Major casting possibilities for the remake of The Thin Man were announced last week. Johnny Depp will be taking over the William Powell role of Nick Charles. It’s definitely type-casting, but if Hollywood is going to go there, they might as well do it right and "safely," no? Part of Depp’s charm is his ability to play a dashing drunk, which the role calls for. After his recent turns in The Tourist and The Rum Diary, however, I remain skeptical. Powell played Nick (at least in The Thin Man; I have yet to see the five sequels) more accessible than Depp's tendency to take a shine to his character's more aloof sides. Additionally, he doesn't really sell himself as a romantic lead these days, more odd character or regular schmoes in odd situations. Perhaps, this role will bridge his cinematic proclivities with relating to his audience. It’s definitely an opportunity for him to earn back some respect as a movie star. He’ll play a talented retired detective in a rock solid marriage with money at his disposal.
The role of the wife Nora Charles (originally played by Myrna Loy) has yet to be cast. Deadline reports that the eight main contenders are (from oldest to youngest) Rachel Weisz, Kristen Wiig, Amy Adams, Isla Fisher, Eva Green, Emily Blunt, Carey Mulligan, and Emma Stone. The interesting and unsurprising element is that all of these actresses are younger than Depp by at least seven years (there was about twelve years between Powell and Loy, so I suppose that's an improvement). Blunt, Mulligan and Stone, the youngest of the bunch all have at least two decades between them and Depp.
If we were talking perfect casting, as in, typecasting Myrna Loy as Nora Charles, I would say Debra Messing. The girl was born to play that part: funny, charming, and physically, the closest thing we have to Loy. [Update 4/8: And, FYI, this will be the last nice thing I will ever say about the woman.] Unfortunately for Messing, she’s too old (two years older than Weisz) and Hollywood prefers her on television. Lainey Gossip actually suggested Aisha Tyler and Cate Blanchett. They are both inspired choices. I’m not that familiar with Tyler’s work outside of Friends, but I like Lainey getting her younger readers to think of casting outside of how we normally imagine roles, especially in the wake of The Hunger Games/Rue debacle (if you’re not familiar, an assortment of Hunger fans expressed their disappointment on Twitter recently, because the part of Rue was played by a black girl). Of course, I would love to see Blanchett work opposite Depp and stretch herself out over a broad big-budget Hollywood comedy.
But, is this going to be a comedy? It just dawned on me that this may be turned into an “action comedy.” Part of the sparkle of the original Thin Man was the banter of the script and personalities of the stars. But, the title isn’t the onlythin thing about the movie; it’s a 90-minute film with a pretty thin plot, few set pieces and not a whole lot happens. I can already foresee an update with lots of chases, gun fire and lavishness. Their idea of updating the classic will be breaking down all of the walls of the tiny black and white film and pumping it full of steroids—and not the literary kind.
Anyhow, let’s say they have a great script and do things right, which dame is likely to make it in as Nora? On paper, to cast Blunt, Mulligan or Stone would just be just gross, especially for today’s audience. However, Depp reads much younger than his 48 years. Early 40’s/late 30’s, I’d say, which parallels William Powell’s age, who was about 41 at the time of filming. Myrna Loy was about 28 during camera roll. Mulligan and Stone both read early 20’s. It was hard for me to buy Stone as a “law graduate” in Crazy, Stupid, Love. even though she was quite good. Blunt, however, reads older, so I’d still consider her in the running.
Age aside, if we go the typecasting route, Amy Adams and Stone would best serve the role. They’re both quirky and beautiful and have a star quality about them that summons Loy. Perhaps it’s because they’re redheads? I’m not sure. Helena Bonham Carter, who has endless credits with Depp thanks to his professional relationship with her husband Tim Burton, would be a smart brunette for the role, but again, Hollywood considers her too old. Correct me if I’m mistaken, but have the two of them ever played romantically opposite each other? He’s always weird and she’s always his cohort.
