Casting Couch: Gwyneth going Pepper for 'Iron Man'... and more
Posted Thursday, January 18, 2007 at 10:46 AM Central
by John Couture
I will be the first to admit it. I am not a comic book geek.
In this age of comic book movies, I couldn't tell you the difference between Ghost Rider and The Punisher, but I do know that there's one upcoming adaptation that I am looking forward to. That is next year's Iron Man.
Favs is directing it and he's really gotten into the spirit of the thing by taking fan feedback into heavy consideration. The latest news from Camp Iron Man is the casting of Gwyneth Paltrow in the role of Pepper Pots, Iron Man alter ego Tony Stark's executive assistant/love interest.
Jon Favreau's addition of an Oscar winner is just the latest in a string of interesting cast choices. Robert Downey Jr. has been given the lead role and should be able to bring depth to a character (Stark) that suffers from alcoholism. Having recently seen Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, I can't wait to see RDJ in a mainstream Hollywood role.
Also along for the ride is Oscar nominee Terrence Howard in the role of Rhodey, one of Stark's buds that eventually dons the armor himself when Stark's injuries temporarily sidelines the superhero.
If it isn't a comic book adaptation, then it must be a Broadway musical adaptation, right? Well, don't worry, you didn't think Hairspray would be the last one, did you?
Someone whose taste in music is chronically stuck in the 1970s approved the greenlight for an adaptation of Mamma Mia!. Yes, that's the show sprinkled with all of ABBA's hits. Yes, apparently someone thinks it's a good idea to be stuck in a dark theater listening to people belt out "Dancing Queen."
One person who likes the idea is Meryl Streep who has been inked to play the mother of a bride who has never met her father. As I'm told, the story progresses that the young bride invites three likely father candidates to her wedding, all the while breaking into Swedish song.
And finally today, I leave you with nothing more but juicy gossip. And it is quite juicy.
While Grind House will satiate Tarantino and Rodriguez fans for a little while, what everyone is really wanting to know is when we'll see Sin City 2. The oft-delayed sequel to the 2005 hit has been reportedly stuck waiting for actress Angelina Jolie to free up some time and commit to the project.
You see, the storyline for the second movie (again, my comic knowledge isn't grand, so please excuse my ignorance) revolves around a "dame to kill for." You know, as in that woman is so smokin' hot that I would kill for her. Or so, I'm told.
Considering that most warm-blooded males would put Jolie in that category, it seems worthwhile to wait. But, rumors are starting to filter in that producers are sick of waiting and may turn to another actress to fit that impossibly hard to fit bill.
The two actresses that have surfaced this week in talks about the role are Rachel Weisz and Rose McGowan. I don't know about you, but I'm less than enthused about these two. It reminds of that under-appreciated Oscar sketch by Chris Rock. "If you want Tom Cruise and all you can get is Jude Law, wait."
I think the only person that would kill for either of those two is Marilyn Manson, and that's for entirely different reasons. I would kill for Natalie Portman though. All Professional-like and stuff.