New Line Cinema is playing ball with Jim Carrey and Jake Gyllenhaal on "Damn Yankees," attaching both actors to star in a contemporized film transfer of the classic musical.
Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel are set to write the script.
The musical is being produced by Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, the duo behind New Line's musical "Hairspray"; a sequel to that film is in the works.
"Damn Yankees," which bowed on Broadway in 1955 and won seven Tony Awards, focuses on Joe Boyd, a happily married middle-aged man whose devotion to a hapless pro baseball team prompts him to make a Faustian bargain with the devil to help the team. He's transformed into slugger Joe Hardy, in exchange for Boyd's soul. Boyd can break the deal, but the deadline occurs during the World Series. For good measure, the devil engages Lola, a gorgeous lost soul, to seduce the slugger and seal his fate.
The plan is for Carrey to play the devil, and Gyllenhaal to play Boyd. It's the first musical for each.
...
The trick is finding a balance that retains the show's classic tunes like "(You Gotta Have) Heart" and "Whatever Lola Wants," while injecting a contemporary feel on a musical that is firmly rooted in the 1950s. The intention is to get a script from Ganz and Mandel before meeting directors, and actresses who'll want to play Lola.
Here's the trailer for the original 1958 movie:
(Photos courtesy of IHJ.)
71 comments:
This news has made me giddy as a schoolgirl. Teehee.
Okay, so right off the bat (hee, baseball metaphor) we need to think about who Hollywood might have in mind for Lola the seductress. Penelope Cruz would have been perfect, she has the dance training, probably can sing, but alas she's just finished filming the Broadway to film version of Nine and I can't see her doing two dancing/singing musical films back to back. I wonder if Angelina Jolie might want to take a shot at a little singing, a little dancing? She could certainly fill the seductress role.
And then there's the problem of the 1958 film losing a couple of terrific songs from the B'way production. A grave mistake I hope they correct in this new filmed adaptation. Especially since several of the songs cut were Joe Hardy songs, such as A Man Doesn't Know and Near to You. Gorgeous songs both.
Oh and where will this be filmed? I think some scenes will have to be filmed in some major league ballpark. And then since there are no Washington Senators baseball team anymore, of what team will Joe Boyd/Joe Hardy be a diehard fan? Ohhh the possibilities are endless. No they're not. There's only one team that will suffice. And only one ballpark.
Oh so exciting!!
I'm honestly so excited by this. Didn't Jake say he was a fan of musicals at some point? And then there is the whole Dream Girls sketch, we know he can sing! This is awesome, but can Jim sing?
You are not the only one giddy FL! What great news to wake up to. I loved the movie.
Penelope would be perfect for Lola, but yu are right about her doing another musical.
I don't think I got a chance to comment on the previous post about the Blame it video, I loved it and the song but not enough Jake!
I really hope this sees the light of day, it's been floating around HW for a few years now, they are working on a script so it may be awhile before we see it.
Great if it does but the actress will have some big shoes to fill, Gwen Verdon played Lola on b'way and the screen.
Oh goodness, I don't like Baseball,I'm not a big fan of musicals, and I can't stand Jim Carrey :(
If you're that eager to make a sporting movie Jake, darling, how about a nice criket based film, you'd look lovely in cricketing whites, perhaps a role as W G Grace, you'd even get to wear a nice bushy beard http://www.nettlesworth.durham.sch.uk/time/victorian/grace.jpg - Have I tempted you yet?
Good morning, babblers!
Wonderful news! I remember that Jake did tests for the Moulin Rouge and maybe he will realize the desire to do a musical.
I'm happy with the news, because it is something new and different from everything he did.
:):):)
Happy news indeed!! I just hope it doesn't go the way of the Joe Namath movie or the Untitled Moon movie, or the play that he was supposed to do.
I'll keep my fingers crossed!!
I'm so excited about the possibility of seeing Jake in Damn Yankees!
I really wish it was with someone other than Jim Carrey...... he gets on my last nerve.
