QueenZone discussion #1062819
Freddie Film
| Roger Meadows Tailor 05.12.2007 00:09 |
I've just an advert for a film in which Johnny Depp stars in in which he is supposedly singing in. Which raises the question. Is he or is he not qoing to be doing this film or is this talk of a Freddie film just been a crock of shit.Much like the talk of promised boxed sets. |
| deleted user 05.12.2007 10:02 |
Nobody really knows. Apparently Brian confirmed it but there has been no updates since the story surfaced in about September. |
| Micrówave 05.12.2007 12:12 |
I tried to squelch these rumors when they first appeared, but you kindof have to let common sense answer a couple of questions. 1. Who is going to pay Johnny Depp 20 million dollars to make a Freddie Mercury life story? Thats (at least) his going rate and he's not gonna offer a discount to play this role. 2. Who (besides Queen fans) is going to pay $10 to see this in the theatres? Rockumentaries generally don't do very well and rarely make long runs at the cinema. 3. If you're looking for an AIDS/pity storyline, wasn't Philadelphia good enough? Budget + production = not enough interest I'd go see it, but I'm a Queen fan. |
| Erin 05.12.2007 12:58 |
I'd be shocked if it actually happened. |
| Miss Fire 05.12.2007 13:12 |
I told my friend about it and she said she'd go with me. But she's a Johnny Depp fan and she couldn't care less what he was acting as. |
| Micrówave 05.12.2007 14:58 |
Erin wrote: I'd be shocked if it actually happened.As would I. I'm sure there will be a much lower-budget one made eventually, but not with Johnny Depp. Probably some guy named Larry. |
| Erin 05.12.2007 15:56 |
Micrówave wrote: I'm sure there will be a much lower-budget one made eventually, but not with Johnny Depp. Probably some guy named Larry.I could see a made for t.v. movie starring Larry. It would probably be as riveting as "Hysteria - the Def Leppard story." |
| david (galashiels) 05.12.2007 18:06 |
maybe depp is favourite.but what about someone diffrent.what about,taylor played by tony booth,deacon could be michael palin.may could be john cleese.and mercury could be played by benny hill.after all this whole total thing will never happen.or maybe it will.the same time the box set comes out. |
| Dusta 05.12.2007 19:25 |
I dunno. When I first heard about Mr Depp doing the film, I was irritated, as, frankly, I have tired of Johnny Depp. It seems he is everyfreakingwhere. Now, however, I must admit that the more I think about it, the more I can see Johnny Depp in this role, as well as bringing some additional interest to it for non Queen fans. But, ooooooh, goodness, I hope, if this phantom rumour has any truth to it at all, that Mr Depp does NOT sing Queen songs in the phantom film. I could swear I recall hearing, or, reading, about Johnny Depp actually lobbying for the role, so, perhaps he WOULD do it at a discount... Anyhow, I suspect we are never going to see this happen, though I would love to see a quality film made about Queen, or, Freddie, if you will, rich with music and atmosphere. 'Course, I am still waiting for the Richard III story, sans Shakespeare, starring Clive Owen. Another phantom film. |
| Crazy LittleThing 06.12.2007 00:36 |
Erin wrote:Starring Chuck Norris.Micrówave wrote: I'm sure there will be a much lower-budget one made eventually, but not with Johnny Depp. Probably some guy named Larry.I could see a made for t.v. movie starring Larry. It would probably be as riveting as "Hysteria - the Def Leppard story." |
| Erin 06.12.2007 11:12 |
Crazy LittleThing wrote: Starring Chuck Norris.Oh man, I wish!! |
| Daniel Nester 08.12.2007 17:54 |
We're forgetting a couple of things. 1. A story is a story is a story. 2. Freddie is about as interesting a person can get. He was not a successful lawyer in Philadelphia. 3. Michael Cunningham, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Hours (made into a movie starring Nicole Kidman, for which she won an Academy Award) wrote the script that's being shopped around. That's no small potatoes. 4. Casting Johnny Depp would be another selling point for this to be not only greenlit, but a big production. 5. Let's not forget Queen and Queen's music itself. As much as We Will Rock You the musical entertains, people still want to know about the people behind the music, even people who may not like Queen music. I like Ray Charles' music, but the film, to me, made me interested in the man. Same goes for Walk The Line with Johnny Cash. |
| Dusta 09.12.2007 00:43 |
So, what do you think our chances are, of ever seeing this come to light? I would really like to see this happen!