But, I don’t imagine Isla Fisher in the role—she’s a redhead. She broke out in The Wedding Crashers seven years ago where she stole the movie from everyone except perhaps Rachel McAdams. She struggled towards leading status. Incidentally, she did voice work with Depp on Rango. She actually had a base hit with Confessions of a Shopaholic three years ago, but who knows how much money was spent to produce and market that movie. Still, little was made of its $108M worldwide gross. Perhaps, the studios expected more out the movie based on the popular Sophie Kinsella book series. Overall, Fisher’s time to strike while the iron is hot has passed.
While I’m unsure as to whether Eva Green’s moment is gone, I never got the leading lady vibe from her. We’ll be seeing her going toe to toe with Depp this May in Dark Shadows.
The serious contenders seem to be Weisz, Wiig, Adams, and Blunt. Weisz used The Mummy franchise to catapult her to exposure, which led to her Oscar. She has been doing sound work (The Whistleblower got itself at least an Oscar whisper during awards season; Pete Hammond suggests that her early-year release of The Deep Blue Sea may do the same), with some missteps. However, it was the younger Marion Cotillard who was chosen as the “older” actress in this summer's The Dark Knight Rises over both Weisz and Naomi Watts. It’s not unheard of to have your name part of the conversation for plum roles as Hollywood's need for you begins to wane anymore than it is if your star is on the rise, is it not? I hate to say it, but, yes, I think they may consider her “too old.”
I might even say the same about Wiig and Adams. However, if they were to go with someone like Wiig, it would be for a very specific comedic aesthetic. And, even though Wiig is sexy and beautiful, do you really think she fits the big studio’s version of attractive? My more cynical side says no.
But, consider, Amy Adams will be playing Louis Lane in the upcoming Superman. In a very nontraditional twist, she has not quite a good decade on Clark Kent (played this time by the mind-numbingly hot Henry Cavill). They went with a lesser known for their title character like last time. Additionally, the villain will be played by Michael Shannon, who, though Oscar-nominated, is still pretty new to audiences. With those two choices in mind, it seems quite possible that they were going for some name recognition with Adams. And, most capable actresses who fit this description exist in an age demographic older than 30.
That being said, getting cast opposite Depp would look like a spoil of riches for Adams, I just don’t see happening. I would love her to have the opportunity, though. And, let's also remember that if this film is a blockbuster, then the sequels will follow. They're going to want to cast as young as they possibly can get away with, which brings me back to the "young, but reads older" Blunt. And, you know they mean business. Notice how Blake Lively and Jessica Biel are not part of this conversation.
She first captured audience’s attention in a supporting role in The Devil Wears Prada. Anne Hathaway may have had the lead, Meryl Streep may have gotten the awards, but Blunt got everyone talking. Since then, she has been showing up in indies, failed studio Oscar bait and big budget remakes that crash and burn at the box office. The only thing I can say for her was that she was absolutely, undeniably marvelous and sexy in Dan in Real Life. The role was so different from her conceited, emaciated fashion-slave Emily. The girl has got range and it really seems like she’s been waiting since Prada for “her moment" (which Fisher seems to have already received). This could be it.
With Rob Marshall as director, we may even be looking at Marion Cotillard or Penelope Cruz, with whom he's worked now with twice. If this was ten years ago, his Chicago muse Renee Zellweger who specialized in playing mid-20th century girls might have been in the conversation. I'm not sure how much pull he has, and with the prospect of sequels, they have to be thinking as young as they'll be able to get away with.
With Rob Marshall as director, we may even be looking at Marion Cotillard or Penelope Cruz, with whom he's worked now with twice. If this was ten years ago, his Chicago muse Renee Zellweger who specialized in playing mid-20th century girls might have been in the conversation. I'm not sure how much pull he has, and with the prospect of sequels, they have to be thinking as young as they'll be able to get away with.
I’m calling it. Though it's not typecasting, Emily Blunt will score the part of Nora Charles. What are your thoughts?
[Update 4/3: This all being said, Wiig probably has an outside shot, considering she brings in box-office support from Bridesmaids.]
[Update 4/3: This all being said, Wiig probably has an outside shot, considering she brings in box-office support from Bridesmaids.]
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