But honestly, I'm not complaining! I'm happy for Jake...... he can really shine in this.
This is absolutely great news!!! FL, you know it's gonna be Boston...You know it is!!! :) :) :)
Since they're gonna update it and adapt it, do you think they'll let Jake do scenes in those green shorts? I know if they see the photos in this post they'd find a way...
I think Robert Downey, Jr. would have made a much better Devil. I just don't know if he can sing, but he is probably as good as Jake.
Aw! Jim Carrey can be quite palatable if he's reigned in and they don't allow his performance to overpower the plot. I really enjoyed him in Bruce Almighty. I love the idea of seeing what Jake can bring to play off of Jim Carrey's rubberfaced nuttiness.
As for Lola, WD&W nominates Anne Hathaway and I totally agree. Anne is having quite the box office run. Adding her into the mix would substantially up the movie's chances of success.
I just don't know if he can sing, but he is probably as good as Jake.
RDJ has a beautiful voice; has released at least one album and sings over the closing credits of Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang.
As for Lola, WD&W nominates Anne Hathaway and I totally agree.
I can't get on the bandwagon with that one. Lola needs to be exotic and seductive. Annie, bless her, is starting to look like the Joker with her exaggerated features. Lola has typically been a woman older than Joe Hardy. So, no.
Oh please, let this actually happen and not just rumored! Jake in a musical is great news and I can see Carrey as the devil.
I love Anne but Lola is a seductress/vamp. I also see Lola as older, maybe Catherine Zeta-Jones?
Kate Winslet can sing.
Hey, Just Jared used the same baseball pics of Jake for this story like GB did, LOL!!
http://justjared.buzznet.com/
I hope Amy Adams is in the running.
I'd also love to throw Emily Blunt into the ring!
I sincerely pray it isn't Kate Winslet or any of the others being bantered about. (Gwyneth Paltrow ?!? J Lo ?!?)
I agree with FluorescentLamp about Anne Hathaway. Not about her "joker" look, but about her not being right for this.
This is seriously exciting news.
I love how excited folks are about this. (Sorry, Agent K. Maybe that cricket movie will be next!)
I can't decide who should play Lola. CZJ doesn't do it for me. I agree that Anne H is too young and not exotic enough. She does have a beautiful voice, though. Maybe they can find a great unknown actress?
Not sure if people saw this among all the Yankees news. From a story on Rupert Friend:
I suggest that what Friend is essentially describing is the vicissitudinous life of a freelancer, something I completely understand. "Absolutely," he says. "My father started his own business and before that was a freelance lecturer, and my friends are artists and musicians, they don't have real jobs, none of us have real jobs," he laughs, "and it's really a process of trying to realise that it's not dead time, it's time that you can use to do the things that you don't do when you're working." Which would be what in his case? "I'd always wanted to work with wood, so a big thing for me was thinking, like, 'Okay, then instead of thinking I'm unemployed, I can try and do something with wood.'"
Friend gives a surprised laugh when I tell him that Jake Gyllenhaal also once told me that he enjoys doing carpentry when he is not filming. "Ah, maybe we can get together and make a bench," he chuckles. "I'm not very good, though. So I will be shown up in a big way."
Just a cute tidbit.
Oh, and a belated public thank-you to FL for literally saving this post :)
I had a technical snafu while trying to post and FL saved the day.
Who knew that being lazy and not closing windows would come in handy one day. :-)
So this one song from Damn Yankees - A Man Doesn't Know is so breathtakingly beautiful. And sad. And needs to be sung by Jake Gyllenhaal. Right now.
I'm betting serious money on location shooting in Boston! Field Trip!!! (If I had serious money, I would...)
Also, they will have to cast some locals, right???