Daniel Nester wrote: We're forgetting a couple of things. 1. A story is a story is a story. 2. Freddie is about as interesting a person can get. He was not a successful lawyer in Philadelphia. 3. Michael Cunningham, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Hours (made into a movie starring Nicole Kidman, for which she won an Academy Award) wrote the script that's being shopped around. That's no small potatoes. 4. Casting Johnny Depp would be another selling point for this to be not only greenlit, but a big production. 5. Let's not forget Queen and Queen's music itself. As much as We Will Rock You the musical entertains, people still want to know about the people behind the music, even people who may not like Queen music. I like Ray Charles' music, but the film, to me, made me interested in the man. Same goes for Walk The Line with Johnny Cash. |
| Barbie Jupiter 09.12.2007 00:55 |
Aaahaaahahah starrring Chuck Norris..... |
| Regor 12.12.2007 10:14 |
Michael Cunningham was quoted saying that he wrote about a particular week in Freddie's live, because he is not interested in a "he was born-he lived-he died"-kinda biopic. What week could that be? |
| deleted user 12.12.2007 12:54 |
Well I think thats a good idea i'd deffo go see it but I hope Johnny Depp doesn't sing causeno one can beat o Freddie |
| Micrówave 12.12.2007 13:44 |
Daniel Nester wrote: We're forgetting a couple of things. 1. A story is a story is a story.And this one is not so spectacular it deserves a 2 hour blockbuster motion picture, is it? A successful singer sticken down in his prime. I think I've heard that one before. 2. Freddie is about as interesting a person can get. He was not a successful lawyer in Philadelphia.Actually, off stage Freddie was quite a boring person. He said so himself. Sure, there were occaisional parties, but he was not your typical Joe Perry-Vince Neil-party your ass off guy. 3. Michael Cunningham, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Hours (made into a movie starring Nicole Kidman, for which she won an Academy Award) wrote the script that's being shopped around. That's no small potatoes.No, I would call Nicole Kidman a full sack of potatoes 4. Casting Johnny Depp would be another selling point for this to be not only greenlit, but a big production.No, it wouldn't. Right now, Johnny's fan base is primarly your pre-teen to mid-20s female. This role would not be targeted to them and shouldn't be. Why do you think Willy Wonka was so bad? Poor typecasting. That was not a Johnny Depp role plain and simple. This wouldn't be either. 5. Let's not forget Queen and Queen's music itself. As much as We Will Rock You the musical entertains, people still want to know about the people behind the music, even people who may not like Queen music. I like Ray Charles' music, but the film, to me, made me interested in the man. Same goes for Walk The Line with Johnny Cash.If it took a movie for you to become interested in the lives of Ray Charles or Johnny Cash then you're missing something. Their music was totally influenced by their actions, particularly Johnny's. Walk The Line captured about 5% of that, and made it into a sappy love story. Johnny Cash (and his music) was hardly a love story. |
| Dane 13.12.2007 11:33 |
Johnny Depp wouldnt ask that kind of money if he was asked. He is a huge rock'n'roll fan, playing in a band himself (guitar), and would no doubt have the highest respect for Freddie. The ONLY thing i can imagine being a problem is Johnny playing a homosexual. Not that he couldn't pull it off, it's just that US critics could really screw Johnnys reputation. |
| g_pretender 13.12.2007 11:49 |
You clearly arent familiar with some of Depp's past work, wich include a film where he played a drag queen. It didn't bother him then and wouldn't bother him now whatever the press says about him. |
| Dusta 13.12.2007 13:25 |
Agreed. I definitely cannot see Mr Depp having any sort of issue with Freddie's gaiety.
