Since he dropped out of Harvey, Steven Spielberg’s first project under the reconstituted DreamWorks has been a subject of much speculation. Now I hear who’s at the center of the director’s biopic of George Gershwin, which DreamWorks acquired last fall. It’s Zachary Quinto — Sylar in the NBC drama-fantasy Heroes, and Spock in the JJ Abrams-directed megapic Star Trek. Quinto will play the famed composer and pianist, who with brother Ira was responsible for more than a dozen Broadway shows before dying at 38. DreamWorks is even supplying accent and dialogue coaches for Quinto, and shooting could begin as soon as April. Doug Wright wrote the script, and Marc Platt and singer/pianist Michael Feinstein are producing. A DreamWorks insider says this is one of 3 projects Spielberg is looking at for his next piccause he’s anxious to get back to work. I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s an announcement later this week.







Wonder who they’ll cast as Kay Swift, the woman he had a ten year affair with.
he has amazing taste (or luck!) in the roles he gets to play
I’m thrilled that hollywood is doing a biopic of Gershwin. Yes, perhaps his life wasn’t “dramatic” but his music can stop/start your heart. That’s drama right there. And Mr. Quinto is a very interesting and appealing actor: I can absolutely see him impersonating the fabulous musician who gave us Porgy and Bess, never mind the heart breaking “Every Time We Say Goodbye.” I don’t care if it turns out to be another hagiographical puff peace. We don’t honor our musicians enough.
Oops, getting my classics mixed up: I wanted to reference the last song Gershwin wrote, which Ira completed: “Our love is here to stay.” Not Porter’s song. My bad. After George died, Ira found the music, and completed the lyrics. When you listen to the song, if you know the back story, it just makes you cry. What a team. Who’s going to play Ira?
I’m excited for this! I don’t see this new movie any other way!
Zachary Quinto was awesome in ‘heroes’ as sylar. I think after startrek he just need another breakthrough to make strong his career. I really love his acting.
Actually, Gershwin lived a very dramatic life, especially in his final years. His death at 38 from a brain tumor was not merely the tragedy of a sudden illness that robbed him of his life and us of him and the works he would have composed. The drama of this tragedy lay in the way he was treated–mistreated–by some of the people closest to him, both friends and family.
ZQ is a very good actor, in Heroes he’s done a very good acting, with StarTrek as well. And another movie would be another breakthrough for him, he deserves it.