I get stomach cramps thinking it could be Gwyneth Paltrow or Jennifer Lopez. Kate Winslet's worked with Jim Carrey before. Interestingly, Jake was dating Kirsten Dunst when she worked with Jim Carrey, and Kate and Mark Ruffalo were also in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. The Emily Blunt idea intrigues me. I think of Lola as world wise and weary, but not necessarily older then Jake. They would have to have good chemistry with him.Also able to sing and dance!
This is exciting news! I remember reading that both Jake and Heath were up for the role in Moulin Rouge but the director thought that they were too young for the part.
I can see Jake and Jim in the parts, but Lola will be a hard time casting IMO.
I love your optimism, bobbyanna! Production is still so far off anything could happen in the meantime. South Carolina and New Mexico, for instance, offer more attractive tax breaks and incentives for filming than Massachusetts. We'll see.
I've moved off the idea of who might be Lola. The Joe Hardy character has a lot of interaction, and musical numbers, with the woman playing his/Joe Boyd's wife whom he leaves behind and pines over. This role is usually that of an older woman. I need to think about this.
OMG. I just realized UV & FL posted a perfect candidate for Lola. Jake with Zooey Deschanel! it's a sign. I love her! She can sing like an angel and she would be superb as Lola. Or Joe's wife.
There is something to be said for authenticity, FL! I am betting Boston in! And it could happen sooner then you think! :) :)
Does anyone know--? IMDb Pro (I don't subscribe) has two in-development credits listed for Jake. Is Damn Yankees! one of them then?
Or Joe's wife.
Well, see, this is where it gets tricky. Old Joe (Joe Boyd) is a middle-aged man who has a middle-aged wife. Young Joe (Joe Hardy [Jake]) is for all intents and purposes, single in the eyes of the baseball world. Zooey could be fun as Lola though.
Some of the suggestions being thrown around on the thread at Broadwayworld have me gagging a little bit - Beyonce? Hell to the NO.
Great to see everybody (sorry Agent K..) so excited. (Also on other film sides/blogs)
I had never heard of this musical before, the plot sounds strange.
So I did a bit research and IMO Jakes role sounds a bit boring....the good guy stays good....Hopefully this new version brings a bit more diversity into the character. Or am I wrong? Has anyone seen the old version?
And with Jake and Jim Carrey as the "household" names why not giving Lolas role to an unknown actress who is able to sing and dance?
But after seeing what happened with "Nailed", "Brothers" and "MP" I am a bit sceptical and trying to get not too excited.
At least "Brothers" is getting a bit buzz on Jeff Wells side, on "Awards Daily" and Jake is mentioned on "The Film Stage".
I enjoyed seeing Jakes cameo in J. Foxx video, but now I want more.....:-))
@Joe-Ann, one of the IMDBPro In-Developments is the "Namath" film. The film is due to 2010 according to them.
I don´t know what the second one is, but I think it is the "Moon Project".
I'm not excited about this at all. I hate musicals. I guess I'll have to wait and see how it works.
Leading lady wise, Leonor Varela or Catalina Sandino Moreno could be interesting. I really like Paz Vega too. I like the idea of a relatively unknown actress, rather than Penelope Cruz or Salma Hayek.
I think Jake has wanted to do a musical, and I love the idea.
Thanks for the info, and for green shorts Jake.:)
I'm pondering the casting of Lola.....
Which is more important...... a good actress that can sing well enough or a good singer that can act well enough? 'Cause if it's the latter, how about Gwen Stefani? I can easily imagine her as a seductress.
Thanks, Gabbana. For some reason I thought the Moon project had been dropped, too. Was under the impression it was two movies I hadn't heard of yet.
I wonder sometimes whether Jake (and other actors) allows his name to be attached to a movie in order for the producers to use any enthusiasm it might generate to help them get the thing green-lit. Putting the cart in front of the horse, essentially.
It's too bad the Namath project has been moved to the back burner. It had potential, IMO.
Which is more important...... a good actress that can sing well enough or a good singer that can act well enough?
