CAST THIS: Pippin coming to the big screen!
Tuesday, December 30, 2014 at 7:45PM Manuel here bringing some exciting news for us musical junkies.
We've got magic to do... Just for you
It seems we have another big screen Broadway adaptation coming our way courtesy of Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, a pair of producers who have almost single-handedly kept the screen musical alive. NBC’s Sound of Music Live? Zadan & Meron! Oscar-winning Chicago, SAG-nominated Hairspray and Emmy-nominee Smash? Yep, you guessed it: Zadan & Meron! They are even responsible for some of the less celebrated attempts at live action adaptations of Broadway musicals, from the swiftly forgotten 2003 adaptation of The Music Man featuring Matthew Broderick and the Kathy Bates-led 1999 Annie to the Bette Midler TV adaptation of Gypsy back in 1993.
Needless to say, they’re invested in this genre in ways not many other producers are. We can argue about their batting average. For every attempt at ‘modernizing’ a piece to its very detriment -- see 2011’s Footloose, there’s an ill-fated attempt at old-fashioned family entertainment like this year’s Peter Pan Live! Which brings us back to Pippin, the 1972 Stephen Schwartz penned musical loosely based on Pippin and his father Charlemagne, whose circus-inspired Broadway revival is set to close this weekend and which Zadan and Meron are bringing to the big screen soon.
Delighted musicals did strong b.o. this season because our next feature musical is Stephen Schwartz's PIPPIN which we produce for Weinstein.
— Craig Zadan (@craigzadan) December 29, 2014
I’m curious as to who they nab for directing (though maybe more importantly for screenwriting duties). This is a clearly stage-bound piece: the conceit is that what we see on stage is a number of players acting out the story of Pippin as, in true 1970s fashion, he tries to “find himself.” The original production was directed by Bob Fosse, so these are definitely big shoes to fill. More for our amusement though, this offers up the chance to play casting directors. For those of you who aren’t familiar with the show, I’ve broken down the main characters below from the casting call the American Repertory Theatre used to cast the revival.
PIPPIN- male, 18-26. The son of Charlemagne and heir to the throne of the Holy Roman Empire, Pippin has returned from university to discover that he does not know what to do with his life. He searches for something in his life to be fulfilling, while the Leading Player and the troupe of players guide and manipulate him. Tenor.
LEADING PLAYER- (Can be male or female)- Dangerous, charismatic, extremely charming and seductive, the Leading Player is the leader of the troupe and the mastermind behind Pippin's journey. The Leading Player must be an incredibly strong performer with the willingness to take risks and dig deep and dark; a powerful presence. Male: Tenor, Female: Alto/Mezzo with a strong belt.
CHARLEMAGNE-male, late 40s-early 60s, Pippin’s father and the King of the Holy Roman Empire. He rules the empire with an iron fist, and his focus on the battlefield inspires Pippin to try becoming a soldier. Legit Baritone.
FASTRADA female, early 40s-early 50s, Pippin’s stepmother, Charlemagne’s wife, and Lewis’s mother. A manipulative woman with sexual appeal and a strong desire for power, Fastrada aims to get her son Lewis to be first in line to the throne. Dancer.
LEWIS-male, early 20s-early 30s, The son of Charlemagne and Fastrada, Pippin’s half brother. He is a soldier in Charlemagne's army and he prides himself on his athleticism and physical prowess.
BERTHE-female, early 60s-80s. Pippin’s grandmother, and Charlemagne’s mother. An incredibly spunky older woman with excellent comedic timing, Berthe leaves the kingdom to enjoy the "simple joys" of life. Alto.
CATHERINE-female, late 20s-early 30s. Pippin’s love interest, a tragically widowed farmer’s wife with a young son. She rebels against the Leading Player's scheme by actually falling in love with Pippin. She is kind, generous, romantic, and strong-willed. Mezzo with a strong mix.
