Mr Goode. I was disappointed when I heard Firth dropped out (Firth and Kidman sharing scenes together? Dear Goddess of Cinema...) and I can't imagine Goode as anyone's "uncle" from those photos (yes, I know someone can be a young uncle - that one can even be younger than one's nieces and nephews, blah blah) - but he looks like a hottie from those photos, and the rest of that cast plus PCW is still a dream. Kidman + Weaver + Wasikowska = actressexual's wet dream.
Oscar. Oscar. Oscar.
Wow! What a great Australian trio! And I certainly agree that Alden Ehrenreich is eye catching. In Coppola's Tetro, he reminded me of a young Warren Beatty or Montgomery Clift. I've only seen Goode in Leap Year with Amy Adams (perhaps not the best showcase for either of them?)
Kidman + Weaver + Wasikowksa is a trio of awesome. Cannot wait!
I must say, I've loved seeing people struggle with Mia's name and being all "huh? oooh!" when Bening pronounced it at the Globes.
OMG what an actresstrio! Sooo excited
Foreign filmmakers attempts at English-lanaguage can often be an anti-climax but that is some cast.
This project looks and sounds so incredibly promising, it needs to come out, like, yesterday. Nic, Mia + Jacki? Directed by Park Chan-wook? Oh hell yes.
adri - Must watch A Single Man. Try not to swoon too hard. He's peppered throughout and wins you over each time.
LOL I also had a IS THAT HOW YOU SAY IT? moment when Bening pronounced it Vie-esh-kash-kah.
According to The Tennessean the film will be filmed in Belle Meade (Nashville).
I also find Mia Bland, I don't see what the big fuss is.
Eh, it was much more exciting when Foster and Mulligan were in talks. Would have loved to see those two actresses together. Nicole Kidman always ruins good parts for me.
Get better taste! ;)
Just kidding. Sort of.