I think it all depends in which direction Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel take this script. Will they stay true to the original B'way production? If so, then Lola will have to be a damn good dancer above singer (personally I never thought Gwen Verdon had a good singing voice, but she sure knew how to dance!). Later incarnations of Lola saw Bebe Neuwirth, with mixed results, and Jane Krakowski, also with mixed results - Jane could sing pretty well, dance not so well, and came across more fun girl next door than tempting seductress.
Meanwhile I'm still pondering who will play Meg Boyd.
Coming in late but I am reposting my initial response to the news, lol.
Wow! How fantastic would that be, Jake in a movie with Jim Carrey and a musical!!! I really hope this happens. To see him sing and dance and be funny....swoon.
Very cute Rupert Friend mention.
I would add Ann Hathaway to the list of actresses that would be a very good Lola.
new pictures of jake leaving peets cooffee and tea
He looks upset. I wonder what the photographers say to him that makes him so irritated. He used to not mind them so much.
Good morning, babblers!
Jake is so young!
He is using the "New Jeans"!:D
I'm a fan of musicals but not of Damn Yankees!
My ideal re-make of a musical for Jake Would be Guys and Dolls, canou just picture Jake playing the Marlon Brando role??
Jake does look pissed off n these pics, and i see that he is again back atthe scene of the ccrime, LOL!! And what's up with the red hair, it was like that when he 1st
came back from filming back in Dec.
Jake as Sky Masterson, that I could get down with (despite my distrust of musicals - random people, suddenly bursting into song, and everyone knows the words and dance steps - 'tis not normal I tells ya!) but baseball, musical and Jim Carrey - Jake, you're asking a lot of me here!
I hate to get too excited everytime I hear about a new Jake project because of the UMP and the Namath bio, but i have to admit that I was really happy when I heard about this!
I really hope he gets to do this but finding the right actress to play Lola is going to be hard.
He looks really good in the pics from yesterday, just a bit grumpy and i don't like the hair color, too much red.
I LOVED Marlon Brando in that movie!!!! Yeah, Jake would make a great Sky Masterson. I'm just so glad he's working, truthfully, I'd like to see his IMDB profile with a dozen movies scheduled!!!I hate to admit it, but I'd watch Jake sell dog food!!! :)
I was just thinking. Jake could be doing another SNL eventually, this time as Prince Dastan.
random people, suddenly bursting into song, and everyone knows the words and dance steps - 'tis not normal
LOL..... I have the same problem with musicals agent k! Not my favorite genre.
I am dying to hear Jake do some serious singing though, so I'm going to keep an open mind. Plus, I'm happy to see him expanding his range in his body of work and capitalizing on his versatility.
But as josie said, better not get too excited about it at this point.
Aww you're all making me sad with your distrust/distaste of movie musicals. Never was I so happy when the genre made a resurgence several years back. :)
I guess growing up with parents who loved big splashy movie musicals must have had an influence on me since I grew up loving big splashy movie musicals. In fact, in the list of my Top 5 movies the No. 1 is a big splashy movie musical and that hasn't changed since I was 11.
Anyway, if this isn't serendipitous I don't know what is! Skip right to the :45 second mark.
new pictures of jake on ihj leaving a medical building
FL. Just...how...I mean. You are a genius! O.M.G.
I have to say that I don't like these set of pics of Jake from yesterday. He looks pissed off and in the medical building pics, the last shot he turns his back on the paps.
Why don't they leave him the hell alone, they can't be making $$$ on these pics, they only show up on fan sites like IHJ any way.
No wonder Jake, Reese and her kids are spending more and more time in Ojai . He sold his house and she is about to unload the place in Brentwood. After school is out in June, they will move to Ojai permantely and enroll the kids in schools in Ojai.
Wow FL, what a great find!
And the date of that is January 2007, the same month/year Jake was on SNL a few week earlier i think.
I have to say that I enjoyed Jim's version as I'm telling you just as much as Jake's!!
Well now we know they both can sing!!!