Who would you cast for each? I'm hoping they don't offer Berthe to Meryl, if only because I want Andrea Martin to reprise her Tony winning role on screen. Does news of Pippin the big screen treatment fill you with, as Nat mentioned in his Into the Woods review, a hesitation “between devastating disappointment and ecstatic pleasure”?
Reader Comments (44)
Hopefully they dont make it an all white cast
I actually think that Pippin's music is rather forgettable-- the acrobatics were the only thing that drew me to the recent stage version-- so I hope they manage to do something interesting with the staging here.
Pippin--Can Jack O'Connell sing? or Eddie Redmayne.
Berthe should go to Chita Rivera.
Leading Player is wide open although it would be a shame to pass on Patina Miller.
Trivia on Leading Player--the part was originally conceived to be played far older. Ben Vereen auditioned playing him younger and Fosse kept the idea.
Zeta Jones for the step mother. (Vanessa Williams would work too)
Jackman for Charlemagne
Lewis--Billy Magnesun (sp)
Gugu for Catherine (might be a little young) or Amy Adams.
I think I've got a decent mix of stars to carry the non-stars and everyone can sing. Taymor should direct but I wonder what Bigelow could do with it?
Oh my God, Martin's comment has me made so worried. They're probably only going to cast white actors... When will this nonsense stop?!
I hope they go total unknown (i.e. with a young musical theater stage actor with screen charisma) for Pippin and then they can load up on stars in supporting roles.
HUGH JACKMAN for Charlemagne and PATRICK WILSON for Lewis because i need to see both in more musicals.
But BILLY MAGNUSSON anywhere.
I'm stumped on The Leading Player, though.
Pippin-Can Ansel Elgort sing? Because if so, he's got the look down for this part, and is in that "about to be a superstar" bubble that would probably come to fruition if he nailed this.
Leading Player-In a perfect world they'd just go with Patina Miller, who was wonderful in this role, but I suspect that they want a bigger name like Beyonce (which doesn't actually seem that far-fetched). But since this is me casting it I'll go with Miller.
Lewis-Since he did so well in Into the Woods, why not just go with Billy Magnussen?
Fastrada-Zeta-Jones for the win.
Charlemagne-John Lithgow's been on a role lately, why not cast him?
Catherine-She's supposed to be a little bit older than Pippin if they go with the fourth wall breaking, so I'm going to go with Laura Bell Bundy.
Berthe-Say it with me now people, "CAST SHIRLEY MACLAINE!"
OY I'm so torn. I really don't like this musical (the music drives me nuts). BUT I enjoyed the heck out of Patina Miller and Andrea Martin in the revival. I'm with the rest of the TFE commentariat in hoping that Patina Miller gets cast again, but I won't hold my breath. Love Henry's suggestion of casting Gugu as Catherine though.
I'm sure they'll put Beyonce in it, and I'm sure she will be terrible, and I'm sure it will be terrible, because it's a terrible musical. I need Follies!!!!!!! Make a movie of that Hollywood.
I'm telling you right now they're going to go for Beyoncé or Rihanna for the Leading Player. It's going to be that kind of movie.
I'm going to start casting my imaginary Follies. Pfeiffer as Phyllis. Catherine O'hara as Sally(she's good at singing sallys.) Rita Moreno as Carlotta.... Anyone want to help me...
You just know NPH is doing naked cartwheels down Sunset hoping to be cast as Pippin.
John T just nailed it!
CAST SHIRLEY MACLAINE! Perfect choice for Berthe.
And Patina has to reprise her Broadway performance on the screen.
As far as the rest of the cast goes ...
Maybe Andy Mientus as Pippin. Aaron Tveit as Lewis. Laura Benanti as Catherine.
Nicole Kidman as Fastrada. No clue for Charlemagne.
Toni Collette as the Leading Player?
They HAVE to go with Patina Miller, yes? Or else, like... what's the point?
oh, "smash"... some of their casting choices are questionable to say the least, so I would be worried.
