Cast This: Young Hillary & Young Elton
Friday, May 31, 2013 at 4:00PM There's a lot of talk going around about the casting of a young Hilary Rodham Clinton in a bio with big star names like Reese, Jessica and Scarlett floating around though all seem too sexy if you ask me -- though Reese's steel could be interesting. Pajiba has one off-the-path brilliant suggestion in Eden Sher.
Another hot casting topic: the Elton John biopic Rocket Man which is currently courting though not married to Tom Hardy. He has shown a willingness to uglify for roles so his masculine beauty might not be a problem but his lips, his defining feature, are in every conceivable way not a match. Still, he's a fine actor so they could make it work outside of the closeups of the singing. Elton John originally wanted Justin Timberlake - who took over in a great music video some years back -- to do the film. But I have to ask: was Philip Seymour Hoffman not available or was he deemed too old for the role?
And if the biopic is decades spanning one, who is going to play David Furnish. And will this eventually be retitled Behind the Candelabra Pt 2? And why is no one talking about the casting of the other roles? At least in Elton John's case that's just as (potentially) interesting.
Who would you in cast any these roles?
Young Hilary?
Young Bill Clinton?
Young Elton?
Bernie Taupin -Elton John's other (musical) half
Renate Blauel -Elton's wife in the 80s
Old Elton?
David Furnish?
<--- Oh lookylol, David Furnish has a picture of himself with Hilary on his facebook! Keeping things on topic we are.
Reader Comments (39)
I think Sharon Stone looks just like Hillary in that picture
I think Kate Winslet should play Hilary Clinton, or maybe Ellen.
Eden Sher is hilarious in The Middle, it's a pity she shares scenes with Patricia Heaton whose style of comedy just gets on my nerves. She seriously is the weaker link in that cast, the kid and the husband are also great.
I can only think of Hope Davis (regarding physical resemblance) but she's old for the part, if they're telling the story of her 20s/30s... I actually thought ScarJo, if they can strap her boobs, would be a decent choice.
I think Tom Hardy would be a cool choice for Elton, I'm sure - like Michael Douglas this year in Candelabra - he'd be a big hammy scenery-chewer. It'd be awesome.
And why do I think that this will end up in Dakota Fanning's lap? She's becoming age-appropriate and the movie won't shoot 'til 2015, because they want it ready for 2016 elections...
Can't we give this to Saoirse? I can't think of another young actress with the 'gravitas' to pull this off...
I love The Middle. One of the most consistent sitcoms on network TV. The entire cast is brilliant. Love Marsha Mason's guest spots.
PS. Tom Hardy can do no wrong. I'll watch him in anything. I think he could even play Hillary.
Another straight actor playing gay? I dunno...
Drew, Mr. Hardy famously told an interviewer, who asked if he had ever slept with a man, that "Of course I have. I'm an actor." Classic.
Mr. Hardy is definitely straight. But he's a great actor who can play anything. And he's done the homework already.
Cate Blanchett should play Elton John, it could be her IRON LADY.
Not to turn this thread into a love fest for "The Middle," but I thought I was the only one who regularly enjoys the show. The actors who play the kids are consistently Emmy-worthy, and Eden Sher is definitely my favorite. I say give her a shot.
Nat: If they're not filming for awhile, and it's focused on an early phase of his career (as it's called Rocket Man, how about just one year (1972) of Elton's career), I'd say that, yeah, PSH is possibly WAY too old for it (47 and looks it, frankly) and is not really worth the hassle of "age down" makeup if they're doing something tightly focused. Tom Hardy is 12 years younger than that in real life and, unlike PSH, could, much more easily, probably read young enough to play a 25-year-old Elton John even if it's a year or two down the road.
Young Hilary: Depending on how young, I'd see...Mae Whitman (if 20s) or Reese Witherspoon (if 30s to 40s).
Young Bill: Depending on how young we're talking, I'd see...Josh Hutcherson (if 20s) or Liev Schriber (if 30s to 40s.)
Jorge: Dakota reads uber young for the part, and doesn't (exactly) have the right face. I'd buy Reese (her "fading into the background" ness for someone so promising adds meta-texture), but if they're starting in 20s the person who played Bland... sorry, I mean Ann Veal (Mae Whitman) is perfect in my view.
Hardy is very talented actor but can he sing? Or is it going to be Elton's voice on the soundtrack.
Drew/brookesboy - I have a feeling Tom Hardy isn't 100% straight, lol ... I mean, has anyone seen the nudes of him that are online......specifically the one with his ass in the air......
drew/brookesboy/philip -- there's also this... so, yeah. Love Tom Hardy.
everyone -- i kinda love this mae whitman suggestion. she's so good in everything but unexpectedly so.
Nat: Thank you.
Hilary's already had the perfect portrayer: Emma Thompson in Primary Colors. Doesn't get better than that.
I'm guessing Sarah Paulson is a bit old for the role at this point, especially by the time they get around to making it. That would've been fantastic, but I could definitely get behind the idea of Mae Whitman as Hillary.
Anna Chlumsky for Hillary. She's even be swirling the DC/political/ambitious young woman roles recently so if her name comes up I suspect that she has a decent chance. Plus being around for longer than most stars of her age will help with the gravitas factor, I think.
Elisabeth Moss, please!
Suggested elsewhere (by me): Allison Pill, Alison Lohman, Greta Gerwig, Elisabeth Moss and, yes, