Oct 27 2009People Magazine's Hottest Hunks of Various Years Competing for Sinatra Bio?
The ever-reputable Guardian claims Martin Scorsese's Frank Sinatra biopic is the setting for a casting war! Except it's not so much a war so much as three big names that they're claiming may or may not be trying to get the lead:
George Clooney, Leonardo DiCaprio and Johnny Depp are all fighting to land the role that will surely give the victor the best chance yet of securing the critical acclaim to match their earning power.Scorsese, who won his first best director Oscar in 2006 for The Departed, wants his current muse DiCaprio to play the Rat Pack singer. The two are putting the finishing touches to Shutter Island, their fourth film together, before Scorsese turns his attention to making Sinatra next year.
Executives at Universal, the studio financing the film, are pushing for Depp to play Sinatra, after being impressed by his performance as bank robber John Dillinger in Public Enemies this year.
But Sinatra's daughter, Tina, has her own view of how her father should be portrayed, which critics feel would be a sanitised life story. She favours Clooney, in what would be his most challenging role to date, as a safe pair of hands.
Obviously Martin Scorsese wants Leonardo DiCaprio playing Frank Sinatra. Martin Scorsese wants Leonardo DiCaprio to play every part. Howard Hughes, Gangs of New York guy, Departed guy, Shutter Island guy, muse, friend, wife, loving mother to his bushy-eyed progeny: Scorsese wants to see DiCaprio's round head in every one of those roles. And besides that, he'd probably would be a pretty decent Sinatra.
What confuses me are the latter two claims...
Universal executives want Johnny Depp because he's a box office draw? Because Leonardo DiCaprio isn't a box office draw? Maybe one day someone will put him in some kind of big, sweeping, blockbuster romance that will allow him to capture the public eye, but for now, he's a nobody. That kid from Growing Pains' later seasons is in a new movie? No thanks! Give me the star of Public Enemies any day! Because that's also what Johnny Depp is primarily known for. Public Enemies.
And then daughter Sinatra wants George Clooney? If Clooney is anyone in the Rat Pack, he's clearly Dean Martin. I mean, he'd have to be drunk, but then he's clearly Dean Martin. Get a grip.
Let's put this baby to bed right now. Scorsese, just do a Google search for "Sinatra impersonator" and go with the first guy under 50. Not only will you get someone who probably looks vaguely like Sinatra and have the voice, he'll surely have his own fedora. That's $avings. And when you want him to sing for the wrap party, it's just another $200 plus drink tickets! You're welcome.
(via Cinematical)
Reader Comments
1. Kiaya - October 27, 2009 5:47 PM
Hmm.. I would say Depp as Dean Martin.. DiCaprio shouldn't be anyone- he grosses me out.. Clooney would be an ok Sinatra I guess...
Hey! what about blond James Bond guy??
2. Anthony - October 27, 2009 5:59 PM
What about Toby Huss? Looks like him, sounds like him, even sings like him. And I think he's got the chops to do all the dramatic parts. Sinatra had a very distinct vocal style. Can any of the aforementioned names even come close to it?
3. Eddy - October 27, 2009 6:36 PM
Honestly, I think a Sinatra biopic, well done, would be such a draw that having a big name modern actor might not be a benefit. I think it might be a great showcase for a fresh discovery.
4. Daedalus - October 27, 2009 9:26 PM
Harry Connick Jr FTW !!
5. Some guy - October 27, 2009 10:47 PM
I really wish Marty would finally make Silence instead of this...
6. xxx - October 27, 2009 11:30 PM
James Franco
7. cbobgo - October 27, 2009 11:58 PM
I second the Harry Connick Jr. He practically already is Sinatra, so he might as well play him. Granted, he couldn't act his way out of a paper bag, but he can sing.
8. Plantkill - October 28, 2009 1:03 AM
I'll go with harry connic jr also. he might not have the box office draw but he is a good actor and his singing would knock that shit out of the ball park>>> But then johnny dept also has some singing in him.Sweeny todd ?
9. dunno - October 28, 2009 7:47 AM
@Anthony:
Toby Huss! Thank you! He's perfect for this!
In fact, he is so much more appropriate for this role that I will never pay money to see this film without him as the lead (which means I definitely won't).
Putting a big name actor that comes nowhere close to the look or sound is appalling when you have a talented actor who was born to play Sinatra.
I hate stuff like this.
I, dunno
10. Cprime - October 28, 2009 12:48 PM
frank sinatra = ol' blue eyes
leo is the only of the 3 that has real blue eyes- but still he is too bloated imo.
but still..i think depp could do it and props to the Toby Huss comments. Remember Vegas vacation with him as the frankie impersonator selling the fake IDs?
11. HeyHey - October 28, 2009 2:51 PM
Ohh.. Harry Connick Jr! yea that would be good
12. anon - October 28, 2009 3:06 PM
Oh no! I hate Harry Connick, but I love Frankie so much. Even though Depp looks nothing like him, I think he could pull it off since he's such a good actor.
13. Freck - October 28, 2009 4:09 PM
Gabriel Damon.
14. Tawny - October 28, 2009 4:12 PM
How about no one plays Sinatra? No one can even come close to Ol' Blue Eyes.
15. sully - October 28, 2009 4:50 PM
Clooney already played Sinatra in Ocean's 11 didn't he? Basically?
@IWS Writer: This is the funniest article I've ever read by you. "That kid from Growing Pains' later seasons is in a new movie? No thanks! Give me the star of Public Enemies any day! Because that's also what Johnny Depp is primarily known for. Public Enemies." Hilarious.
@2/12: You want the Mattress King to play Sinatra? Good luck with that.
@Everyone: We must remember that Sinatra was an asshole. So we need someone to be able to play such an asshole. Lets get Scorsese to make this when DeNiro was still young, he'd be perfect.
I read this profile on Sinatra, and the scene reminded me of that opening shot in A Clockwork Orange, and I want that shot to be in the film. Scorsese, are you listening? Copy that exact shot, you know you love Kubrick. Just do it.
16. bribios - October 28, 2009 5:16 PM
Christian Bale. Because he was Batman, and usually in any of these casting threads someone says Christian Bale. Because he was Batman.
17. bman - October 29, 2009 3:10 PM
Looks like David Spade to me from that angle.
18. Frank - October 30, 2009 3:10 AM
Gary Sinise? Definitely not one of the three mentioned.