I'm scared of the things I would do to make Kevin Kline and Michelle Pfeiffer Charlemagne and Fastrada.
I've only seen that great Tony's performance of Pippin, but it's safe to say that Patina Miller is frickin fierce in the leading player's role.
and god, I am both scared and delighted at that Beyonce suggestion!
LOL at that Meryl sass, but I just want Glenn Close in everything nowadays.
According to Wikipedia, James Ponsoldt (The Spectacular Now) has been slated by Weinstein to adapt the film. Not sure if that is still the case (dates from 2013).
Berthe was originally played by Irene Ryan (Granny from the Beverly Hillbillies) who was said to be brilliant in the role. She suffered a stroke on stage during the show and died 6 weeks later. Jill Clayburgh was the original Catherine, Leland Palmer (All that Jazz) was Fastrada. Chita Rivera is also well known for playing Fastrada. There is apparently a taped version made in Canada with Verreen, Rivera and William Katt (Carrie) as Pippin.
berthe: dolly parton
Seeing the original Pippin (several times) as a lad was one of the contributing factors to my becoming a performer, so I feel very protective of it. At the same time, I know it's more a great spectacle than a great text, with fun and catchy songs (like Schwartz's Godspell) that are not Sondheim caliber. (When A Little Night Music won six Tonys to Pippin's five, I boohooed and pooh-poohed, not knowing that Night Music would become one of my all-time favorite shows when I grew up.) The revival was exciting, but it can't compare to the magic of the original (Fosse > Paulus; Vereen > Miller).
All that said, even though I do not have high hopes for a screen adaptation, I can easily see Grant Gustin as Pippin, Hugh Jackman as Charlemagne, Toni Collette as Fastrada, Channing Tatum as Lewis, Anna Kendrick as Catherine, Rita Moreno as Berthe (although Dolly Parton would also be an inspired choice), and Usher Raymond as the Leading Player.
Maybe this property is niche enough and so inherently theatrical that they won't worry too much about marquee value casting? Or they'll overcompensate for the same exact reason. Either way, I practically demand to see Dolly Parton as Berthe. She spent most of "Joyful Noise" basically playing a wisecracking cartoon owl, so at least here there's some dignity to a similar function.
NO.
Why do they insist on making films of musicals that have conceits strongly rooted in theatrical conventions?!?!? Practically the whole point of Pippin is that we are watching a troupe of actors putting on one performance of many of this particular show - in fact, it's the central plot point of the grand finale! Yes, the revival was a hit, but mostly because of it's theatrics, which could translate to the screen, yes, but it's not a place where they could shine and take center stage the way they did onstage. It's also one of the trickiest musicals ever in terms of getting the tone right. Not that you couldn't make an interesting, great film out of the material, but this is a weird, potentially fatal choice for a movie musical, and I find it deeply troubling that of all the musicals that have ever been, THIS is the one they decide to make next.
THAT SAID, I LOVE playing the casting game, and... y'all are crazy. Hugh Jackman for Leading Player ALL THE WAY. That's the marquee role, you need someone with oodles of charisma who can sing and dance and bring just enough of a dangerous, sexy edge to it. He's PERFECT for it, and too young-looking for Charlemagne. Actually, why not cast Ben Vereen himself as Charlemagne? Catherine Zeta-Jones would make a killer Fastrada. Or, if we can step away from the movie stars for a bit, Donna Murphy. Amy Adams is a cliche choice but practically perfect for Catherine (who is only about two steps away from Enchanted's Giselle). Pippin can be played by any pretty young thing - Kyle Dean Massey stepped into the revival at some point and he's great, but I could see Eddie Redmayne being good in the part. NPH would be good but at this point he's too old. He could possibly be a good Leading Player, but I'm not sure. I'd love to see Andrea Martin reprise her Tony-winning performance as Berthe, but I need more Catherine O'Hara in my life and she'd be GREAT in this part. Or why not Diahann Carroll? She can sing, she's the right age, and she's still foxy! Actually, can Debbie Allen sing? It would be fun to see her in that part. Or GLENN CLOSE.
