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EXCLUSIVE: I’m told that Sony Pictures Classics partners Michael Barker and Tom Bernard are tying up a deal to acquire US rights to God Of Carnage, the Roman Polanski-directed feature adaptation of Yasmina Reza’s Tony-winning play. Polanski shot the film in Paris, with Jodie Foster, Kate Winslet, Christoph Waltz and John C. Reilly starring.
This is just one of several plum pictures currently being shopped for distribution. Others include the Phyllida Lloyd-directed Margaret Thatcher pic The Iron Lady with Meryl Streep starring (the ask is $7 million for US rights), and the Paolo Sorrentino-directed This Must Be The Place, starring Sean Penn as a bored, retired rock star who tries to find his father’s killer, an ex-Nazi war criminal hiding in the U.S.
Back to God of Carnage. It’s a strong cast, and counting Polanski, everyone has won Oscars except Reilly, who has been nominated. The plot: two sets of parents meet after their kids brawl in the schoolyard, and get along worse than the kids did. The Broadway show ran 452 performances with roles originated by James Gandolfini, Marcia Gay Harden, Jeff Daniels and Hope Davis. ICM packaged the film and is making the distribution deal.
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Why not cast: James Gandolfini, Marcia Gay Harden, Jeff Daniels and Hope Davis?
Because they were able to get: Jodie Foster, Kate Winslet, Christoph Waltz and John C. Reilly.
I think I’m with you on this one, James. It’s not like the original cast is a bunch of nobodies. With no disrespect to the fine, current film cast, I think it would have been deeply satisfying to see the original stage cast get to immortalize their roles onscreen. It’s not as though the current cast will really mean that much more of a box office bonanza.
That makes sense on one level, but on another it could be difficult for the original cast to adapt themselves to the screen, especially under the care of somebody as unique as Polanski.
Also, based on the casting of a Brit and a German in two of the roles, the fact that it was filmed in Paris, and the character name changes, it appears Polanski has a unique vision he is imposing (for lack of a more polite word) onto the play. Maybe his idea of the play just wouldn’t gel with the original cast.
“That makes sense on one level, but on another it could be difficult for the original cast to adapt themselves to the screen,”
Errr… Why?
They’re all screen actors, too. Daniels began making movies in the early 80′s and Marcia is an Academy Award winner.
The Sean Penn one looks and is horrible. He looks like a five dollar tranny whore in it rather than the rock star he’s meant to play.
The Polanski movie I look forward to.
No he looks like Robert Smith of The Cure.
Same thing.
…who is a rock star.
The play, with Gandolfini, Davis, Harden, and Daniels, is about to open at the Ahmanson. Friend is understudying, I got to do a reading with him. GREAT script.
I’m not sure why Hollywood doesn’t just offer Roman a blank check?
How may times does a Genius Director have to prove himself?
At his rate, he has Five more classics left (+/-1).
Well, roman does not have to prove himself Scott.. Everyone knows hes a true talent… This movies he has made, are truly works of art, this script is amazing… Amazing actors. I can’t wait to see it. Cannes I assume. Romans biggest issue, is what he did several years ago. But no one is doubting his ability.
Sean Penn project, he is playing a THE CURE type of rocker. I did not LOVE the project, but he is an amazing actor.
Whoever can make this happen should. I really want to see this movie.
More like “God of Carnal”, Roman’s REAL God that he’s worshiped his entire life.
The man’s evaded justice for brutally raping a minor…yet Sony & other studios & actors just can’t wait to work with/and make money off him.
And they say there’s no morality in Hollywood!
Hah! Go ask the “Free Roman” petition signatories Jodie Foster & Natalie Portman.
Jodie never signed that petition. Natalie Portman did but Jodie DID NOT.
Having just seen the original cast on stage I can’t think that anyone could do a better job than Jeff Daniels, Marcia Gay Harden, James Gandolfini, and Hope Davis. They bring a passion and life to the roles I can’t imagine anyone else doing.
Best passion on stage since Burton and Taylor in Who’s Affraid of Virginia Wolff
Just saw the original cast here in LA at the Ahmanson Theatre. These truly extraordinary actors should have been cast in the film. They were truly bloody robbed.
The fact that we have Europeans in it, could have something to do with European tax credits (if indeed there is European money involved) or due more to Polanski’s ego. He may be far too insecure to want to have to deal with cast members who are way ahead of him in their understanding of the material.
No matter how u slice it, the “Vision” of this material is and always will be playwright Yasmina Reza’s.
Of course the issue of using Polanski in of itself pretty damn controversial given his rape conviction in the USA. And given that the story has to do with the ethics and integrity of parenthood and marriage, I think the studio could be setting themselves up for a bit of a well deserved media spanking.
Roman Polanski represents everything that’s wrong with the Hollywood ethic or lack thereof. I shall never forget Facebook when the US was trying to extradite him. There were actually industry people posting “Save Roman!” on their FB pages. You bet these folks never had a 13 year old daughter.
So pathetic.