I was not aware the Brentwood house is for sale. Where in the world do you get your information! The kids have generally been left in peace the past few months. I'd think the familiarity and friends offered by their current school and by Brentwood, trumps running away from paps. It seems that the school and the friends they have now, respect the privacy of the kids. Jake and Reese are professionals and they know they're pretty lucky compared to some actors.
FL what an excellent find. LMFAO. I couldn't belive the kismet of their performances. Jim's performance was much earlier than Jakes as the Larry Sanders show finished in the late 9o's or early naughties. I've got a good feeling about these two.
OMG, I had completely forgotten that Jim Carrey sang that same Dreamgirls song, ROFL. He didn't quite hit that final note like Jake did but he definitely has enough voice there to muddle through a musical. Especially if the songs are arranged in a way that makes up for his vocal short comings. I'm psyched at the idea of hearing Jake really sing --no funny falsetto.
What a great find FL and what a coincidence, LOL!!!
How do you know this LA sucks??
Does Jake promote parkour?
http://www.iheartjakemedia.com/displayimage.php?album=lastup&cat=0&pos=3
now this makes no sense, last week? Aren't there pics of Jake in the US that were posted on Friday? And if he was buying ladies undies for Reese, there were pics of her in the US as well:
JAKE GYLLENHAAL made a runner from Marks And Spencers last week after being spotted buying ladies underwear.
The actor went to a till at the back of the shop to pay for the undercrackers - presumbably meant for girlfriend REESE WITHERSPOON - but was redirected to the main tills instead.
A fellow shopper said: "He was was putting the underwear into his plastic basket.
"When he was told to use the main tills he realised he’d been spotted, dumped everything and made a speedy run for it! It was very funny."
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/bizarre/article2283271.ece
Could this be an old sighting???
Is there a possibility that both Brothers and Nailed could be shown at Cannes.
Let's hope Wells' info isn't as far-fetched as The Sun's! I'm pretty sure that's a made-up sighting or case of mistaken identity, extra.
Both Brothers and Nailed at Cannes is too good to be true. But we deserve it, so let's hope it happens!
And Leonor, I think Jake's just wearing a t-shirt, not specifically promoting anything. But it looks ike he enjoyed his foray into parkour. I can't wait to see it!
And I'm still giggling over the coincidence of Jake and Ji Carrey both doing that Dreamgirls song. Definitely prefer Jake's version but it was good to hear that Jim does have a voice.
I hope Wells is right about Nailed and Brothers screening at Cannes, that would be too good to be true!!
Yeah, that "sighting" is definately made up, mistaken identity or very old!
Just looking on Huffington Post in the Entertainment section and there are comments about "Damn Yankees".
Mainly Can either of them sing? Or specifically stating that they Can't sing. (ignorance in print - scary).
Liked the comment on the Wells site where someone said there are actors and actresses who Can sing and dance but they haven't had the chance to be seen doing that because there have not been that many musicals.
Of Course some of the comments you see may be from the "fanboy" section who are proud to admit they don't go to musicals, so we have to consider the source.
Jeff Wells on a possible new project for Reese. Looks good!
http://hollywood-elsewhere.com/2009/03/is_payne_downsi.php
Lol at the Sun's story.
I wonder if there is any possibility of Brothers and/or Nailed screening at Tribeca which starts April 22nd and dovetails into Cannes. If they go to Cannes I'll be thrilled, and I have no reason to think otherwise, but my gut leans toward Tribeca and/or Toronto. (Maybe bcz Tribeca and Toronto are within my reach but Cannes is a huge stretch? :) :))
BTW: Don't Reese and Jake usually go to NYC in March for a few days? And when is the Avon Breast Cancer Awareness stuff?
The Reese Meryl Streep project sounds good. Hope it takes off.
