Link Is My Signature Color
Monday, March 19, 2012 at 10:00PM 
Wired an archery coach examines Hawkeye's form in The Avengers. Is Jeremy Renner the world's worst archer?
The Wrap Will Hunger Games make Lionsgate a major studio player finally?
Cinema Blend Bruce Willis plays the older version of Joseph Gordon Levitt in the time travel drama Looper. How to make JGL look more like Bruce since they look nothing alike?
Company Town Disney expects $200 million loss on John Carter. Ouch.
Lawsuits R Us
Little White Lies a pub in Southhampton has apparently been going by the name of The Hobbit for two decades. Hollywood is suing for copyright infringement.
LA Times Finally have you been following this dramatic "wrongful termination" lawsuit from Desperate Housewives? I haven't because I keep wishing the show itself would be terminated. Apparently jurors were so deadlocked over Nicolette Sheridan's claims that a mistrial was called after four days of deliberations. Most of the juror's sided with Sheridan who claimed her suicide death on the show was retaliation from the creator. How long till they make a TV movie of the trial? The actresses should play themselves. At least it'll get Sheridan some work. I grew up watching her on Knot's Landing so I have a soft spot for her rather hard beauty.
Steel Magnolias Redux
And have you heard that Lifetime has announced casting for the Steel Magnolias remake for television? Remember when we tried casting that right here? The all black version will star Queen Latifah as M'Lynn, Phylicia Rashad as Clairee, Alfre Woodard as Ouiser, Jill Scott as Truvy, Condola Rashad as Shelby and Adepere Oduye (who we got so excited about in Pariah) as Annelle.
Which of those do-overs excites you most? Or is the very idea sacriligeous to you, replacing Sally, Olympia, Shirley, Dolly, Julia and Daryl?
Jeremy Renner, John Carter, Steel Magnolias, The Avengers, The Hobbit, sports
Reader Comments (16)
Gah! This sounds good. I didn't care for "For Colored Girls", but watching that cast made me glad it existed. Same goes here. Phylicia Rashad! Alfre Woodard! I haven't seen PARIAH, but glad that girl is getting cast! I admit to ignorance re Condola Rashad though.
Sacrilige!!!!! A totally unnecessary remake which they didn't even get the casting right for. Latifah should be Truvy and Alfre Woodard M'Lynn. Well this will free up a night's viewing for me.
This might be the stretch Latifah needs to get herself motivated to do better work. After all, it's not like she's without talent. Interestingly enough, she is only a year younger than Sally Field was when the original film was released -- 42. Though I do feel that the remake is wholly unnecessary, I do relish any opportunity for solid black actresses to get a quality showcase.
Eek, Queen Latifah was kinda miscast, I feel. But I'll be interested to see if she shows the acting chops I know she has but has hidden away somewhere. Yay for Phylicia Rashad, and Adepere Oduye. Not sure about Jill or Condola though (but Condola looks like a stunner from what you posted).
Sacrilege indeed!
PS Happy 65th birthday Glenn Close! One of the greats.
I agree 100% on Latifah-she's got an Oscar nomination, and yet she hasn't done a risky project since. I know that the parts for African-American actresses aren't what they should be, but I have trouble believing that an actress as well known as Queen Latifah hasn't been offered at least one challenge in the last decade.
Oh, and don't be hating on DH-it had such a good seventh season, and it's about to end in 4-5 episodes (lost count). Have watched for eight years, and will continue to watch every episode til the finish!
@Philip: From what I've read, Ms. Rashad's daughter has been building quite a reputation as a formidable stage actress in New York, and she's been in a couple of episodes of "Smash" (as Cyn). I've seen Scott guest star on a few episodes of a couple of TV series ("Girlfriends," "Law and Order: SVU"), and she's definitely got some chops. Aside from that, she's an AMAZING singer. She gives a live show like nobody's business.
An all black remake of Steel Magnolias for cable isn't sacrilege it's cable.
No fat jokes but Queen Latifah isn't hungry anymore. She once was when looking to be accepted (Living Out Loud) the time has passed. She could still win Supporting Actress (she's overweight and sassy) since Best Actress is all about Whitey.
Shouldn't someone older be playing M'Lynn? How old was Sally Field when she was cast? Seems like Phylicia Rashad should have had the lead role, and then be able to play opposite her daughter in the main roles. But at least she gets a scene-stealer role like Clairee. That's pretty cool for Adepere Oduye! "Pariah" never played in my area (not even one damn week!), but at least the DVD is coming out in April. Pencil in Alfre Woodard for another Emmy nomination. LOL! Maybe Jill Scott will sing here. She was really strong in another Lifetime film recently called "Sins of the Mother" with Nicole Beharie (from "Shame" fame and Mr. Fassbender's new lady). Beharie would have made a great Shelby too. And for those doubting toms questioning Queen Latifah's dramatic chops, I'd check out "Life Support" if I were you. She was pretty amazing in that film. No "Chicago" mugging there. I'm pretty excited about this remake! Hope it's good. No Tyler Perry bullshit, please.
If I may, I would just like to quote my comment on the original Cast This! post: "Truvy - ,,,Or Jill Scott, who I love unreservedly for being great in literally everything she does. I kinda miss No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency!"
I also cast Alfre Woodard, but as M'Lynn, because I thought she was too young for Ouiser. I was wrong, though: She's 60, which is older than Shirley MacLaine was when she did the film!
CLEARLY I have missed my true calling as a casting director for Lifetime movies!
@Dorian: See my initial comment on this thread regarding Latifah's age.
the first movie was un-watchable it was so bad. maybe the new ladies can make it better.
I don't find a good update, but the casting choices are less than inspired. Alfre Woodard would be more interesting in any of the roles than Ouiser. She's already done that part in True Blood and it was hard to stomach.
Talented black actresses getting work - I'm happy and will watch!
"I agree 100% on Latifah-she's got an Oscar nomination, and yet she hasn't done a risky project since. I know that the parts for African-American actresses aren't what they should be, but I have trouble believing that an actress as well known as Queen Latifah hasn't been offered at least one challenge in the last decade."
I gotta disagree with this though...she had Life Support, which she won the Golden Globe, SAG and was robbed the Emmy for.
Some of the choices are odd, but I'll be interested to see how this pans out. Definitely most excited for Oduye - I was really concerned she'd be totally lost in the shuffle, and while I love Hannah (mostly because of Kill Bill), that is the one role in the film I really want to see recast. Rashad seems to be making more appearances these days - good for her, as she was totally underrated in her Cosby Show years (never won a single Emmy, and only nominated twice during their run).