Breaking News from Variety: Warner Bros. Backs Out of Jersey Boys Film!
November 1st, 2012
From Variety.com: Just six weeks after signing GK Films to an exclusive first-look deal for one year and acquiring the company’s planned “Jersey Boys” movie, Warner Bros. has backed out of Jon Favreau’s feature adaptation of the monster stage hit that is written by John Logan (“Hugo”).
Warner Bros. had no comment on the development.
Sources tell Variety that while WB was keen to be back in business with GK Films principals Graham King and Tim Headington, it was never high on the project which, given its subject matter, may have limited appeal to international audiences.
King beat out a slew of other high-profile producers and has been doing everything he can to keep the project afloat, including shopping it to Twentieth Century Fox and Paramount, with the latter studio scheduled to meet with King on Friday to discuss the possibility of acquiring “Jersey Boys” out of turnaround. Favreau is an attractive element, having directed Par’s “Iron Man.”
King brought “Jersey Boys” to WB after developing the project for years at Sony, where GK Films had a four-picture put deal. “Jersey Boys” had been slated to be GK Films’ first project under its new deal at Warner Bros., but it carries a sizable budget for a period project that wasn’t expected to feature A-list stars.
While official offers were never made, sources have told Variety in recent weeks that the filmmakers were eyeing John Magaro (“Not Fade Away”), Dominic Cooper (“Mamma Mia!”), Vincent Piazza (“Boardwalk Empire”), Paul Dano and James Badge Dale for lead roles.
Production had tentatively been scheduled to start in January, with Warner Bros. targeting a Christmas 2013 release date.
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Okay, now for some commentary & pondering:
- WB was never high on the project which, given its subject matter, may have limited appeal to international audiences…Considering JERSEY BOYS is a smash hit all over the globe (US, Canada, England, Australia, New Zealand, and soon-to-be South Africa & Singapore–how can WB think that the JB movie will not appeal to international movie-goers?
- Filmmakers were eyeing John Magaro (“Not Fade Away”), Dominic Cooper (“Mamma Mia!”), Vincent Piazza (“Boardwalk Empire”), Paul Dano and James Badge Dale for the lead roles. Well, just a while back, JBB posted news that Paul Dano declined the role for another movie. But what about these other guys? I’m off to do my research on these actors. What do you guys think of these choices for The Four Seasons?
We’d love for you guys to share your thoughts on the latest JB movie news!
They should cast the origional broadway Jersey Boys.John Lloyd Young and Christian Hoff both won Tony’s for their part in Jersey boys.They all have fantastic voices and even Frankie Valli said he has a hard time telling if it is the Jersey Boys singing or the Four Seasons singing on the Jersey Boys CD.
Comment by Ginger Ueda — November 2, 2012 @ 1:28 am
This is Warner Brothers loss and a sure win to whatever studio comes to back the movie. What stupid comments about the appeal….it will be a smash just because all of the “Jersey Boys” fans will go and see it.
Comment by Gladys Marlin — November 2, 2012 @ 5:51 am
OK, this caught my eye — from Dominic Cooper’s imdb.com bio: “He was banned from the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts’ final-year musical for having no sense of rhythm.” Ummmm…”Jersey Boys” is a musical, in which the lead characters sing and dance. If he’s going to be in this film, I hope he has acquired some rhythm since his school days!
Comment by Shell — November 2, 2012 @ 8:15 am
I think John Lloyd Young should be Frankie, and Quinn Van Antwerp shoud, without a doubt, play Bob Gaudio.
Comment by Robin — November 2, 2012 @ 4:50 pm
“…but it carries a sizable budget for a period project that wasn’t expected to feature A-list stars.”
I wonder why that is? I guess Warner Brothers was telling them, “Come back when you’re in the black.”
Comment by stubbleyou — November 2, 2012 @ 11:45 pm
Dominic Scaglione Jr……..no brainer
Comment by Samantha89 — November 4, 2012 @ 4:57 pm
Dominic Scaglione Jr!!!!!!!!
Comment by [email protected] — November 4, 2012 @ 5:03 pm
Warner Bros…..this is an opportunity that you have let slip through your fingers. The Jersey Boys story is such an interesting and musical journey that we, as the public, just can’t get enough of. I love this production and so does everyone who has seen it. I trust that the movie will be as entertaining and enthraling as the stage production. I am constantly on YouTube watching Jersey Boys and seem to keep going back to the original London Jersey Boys…..Ryan Molloy Stephen Ashfield Glen Carter and Phillip Bulcock. These guys are superb in their portrayal of the Four Seasons. Says a lot for the cast since I am an Aussie. Good luck with the movie. I am sooooo looking forward to it.
Comment by Barbara Cox — November 4, 2012 @ 5:46 pm
Jarrod Spector absolutely for Frankie. Drew Gehling is great as Bob Gaudio. ridiculous thought to think it wouldn’t have global appeal. If I were filming it I would have multiple cameras rolling at the same time and do a recording of the live stage play. They did that with RENT and it can bring the special impact of the show to film.
Comment by Sheila — November 4, 2012 @ 10:50 pm
ARE YOU KIDDING ME? I’VE SEEN THIS 19 TIMES WITH VARIOUS ACTORS IN VARIOUS CITIES. I SAID IT BEFORE AND I’LL SAY IT AGAIN – USE THE ORIGINAL BROADWAY CAST! THEY DID WIN AWARDS AND ARE WELL-KNOWN. IF NOT THEM, THEN JARROD SPECTOR AND DREW GEHLING AT LEAST SHOULD BE CONSIDERED HIGHLY. (P.S. would still like a bit part in the movie or at least an invite to the premier!) WAKE UP HOLLYWOOD!
Comment by Mitzi — November 5, 2012 @ 7:24 am
Warner Brothers. What are you doing. Universal has just made a winner with Les Miserables. Jersey Boys live show is hugely succesful in Australia and New Zealand as it has been in the US.
This is a no brainer. Jeff Maddern currently playing Frankie Valli in Adelaide is so good he stopped the show last week because the applause wouldn’t stop.
I have seen the live show 4 times. Once in New York, once in Melbourne and twice in Adelaide. He is the best I have seen.
Comment by Bob Parr — November 24, 2012 @ 6:37 pm
The voices are crucial for this film. Audition the top Frankies from Broadway and London and cast based on acting and voice. You will lose the prime audience for the film if the voices are not absolutely perfect and numbers not performed to the max. The story is secondary here. Look at Les Mis. Great cinematography, good acting, weak voices. Figure it out. Frankly Jarrod or Ryan have my vote for lead.
Comment by Chris — November 25, 2012 @ 11:19 am
Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks & Graham King cannot all be wrong since they all wanted to produce the film. My guess is the problem lies in the $ some people may be asking for. Once some of the priciples decide to take a cut in take my guess is the movie will be made.
I’m sure the movie will cop an Oscar for best song once it’s completed too.
Comment by Carl — December 17, 2012 @ 8:51 pm
Why not just film the original cast onstage and put it on video like RENT!!
Comment by valerie burroughs — January 20, 2013 @ 2:57 pm
My choice for casting is:
Frankie Valli – ZAC EFRON
Bob Gaudio – AARON PAUL
Tommy Devito – RONNIE ORTIZ-MAGRO
Nick Massi – BLAKE HARRISON
Gyp DeCarlo – JOE PESCI
Comment by Sean Bradley — February 20, 2013 @ 8:07 pm
Has anyone heard if the movie was back on?
Comment by Rick — February 26, 2013 @ 2:40 am