MovieChat Forums > The Pirates of Penzance (1983) Discussion > Let's do a remake!

Let's do a remake!

posted 18 years ago by violynn31
18 replies | jump to latest

While I enjoyed the cast of the 83 version, a good producer could do a LOT with backgrounds, scenery and overall cinemtography. Who would you cast?

PK: Still Kevin Klein
MGS: Jason Alexander or Nathan Lane
Sargeant: Matthew Broderick (any of the above three who looks good in a moustache and can dance the best)
Ruth: Do you think Angela could still do it?
Mabel: Lindsay Lohan
Frederic: Nick LaShay (before the flamers get out for the previous two ideas, let's think about getting non-musical young kids to go see this - this could bring 'em in droves)

Any other ideas?

The geek shall inherit the earth.

[–] MerMaggieGalinda 18 years ago

I highly doubt Lindsay Lohan can sing "Poor Wandering One", there are plenty of other young popular actresses that could sing and act circles around her.

There's a fine line between innovation and insanity

[–] violynn31 18 years ago

Okay, how about Charlotte Church as Mabel and Josh Groban as Frederic?

The geek shall inherit the earth.

[–] HelenaHermione 18 years ago

What about Emma Rossum as Mabel?

She played Christine in the movie version of Phantom of the Opera, perhaps that might attract Phantom fans to this movie.

[–] IrishEyes2787 18 years ago

Oooo, I agree on Emmy Rossum, she'd do beautifully in that role, and I like the idea of Josh Groban as Frederic (as per violynn's suggestion). According to his bio he studyed at Carnegie Mellon as a Musical Theater major, so he MUST be awesome. Plus his voice is gorgeous.

[–] adam36-1 18 years ago

I like most of what you've got:

Emmy Rossum - Mabel
Nick Lache - Frederic
Nathan Lane - Major

And... how about Linda Ronstadt as Ruth???

Any suggestions for the others?

[–] adam36-1 18 years ago

Hey, now that I'm thinking of it...Kevin Kline turns 59 today, how about him as MMG?

I think George Rose was about 62 when he was playing MMG. Linda Ronstadt is now 60, one could argue that she's actually too old to play Ruth, as Ruth is supposed to be 47. But, I think Angela Lansbury was about 58 when she played the part.

Wouldn't it be cool to do a remake with both Kevin Kline & Linda Rondstadt returning, only this time in the 'older' roles?

[–] killthecamera 18 years ago

um how about kristen chenoweth as mabel. oh wait she IS possibly doing it at the met in 2007!!!!

[–] fiat0903 17 years ago

Kristen is almost 40. If you not bothered by that, then why not Sarah Brightman?

[–] mrvolvo 17 years ago

> Wouldn't it be cool to do a remake with both Kevin Kline & Linda
> Rondstadt returning, only this time in the 'older' roles?"

Who would you get that could even come close to Linda Ronstadt's singing range and ability? She may be old and fat, but she's still got the voice.

[–] violynn31 17 years ago

Plus, Linda would be singing Ruth's lower part vs. Mabel's high Es or whatever.

Either Kevin Klein or Nathan Lane would be wonderful MGS, but in keeping with tradition, let's go with Kevin Klein.

"One of the hardest parts of my job is to connect Iraq to the war on terror." G.W.B.

[–] 17 years ago

[deleted]

[–] adam36-1 17 years ago

Hey, I haven't checked this thread in a while. I'm glad others agree with me on Linda Ronstadt and Kevin Kline. Sounds like the main agreement on cast is the above two, with Emmy Rossum as Mabel (she'd be great). Nobody else mentioned seems to be a 'must have'. There's got to be some really good choices for Fredrick and the Sergent that no one has thought of yet...

[–] TR_Wolf 17 years ago

The Pirate King: Jon English or Antony Warlow or Earl Carpenter
Frederic: Will Young or Adam Garcia
Ruth: Ruthie Henshall or Alison Jiear or Faith Brown
General Stanley: Joel Gray or Dick Van Dyke
Mabel: Emmy Rossum or Charlotte Church
Police Sergent: Lee Evans or Matthew Broderick
Samuel: Lee Evans or ...I dunno really, Lee would be good.

What do you think?

[–] Pooh_Bah 17 years ago

Funny.

Everyone agrees on Emmy Rossum as Mabel, but ha different opinoins for everyone else. I can see Matthew Brodrick as the Police Sergant. He could be good. I don't think Dick Van Dyke has the chops topull off the Maj. Gen. song at the speed it needs to come out at at the end, though.

[–] caks1813 16 years ago

Okay, my brother and I were just talking about this the other night.

Mabel: Anne Hathaway (because she can sing it and she can be campy and she's bankable!)
Frederic: James Marsden (I love his voice and he's bankable!)
Pirate King: Will Ferrell (what I wouldn't give to see him do this!!)
Major General: Kevin Kline (though I love the idea of someone like Dick van Dyke or Mickey Rooney!)
Ruth: Andrea Martin (broadway gold!!)
Sergeant: Roger Bart (triple threat that could seriously meet some of Tony Azito's standards set by the '83 film)

Though I agree Emmy could do Mable vocally, I don't really think she's that funny. We can cast anyone we'd like, but ultimately (that is if they ever do this again) it will be someone who can do the vocals and the acting in addition to being able to get people in the theater seats. Every production company needs bankable actors to get the bankable films. Rarities like the teen cult classics of the 80s and 90s who had unknowns that made money are just that -- rare. Most major film companies will not fund a film without major star power somewhere on the primary cast. It sucks, yes, because it further seperates the stars from the character actors, not giving the lesser actors much opportunity for advancement in their careers into stardom. But that is the business that it is.

[–] Zynkin 16 years ago

I think that hugh jackman should definetly be the pirate king. The guy's a complete package... He can act, sing, and dance which is very rare thing for a mainstrea actors these days

[–] lanatic001 14 years ago

Why remake it at all? The original is perfect and, in my opinion, can't be bettered.

[–] chrisw-3 13 years ago

I love the original, but it has flaws. The dated all-synth score for one.

My nominee for Mabel is going to be a bit obscure, but I think she would be perfect: Kate Miller-Heidke.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kate_Miller-Heidke

She's a young and extremely talented Australian singer/songwriter. She's doing pop now, but she was classically trained and has sung lead roles with the Queensland Opera. Also, she has had a viral YouTube hit with her song "Are You ****ing Kidding Me?" about receiving a Facebook "Friend" request from an old boyfriend.