I'm not greedy...... having either Brothers or Nailed screened at Cannes would thrill me. But then, just being able to pay my $8 and see a new Jake movie in my favorite theater before I'm any grayer (figuratively speaking) would thrill me! :)
And a big thanks, FL, for finding that Jim Carrey singing clip. It's clearly a sign that Jake and Jim are meant to do Damn Yankees together. I think I need to get over my aversion to Mr. Carrey.
The Reese/Meryl project sounds promising. They are two of my favorite actors, so I'd love to see them really do something fun together.
Thanks for finding that clip if Jim Carrey FL, what a great find!!
Ok, it was meant or for Jake and Jim to do Damn Yankees!!
I'll keep my fingers crossed on Cannes and Brothers and Nailed, it would be great if they both opened there.
The news about the Reese/Meryl film is great news as well, thanks for all the updates and links!
Lets hope Jeff Wells sources are right concerning "Brothers" and "Nailed" in Cannes. But after my disappointment last year when we all thought "Brothers" would open in Toronto or Venice I am waiting for a confirmation before I get excited.
IMO "Nailed" is not the usual Cannes film but perhaps they are trying to sell it there and are looking for a distributor.
Reese has already worked with Payne in "Election" - one of my favourite Reese films, he is a great director, I hope this one will be realized.
"The Sun" - can it get any dumber?? *lol*
Thanks for the video with Jim Carrey singing - there could not be a better choice than him for the "devil". He can be such a fine actor - unfortunatly some of his movie choices so far are a bit underwhelming.....
Ugh, i'm debating on going into work today. There is about 5 inches of snow here in NY but with the wind and the temp., it is really bad out there. Even if I leave right now, an hour earlier than usual,I will get to work late.
The east coast was really hit bad as well as some Southern states as well, everyone please be careful out there today.
I forgot that Reese worked with Payne on Election, thanks Gabbana!
I am not sold on this film project at all. I think Robert Downey Jr. should have been cast as the Devil. The thought of someone like Beyonce' being cast make me gag. Just what we needed. The folks who brought us High School Musical.
Jake is a huge disappointment.
Well, anon, when you become King of Hollywood you can call the shots. But thanks for playing along today.
RDJ's plate is full at the moment including a rumored movie with Reese.
I have no problem with Jake and Jim doing this movie.
Perhaps people should try to READ and check before making any assumptions -
"The musical is being produced by Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, the duo behind New Line's musical "Hairspray"....
This has nothing to do with "High School Musical"....
And somehow I fail to read the name "Beyonce" in the Variety article as well.....
IMO Jim C. is a good choice - with a good director he can be great -in "Eternal Sunhine..." he did a wonderful job.
And his latest film "I love you Philip Morris" got very good reviews in Sundance.
"Perhaps people should try to READ and check before making any assumptions -"
Yeah but that would give them less to bellyache about, lol!
The Truman Show is one of my all time faves. With a good director at the helm, Carrey can be top notch.
Still pleased about this project. Those who don't like it can lump it.
Guess I don't "get" being "disappointed." Jake is Jake. Sometimes people are going to love his choices, and sometimes not. I just like him. I have no expectations and he doesn't have to live up to any, IMHO.
If I do think about his choices, he is pretty amazing! He's created at least two...maybe three or four iconic characters: Donnie Darko, BBM, and possibly Jarhead.
He's done a huge epic disaster movie, that's still popular and it's on TV and referenced all the time. He's done biographical movies that were very well received, as well as comedies.
He's done outstanding work in serious dramatic films, and he's just finished filming a dramatic role in Brothers,a comedy, Nailed, and a new genre, a physically demanding, superhero, gamer/fantasy epic, PoP, a huge production, with probable sequels. Something entirely new for him.
Now he's going to do a musical? Where he has to sing and dance? I'd say he is pretty gutsy. He is definitely challenging himself. I guess IHJ. Period. :)
Whatever he does, I'm there.
Couldn't agree more, FL, sag actor, gabbana, narcissa and bobbyanna.
Anon 12:02, I'm sure your disappointment will crush Jake.
New pictures and though, not exciting, there is a new post.
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