NPH has to be on their wish list for Leading Player (he actually has magic to do! and hasn't broken out in film yet), but they must be aware that role in particular would be the first to raise accusations of whitewashed casting, even if it isn't written as a particular gender, race, etc.
John T - Ansel Elgort is actually an incredible singer, and I'm not saying he's the man for the job, but I think he'll most definitely be courted for the part.
I did not see the original. And although I enjoyed the revival (and Patina Miller) this is a tough show. What makes the musical work on stage are great production qualities. Like the great tent that Paul talks about, it is a 3 ringed circus of action………. Cirque du Soleil meets Bob Fosse. denny is correct and may have more imagination that I, but I have no idea how to translate all that on screen, maybe like re envisioning Godspell?
I do heartily second (better third) Dolly Parton as Berthe (even over Shirley MacLaine whom I love). No Time Now is her kind of song; on tour it became a kind of audience sing a long.
JS -- has he sung before in a movie or tv show?
All this talk of Joyful Noise and Dolly Parton makes me think: Queen Latifah for the Leading Player?
As for Pippin, Jonathan Groff comes to mind. So does Iwan Rheon, who has a lovely voice and looks rather boyish despite being almost 30.
If we must have a big name, Daniel Radcliffe has an okay voice (and let's be honest- they'll use lots of post-production voice modulation as they have on most other recent musicals), is charismatic, has musical theater experience, and would have a huge draw that might be appealing to producers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHvuZvacQw4
He has some local theater experience. Here's him playing Collins. He's also played Link in Hairspray.
Okay, so I remember being far more impressed the first time I saw that clip. Either way, he's got the foundation to be an incredible singer should he work hard on his technique. He'll find his say in movie musical someday for sure.
I think the Leading Player needs a feline quality to be successful and many of the names being mentioned don't fit that bill. Actually, and I can't believe I'm suggesting her, but, Charlize Theron has the look, the menace and the dance ability for the Leading Player. Don't know if she can sing.
I would still prefer to see Patina Miller get first shot. A lot depends on how her face reads in close up in that character. Her work on Madam Secretary doesn't present her much opportunity to show that side of her ability.
Y'all know, especially after INTO THE WOODS, that Berthe is going to me Meryl. I'd like to see Andrea Martin or Glenn Close (OR OH MY GOD ANGELA LANSBURY) to that role.
Pippin - Eddie Redmayne...or...gulp....Ansel Elgort?
Leading Player (if male) - Hugh Jackman or Eddie Murphy
Leading Player (if female) - Catharine Zeta-Jones
Charlemagne - Hugh Jackman or John Lithgiw
Berta - everyone mentioned above and maybe Chita Rivera?
Catharine - Gugu or Kendrick
Lewis - Channing tatum?
Fastrada - ???
How the hell are they gonna translate this for the big screen? The concept of it is VERY theatrical. I hope this announcement means they've figured out how to do it.
As for casting, here are my thoughts:
PIPPIN - I always thought Elijah Wood would make a good Pippin. I hear he has a good singing voice. He's almost 34 but looks younger. If not, they could go with Aaron Tveit, Eddie Redmayne, Daniel Radcliffe.
THE LEADING PLAYER - It would be nice to see Patina Miller reprise the role but you know they're gonna go with someone like Beyonce.
CHARLEMAGNE - i kind of want to see Christopher Walken in this role for some reason.
FASTRADA - I concur with Catherine Zeta-Jones.
BERTHE - Andrea Martin should reprise the role. Is Debbie Reynolds still in good health? I could see her rocking this role.
LEWIS - I only see Andrew Rannells' face for some reason.
