|
Stars For Rent
By David Easton | Article by David Eason, entertainment reporter. Images property of Columbia Pictures
Rent
The long winding road of development from stage
musical to film covered vast territory before
ultimately making a full circle return home to the
original cast members that created the roles.
Rent
When the film rights were first purchased by Robert De
Niro's Tribeca Productions, epic filmmaker Martin
Scorsese was attached to direct. Later he would be
replaced by Spike Lee.
As is the case with most transfers of Broadway
musicals to film, studio executives felt the best way
to ensure a return on their investment would be to use established entertainment stars in the lead roles.
Spike Lee heavily favored Latin singer Marc Anthony
for the male lead of aspiring rock singer Roger Davis.
Justin Timberlake and Christina Aguilera also
campaigned for roles.
As screen testing progressed and development began to
be counted in years, however, some believed that the intricacies and extreme vocal demands of the score by the late Jonathan Larson were too challenging for anyone not acclimated to the stage.
After the departure of Lee from the project studio
executives began to consider a compromise cast, actors
proven on stage to be able to handle the musical
demands of the score but with at least some Hollywood
name pedigree to make an impact at the box office.
Neil Patrick Harris became the front runner to play
the story's narrator, filmmaker Mark Cohen. Rikki Lee
Travolta emerged as the leading contender for
struggling rocker Roger Davis. Wilson Cruz was
heavily favored to join the cast as cross-dressing
street musician Angel Schunard.
Based on the recent success of television adaptations
of Broadway musicals such "The Music Man" and "Annie"
and the more general household appeal of the proposed
stars, development of "Rent" was moved from focusing
on becoming a feature film to an NBC television
miniseries.
Learning no director was attached to the project,
Chris Columbus who directed the hugely popular "Harry
Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" and had been a fan of
"Rent" since seeing the original stars on Broadway
campaigned to take the reins and move the project back
to film.
Still touched by the performance he saw on Broadway
nearly a decade earlier, once officially on board to
helm the film "Rent" Columbus sought out the one cast
he thought could do the material the greatest
historical justice - the original Broadway cast.
Under Columbus' direction six of the original eight
leading performers from the Broadway stage return to
the roles they created: Adam Pascal as Roger Davis,
Anthony Rapp as Mark Cohen, Wilson Jermaine Heredia as
Angel Schunard, Jesse L. Martin as Tom Collins, Taye
Diggs as Benjamin Coffin III, and Idina Menzel as
Maureen Johnson.
Daphne Rubin-Vega who originated the role of stripper
Mimi was unavailable to reprise the role on film due
to pregnancy. Fredi walker who originated the role of
attorney Joanne Jefferson excused herself from
consideration for the film, citing that in nine years
she had aged beyond the believability of the role.
They are replaced on film by Rosario Dawson and Tracie
Thoms, respectively.
The nine year journey of stage to screen took many
turns and presents fans with many scenarios of "what
could have been." Ultimately, though, the journey
returns home to where it began, with a core of the
original actors - a little older, a little wiser, but
forever a part of the mystic that will always surround
"Rent."
Rent
Rent
Rent
After the departure of Lee from the project studio
executives began to consider a compromise cast, actors
proven on stage to be able to handle the musical
demands of the score but with at least some Hollywood
name pedigree to make an impact at the box office.
Neil Patrick Harris became the front runner to play
the story's narrator, filmmaker Mark Cohen. Rikki Lee
Travolta emerged as the leading contender for
struggling rocker Roger Davis. Wilson Cruz was
heavily favored to join the cast as cross-dressing
street musician Angel Schunard.
Based on the recent success of television adaptations
of Broadway musicals such "The Music Man" and "Annie"
and the more general household appeal of the proposed
stars, development of "Rent" was moved from focusing
on becoming a feature film to an NBC television
miniseries.
Learning no director was attached to the project,
Chris Columbus who directed the hugely popular "Harry
Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" and had been a fan of
"Rent" since seeing the original stars on Broadway
campaigned to take the reins and move the project back
to film.
Still touched by the performance he saw on Broadway
nearly a decade earlier, once officially on board to
helm the film "Rent" Columbus sought out the one cast
he thought could do the material the greatest
historical justice - the original Broadway cast.
Under Columbus' direction six of the original eight
leading performers from the Broadway stage return to
the roles they created: Adam Pascal as Roger Davis,
Anthony Rapp as Mark Cohen, Wilson Jermaine Heredia as
Angel Schunard, Jesse L. Martin as Tom Collins, Taye
Diggs as Benjamin Coffin III, and Idina Menzel as
Maureen Johnson.
Daphne Rubin-Vega who originated the role of stripper
Mimi was unavailable to reprise the role on film due
to pregnancy. Fredi walker who originated the role of
attorney Joanne Jefferson excused herself from
consideration for the film, citing that in nine years
she had aged beyond the believability of the role.
They are replaced on film by Rosario Dawson and Tracie
Thoms, respectively.
The nine year journey of stage to screen took many
turns and presents fans with many scenarios of "what
could have been." Ultimately, though, the journey
returns home to where it began, with a core of the
original actors - a little older, a little wiser, but
forever a part of the mystic that will always surround
"Rent."
For the trailers, movie stills, posters, synopsis and movie info, go to the Rent Movie Page.
Stay tuned for updates.
|
David Easton
Sources: Article by David Eason, entertainment reporter. Images property of Columbia Pictures
Contact
© 2004 Minds Eye One, All Rights Reserved
The Can Magazine™ is a trademark of Minds Eye One
All movie titles, movie icons, movie stills/clips/trailers/other media... are registered trademarks and/or copyrights of stated holders
CanMag.Com banners contain movie/gaming icons that were created by individual holders
|
|
|
Add to Heffee!
