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EXCLUSIVE: With James Bond postponed because of MGM’s woes, Sam Mendes has firmed the next two projects he intends to direct. Following a successful reading of the first act of the stage musical Charlie and the Chocolate Factory in New York last week, Mendes has committed himself to direct the musical production that will shoot for a holiday 2011 premiere in London. A move to Broadway will follow.
Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman will continue writing songs and David Greig will complete the book and a designer is being hired to construct the elaborate chocolate factory. While that goes on, Mendes will squeeze in a feature. I’m told he plans to direct On Chesil Beach, and that he is having discussions with Carey Mulligan to play the female lead in the Focus Features adaptation of the Ian McEwan novella. The author is scripting the drama, which takes place in the UK in 1963 and revolves around two repressed virgins in their early twenties whose attempt to consummate ends badly. Their futile attempt at lovemaking leads to doubt and recriminations. Mendes and Pippa Harris are producing.
Mendes is bullish enough that the film will happen that he has informed Disney he should no longer be considered to direct The Great and Powerful Oz. But Mendes remains committed to the Bond film and intends to direct it once the MGM ownership situation gets sorted out.
Mendes’ commitment to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is a boost for one of the signature projects for the Warner Bros stage arm Warner Theatricals. I’d always heard that part of the studio’s motivation for the 2005 film remake was to curry favor with the estate of Roald Dahl and make the stage musical possible. Even though Dahl adapted his book into the 1971 film Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory, he didn’t care for the original. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is being produced by Mendes and his Neal Street Productions cohort Caro Newling, along with Kevin McCormick. Caro and Mendes formerly ran Donmar Warehouse and their recent stage productions include Red, which is nominated for 7 Tony Awards and has won the Outer Critics Circle and Drama Desk Awards for Best Play.
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I think the first Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was a fine musical and the one by Tim Burton was entertaining. But why do we need yet a 3rd version of this story put to film? This seems ridiculous and unnecessary to say the least. The last verion only came out a few years ago.
Something does not sounds kosher here.
The estate wanted a film made so that Warners could then make a musical of the same project? What’s next, a TV mini-series?
Roald Dahl wrote at least one sequel to Charlie And The Chocolate Factory. Maybe it’s time to MOVE ON.
The thing that doesn’t sound kosher is that he will direct the next Bond movie.
If you read carefully you would see that it is a stage version.
It’s a stage production that will open in London and then move to Broadway. It’s not a new movie.
I’m already excited for the (eventual) ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’ musical film version with Johnny Depp reprising the role of Wonka!! {groans, cries, creative blood draining from the soul…}
Does this mean Adam Shankman will be directing Oz? Oddly enough I think it would be kind of a perfect choice.
Really? An adaptation of an adaptation? You’ve got to be kidding me.
Wish Sam Mendes would go back to directing an original idea. Nothing was as good as AMERICAN BEAUTY. And for that matter, I wish Tim Burton would do something like SCISSORHANDS or BEETLEJUICE again.
Depressing that even the top, most creative directors need to sell out in order to work with the studios these days.
The “Charlie” movie sounds like horsecrap, but “On Chesil Beach” is interesting. I honestly don’t see how it could be done on film well. It’s one of my favorite books and while many Ian McEwan novels have made it to the screen, few have been more than mediocre. “Atonement” was easily the best, and it’s a brilliant movie mostly because the book was so plot heavy. McEwan’s brilliance is analyzing the internals of his characters, and that’s pretty much the name of the game in “Chesil Beach.” It’s a short book, and the principal action occurs over about an hour, and McEwan spends about 100 pages dissecting what’s going on in the characters’ heads while they’re dealing with their botched consummation. I’m not sure you could put that on the screen and have it retain its richness. That said, Mulligan is a perfect choice. If Shia LaBeouf could play British convincingly, I’d consider casting him opposite, although he might be a bit too good looking. Jamie Bell or James McAvoy could be very good. Dominic Cooper could be good as well.
Should be interesting to see this STAGE production of chocolate factory. With Mendes stage skills I’m sure it will be a winner.
Still think he will drop out of Bond at some point, Hes a very in demand guy and with there being no start date in place for Bond I really think he will end up busy when the OK finally comes on 007. Hopefully not, as Mendes is the best choices for a bond film bar none and ‘his’ take would certainly fit into the real world, gritty, feel EoN are going for these days.
At least he won’t be indicting American suburbia again. Without a good script (Alan Ball)I’m not sure the man has anything to say as a filmmaker. “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” will be fun but because of the “Hairspray” crowd. How well he’ll do with “fun” is the question; and the special effects that the required-for-a-long-run Broadway audiences now expect if not demand of especially familiar if not overdone material. Remakes now happen in DSL time -what’s up with that? Having said that cast Sean Hayes as Willie Wonka. Johnny Depp was doing Sean Hayes as Jack on “Will and Grace” anyway – fair’s fair, right?
‘On Chesil Beach’ will be an awards magnet, the book is really, really good. I was hoping for a Joe Wright-Keira Knightley-Rupert Friend collaboration after I finished the book, but Mendes and Mulligan will work perfectly, too. It won’t be difficult for Mendes, though, it’s basically a younger version of Revolutionary Road. Actually it’s like a mixture of Revolutionary Road (marital drama), Spring Awakening (sexual awakening) and Atonement (McEwan).
Mulligan should accept it ASAP, the role of Florance is basically an instant Oscar nomination especially with Mendes directing. The casting of the male lead will be crucial : Jamie Bell or Rupert Friend would be perfect, Tom Sturridge is a great actor, and Nicholas Hoult or Aaron Johnson could surprise with a part like this, as well although they do seem slightly young for this. Either way it could be a breakthrough role.
Burton’s Charlie and The Chocolate Factory was far superior to the earlier movie Willie Wonka. It was very imaginative. That early film with Gene Wilder was plain awful. I think people only remember it fondly because they were children when they saw it.
They made Charlie and the Chocolate Factory to make money. And they made a lot of money on that movie. I cannot imagine a stage show making more than the movie made.
Please Mr.Mendes make the movie, On Chesil Beach by Mr. McEwan. I
loved the book and Carrie Mulligan would be wonderful playing the
heroine. I can’t wait. I identified with the last character she played in a movie for which she was nominated for an Oscar. I also
identify with the female character in On Chesil Beach. I’m academic and played violin in a chamber group. I was not too hip
or worldly at that age myself.