CATHERINE - Depending on who they cast as Pippin, I think Anna Kendrick can rock the role.
Henry - Charlize Theron was actually cast as Roxie in Chicago until Rob Marshall came aboard and Zellweger ended up with the part, but i don't know the story of what happened there.
Please dear God....no Meryl Streep for Berthe - there are other actresses. I just saw it in DC - the show was awful. But Lucie Arnaz, believe it or not, stole the whole show. Give the role to her.
First off.....NMS NMS NMW....no meryl streep!!!! Please!!!!. here is a golden opportunity to hand out an "Effie" Supporting actress Oscar to a vet who needs her first or second Oscar. Grandmother: Angela, Debbie, Glenn, Tyne, Lucie, Angerlica...crazy Liza - omfg - how fantasic would she be???....Shirley.....I love Dolly (sans all the glop). Possibly Miss Ross or Miss Lupone? Cloris. Chita. Moreno...... Step Mother: Siguorny; amay adams, Viola Davis; any 40+ Black Actress; Pfeifter;
Alex: imdb trivia has some interesting background into the film of Chicago. Originally Fosse was to direct with Liza, Sinatra and Goldie Hawn. Fosse's death ended that dream. Nicholas Hyntner was to direct at one point and cast Theron (replacing Hawn (1998)). When Marshall replaced Hyntner, he made Theron re-audition and cast the Zell instead. Apparently there was a pretty long and nearly bloody fight between Zeta-Jones and the Zell's agents over billing. Finally settling on diagonal billing so depending on the direction you read the poster from, either could be interpreted as top billing.
oh....and Pippin???? augh. very mediocre score. why don't they do "Wicked" or "Sunset Blvd" - which could be GREAT film musicals.
Pippin should be Derek Hough
to the guy or others who said PIPPIN's music was forgettable. i have a suggestion. buy the album or download the score. listen to it a couple of times. that's how you remember music. i don't think if I saw SOUND OF MUSIC or MY FAIR LADY only ONCE---would i be able to recall the songs.
If I had to pick th cast.....
Pippin- I would pick James Maslow, because, as it states on his Wikipedia page, he has experience in Musical Theatre and he is also a very good singer & dancer.
Leading Player- If it was a man, my pick would be Usher, because one he's a phenomenal entertainer and two he'd be paying tribute to his godfather the equally phenomenal "Ben Vereen." But if it's a female they are looking for, my pick would be the very talented and energetic "Janelle Monae" although she has little acting experience, this role would be perfect for her energy and her gorgeous voice.
Charlemagne- I would like him to be played by Nathan Gunn. I went to go see him in Sweeney Todd and he was completely out of this world. His voice and personality will definitely fit for the war bound King.
Fastrada- I'd like Bernadette Peters to play this, she would definitely be sassy and snarky enough to play this.
Catherine- Elizabeth Gillies was my first choice, because she is very beautiful and very talented musically as well.
Pippin john Gallagher jr.
Leading player. Hugh jackman
Catherine. Amy Adams
Berthe. Meryl
Charlemagne Kevin Kline
Fastrada. Catherine zeta jones
my only opinion in this matter is that Tituss Burgess plays the Leading Player
Anybody know of updated information on the start of production of PIPPIN
For what it is worth, here is my dream cast for my all time favorite musical...
Pippen: JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE - I've always envisioned him in this role
Leading Player: BRUNO MARS - has the charisma and the moves
Charlemagne: HUGH JACKMAN - seems to be popular choice
Fastrada: JENNIFER LOPEZ or EVA MENDES - both sexy as anything and can sing
Lewis: ELIJAH KELLEY - may be younger than Justin, but put a beard on him and he is way older
Berthe: CHER - c'mon, she could certainly bring some spunk to the role and has done comedy before
Catherine: EMMY ROSSUM - sexy as hell with the pipes to go with it
Let me know what you all think. Can't wait to see this up on the big screen.