Jersey Boys–The Movie?? What’s The Latest?
April 22nd, 2007From today’s USA Weekend Who’s News column, a reader wants to know if Jersey Boys will become a movie.
Q: Are there any plans to make the Broadway hit Jersey Boys, about Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, into a movie?
A: There are plenty of rumors — some have Harvey Weinstein, Steven Spielberg or Tom Hanks eyeing the project — but no deals yet. Of course, if the show, which won a Tony in 2006 for Best Musical, is made into a movie, the lead role will be plum. John Lloyd Young, who won a Tony for best actor in a musical and created the role for Broadway, should be first in line.
I agree 100% with you that the role of Frankie Valli should be played by John lloyd Young. He is such an amazing performer and the winner of the Tony award, I can’t think of anyone else that would fit the role except for John. I hope he will get it because as we all know he has recreated Frankie Valli for all the thousands of people who have seen Jersey Boys and enjoyed it over and over again.
Comment by Viv — April 22, 2007 @ 11:30 pm
I can’t imagine this would be an easy adaptation. It’d almost have to be a biopic, making it less of a musical than it is. I could see it working if the only actcual musical performances are the ones where the characters themselves are aware they’re singing. (IMO these are the strongest parts of the show.) If you cut out the non-”performance” numbers, where would that leave “Oh, What a Night,” “Fallen Angel,” and the toilet reprise of “Big Man in Town,” though?
Comment by Leanna — April 23, 2007 @ 3:08 am
It would be shame to cast anyone else…
Comment by Helen — April 23, 2007 @ 4:50 am
I wonder if the public would accept anyone other than John in the role, since he’s been a tireless promoter and flawless performer the past year and a half, and all of America has seen him on New Year’s Rockin’Eve, the Tony’s, Regis and Kelly, Today, Letterman, etc., and associates him with “Jersey Boys”. In addition to a great actor and singer, he also resembles Frankie Valli, whom everyone recognizes, physically. Would anyone other than Streisand, who also resembled Fanny Brice, have been successful in “Funny Girl”?
Hollywood has often experienced mixed results when replacing the original Broadway star with a “movie star”. Witness Lucille Ball replacing Angela Lansbury in “Mame”, Audrey Hepburn replacing Julie Andrews in “My Fair Lady”, Roz Russell replacing Ethel Merman in “Gypsy”, or even Streisand herself replacing Carol Channing in “Hello Dolly”. Let’s hope they don’t make a similar mistake with our John Lloyd Young.
Comment by Howard Tucker — April 23, 2007 @ 10:16 am
I want to see Jersey Boys – the movie, starring the whole original Broadway cast, at the least all 4 of the Seasons – John, Christian, Bobby & Daniel.
The key to translating it to film is to get Rob Marshall (directed “Chicago” the movie) to direct the film. He did an amazing job of translating Chicago and he would have the vision to do the same with Jersey Boys.
Put all this together – the original cast and Rob Marshall – and it is a box office smash. In fact, I hope someone out there with the clout is reading these comments
Comment by Janet Poore — April 23, 2007 @ 12:48 pm
I wonder if the public would accept anyone other than John in the role, since he’s been a tireless promoter and flawless performer the past year and a half — Howard
Christopher Kale Jones isn’t exactly chopped liver.
I don’t mean that in a bad way. I’m just saying TPTB obviously know what they’re up against when casting JLY’s counterpart(s) and although I agree that not casting JLY in the film would be slightly odd, there are other Frankies out there who aren’t hated for not being JLY.
Comment by Leanna — April 23, 2007 @ 1:47 pm
They should definitely ask the original cast if they would like to do the movie. If you remember the Ask The Star: John Lloyd Young questions, a person asked about the Jersey Boys movie. John said that if someone asked him if he would like to do the movie he said, “Maybe..” with a little grin.
It would be a difficult movie to make though, without a live audience to communicate with. I hope they stay true to the story though, if they would make a movie.
Comment by A — April 23, 2007 @ 2:24 pm
Apparently everybody has forgotten about the original Frankie Valli…David Norona from the La Jolla Playhouse production. He’s got a good voice, and would be a fine choice for the role if JLY weren’t able to step in.
Comment by Michael Lennon — April 25, 2007 @ 3:49 pm
I’d totally hope for a “Jersey Boys” movie based upon the book and play. Regarding casting for the main roles, I’d think that allcomers would try out for a chance to star in a movie. Of course, the front runners would have to be the “Twelve Seasons” currently on stage right now and their understudies / alternates.
We’ll see if this will become a reality for fans of Frankie Valli, the Four Seasons and the Jersey Boys casts.
Comment by Mike B. Magbaleta — April 25, 2007 @ 6:08 pm
I wholeheartedly agree with comment No. 5 – it would not be the “Jersey Boys” movie without the ORIGINAL Broadway cast. You just can’t any closer to the original Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons.
Comment by M. Opon — April 27, 2007 @ 3:38 pm
If a movie is created (which i hope so!!!) – I think Christian Hoff should definitely play Tommy DiVito in the cast!! He is amazing!!!!
Comment by Lindsay — September 5, 2007 @ 11:44 pm
I DOUBT HOLLYWOOD WOULD MAKE A MOVIE ABOUT US JERSEYANS. EVEN IF THEY DID THE WOULD PROBABLY CALL THE NEW YORK AREA BOYS. LOL
Comment by RICH — November 28, 2007 @ 10:26 pm
what is a “toilet reprise”?
people have seen other cast besides the original cast do the show in numerous countries and/or cities… I favor the original cast myself, and they are building a bigger audience touring as “The Midtown Men”. awesome show, they just keep getting better and better.
Comment by kay bain — October 14, 2011 @ 6:13 am