Wagner, Daniels in "Miss Saigon" Talks
In what would be her first film producing project since leaving the CEO slot at United Artists in 2008, Paula Wagner is mobilizing a screen version of “Miss Saigon” as a directing vehicle for Lee Daniels.
Daniels, who has drawn festival acclaim for “Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire,” has alluded to the possibility in red carpet interviews, but his reps say it’s one of several possible next projects. And movie transfers of big musicals are tough to pull off.
Still, Wagner is moving quickly under her newly formed Chestnut Ridge Productions banner.
She will produce the film with Cameron Mackintosh, who produced the original Broadway musical.
A screenwriter is about to be set, and financing discussions are underway with an eye toward getting the film into production next year for 2011 release, sources said.
The movie will be faithful to Claude-Michel Schonberg and Alain Boublil’s tale of the tragic love story of a Vietnamese bar girl and an American soldier before the fall of Saigon in 1975. “Miss Saigon,” which opened on the West End in 1989 and played on Broadway for nearly ten years, has been performed in 25 countries.
Wagner was Tom Cruise’s longtime CAA agent before becoming his partner in Cruise/Wagner Productions. After producing the “Mission: Impossible” trilogy and other films, they agreed to steer UA for ex-MGM topper Harry Sloan.
Wagner is separately developing a stage musical about the rise of hip-hop pioneers Run-DMC.
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James Marsden as the soldier, please!! And -- Hugh Jackman in the pimp role.
Posted by: Jerome | 10/21/2009 at 10:37 AM
Eric Kunze is the definite Chris, both in acting and singing.
Posted by: Margaret Wunschl | 10/21/2009 at 08:29 PM
Daniel Radcliffe as the soldier!
Posted by: maisy | 10/21/2009 at 11:01 PM
An unknown or not widely know in America cast would probably be wise for two reasons: a. if the film sucks, no harm, no foul. b. with excellent direction, we could have some fresh performances and some budding stars. As wonderful as Price and Salonga are, they're too old, and we definitely dont need to see Lucy Liu as Kim and Antonio Banderas butcher the Engineer (we've already seen what they can butcher together in Ecks V. Sever). So why not some fresh or overlooked choices?
Take for example: Dustin Nguyen from 21 Jump Street (old and sleazy), or Daniel Henney (young and sexy with the potential for evil) for the Engineer. And how about Maggie Q (for the Vietnamese touch) or even Brenda Song (for a young, more innocent version) for Kim? Smith Cho from Blades of Glory would be perfect for Gigi... And who could be better than Bismarckee as John? lol...just kidding of course...Nelsan Ellis from Trueblood is an outstanding and probably overlooked choice. And speaking of Trueblood, I'm betting that Ryan Kwanten could turn in a suprisingly poignant and serious performance as Chris (given the amount of accent and character-transformations he already undergoes playing the dimwitted Jason Stackhouse), or for a darker version, Nick Stahl from T3, Carnivale and Sin City might get the job done. And how about Evan Rachel Wood for Ellen? Just some food for thought...although it would be cool to see James Marsden...just not Jackman or Radcliffe, terribly miscast. Eric Kunze is terrific, though, but not film quality...nice guy too, met him last year at some cast party, has a funny scar/indentation on his right cheek which you can only see up close, where apparently he had plastic surgery done to make him look younger...he's pushing forty...but hey, onstage he's totally Chris :)
Posted by: Dan | 10/22/2009 at 11:21 PM
Charice as Kim !!!!!!! she's perfect for the role, 17 years old, very talented , upcoming diva and oprah's prodigy! she's can sing sweet to powerful! what more can u ask? here she is on Oprah singing her first single " Note to God" by Dianne Warren and produced by David Foster.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4Xd435coD4
Posted by: maila | 10/23/2009 at 11:26 AM