g_pretender wrote: You clearly arent familiar with some of Depp's past work, wich include a film where he played a drag queen. It didn't bother him then and wouldn't bother him now whatever the press says about him. |
| Daniel Nester 16.12.2007 13:26 |
Geez, Microwave -- hey, a singer struck by an illness is a story we've heard before, yes. But that's my point. The point isn't to tell people a story with its point being that singers we love get sick and die; the point is *how* you tell the story. People say there's only so many ways to tell a story, so many plots (link. Well, here's one story. As far as Depp is concerned I disagree with you, too, Valentine. Countless films employ the same plot outline--from Hamlet to Lion King, from Citizen Kane to The People Versus Larry Flynt. We can debate if you you like these films/plays, but the point is *how well* you tell the story. And with Michael Cunningham, a Pulitzer Prize-winning author, as the writer of the script, what you have is genuine Hollywood buzz. This is no small potatoes. And I second what g_pretender says--Johnny Depp's career spans all kind of films, from indie to mainstream to kiddie films--Sweeney Todd, an R-rated musical (!) is about to come out with Oscar buzz, and he's slated to play a "A heroin addict incarcerated for a robbery escapes prison and reinvents himself as a doctor in the slums" in the Mira Nair project Shantaram. Sure, Depp's got a parallel career doing G-rated films, but he's hardly pigeon-holed as a kiddie star. As for how bizarre it might be for a movie to can get someone interested in an artist's life, you're probably missing something as well. And this is the rub, I think, for a lot of Queen fans. Is it necessary for people to be interested in Freddie's life to appreciate the music? No. Is is life interesting? Yes. In any biography, do you capture *everything* about a person's life? It's impossible. What the best biographies do is portray a couple aspects of a person's life as faithfully as possible. We might see Freddie's koi pond and all his cats, for example, and we might not get all of their names. We'll get a slice of Freddie's life to get one essence of his life. And people who do not even like Queen music will be interested in that. I'm far more excited about this prospective project than the musical, let me tell ya! |
| Dane 20.12.2007 13:57 |
g_pretender wrote: You clearly arent familiar with some of Depp's past work, wich include a film where he played a drag queen. It didn't bother him then and wouldn't bother him now whatever the press says about him.I'm a big Depp fan, and I'm sure he couldn't care less about the gayness involved as long as he can play a legend as Freddie :) I just don't trust US paparazzi. |
| Dusta 20.12.2007 21:52 |
It seems, from what I've heard and read, that Freddie was very much in love with England, and, the sort of culture it offered him. It seemed he was very pleased to become a part of all things English, and, for some reason, I find this charming, and, think it would make for a good story angle; even the proper cinematography would be stunning, I think, were it to represent the atmosphere of that time, and, that place, and that young man. I think it would be interesting to see this aspect of his life explored, on film. Sort of the beginning of Freddie Mercury, the beginning of Queen, perhaps taken as far as their first experience with success, and, leave it at that. |
| saltnvinegar 21.12.2007 03:01 |
Dusta wrote: It seems, from what I've heard and read, that Freddie was very much in love with England, and, the sort of culture it offered him. It seemed he was very pleased to become a part of all things English, and, for some reason, I find this charming, and, think it would make for a good story angle; even the proper cinematography would be stunning, I think, were it to represent the atmosphere of that time, and, that place, and that young man. I think it would be interesting to see this aspect of his life explored, on film. Sort of the beginning of Freddie Mercury, the beginning of Queen, perhaps taken as far as their first experience with success, and, leave it at that.I really like that idea Dusta. When I was reading your comment...or should I say 'synopsis'?! I actually imagined it as a theatrical production rather than on the big screen. It reminds me of a quote from one of the Queen documentaries. It went something like 'If Freddie could have had it his way, he'd have been born, in London, aged 20 years old' Maybe that could be the opening line? Let's get an agent! |
| Dusta 21.12.2007 12:54 |
Thank you!! I have had this very detailed visual story running around in my brain since I first heard of Freddie's death. Unfortunately, it is destined to languish right there, in my largely inactive clump of grey matter! I can only fantasize about someone with a younger and, more ambitious, clump of grey matter, envisioning that same story!!!
saltnvinegar wrote:Dusta wrote: It seems, from what I've heard and read, that Freddie was very much in love with England, and, the sort of culture it offered him. It seemed he was very pleased to become a part of all things English, and, for some reason, I find this charming, and, think it would make for a good story angle; even the proper cinematography would be stunning, I think, were it to represent the atmosphere of that time, and, that place, and that young man. I think it would be interesting to see this aspect of his life explored, on film. Sort of the beginning of Freddie Mercury, the beginning of Queen, perhaps taken as far as their first experience with success, and, leave it at that.I really like that idea Dusta. When I was reading your comment...or should I say 'synopsis'?! I actually imagined it as a theatrical production rather than on the big screen. It reminds me of a quote from one of the Queen documentaries. It went something like 'If Freddie could have had it his way, he'd have been born, in London, aged 20 years old' Maybe that could be the opening line? Let's get an agent! |
| August R. 21.12.2007 16:55 |
I think Johnny already played that part on The Libertine in 2004. |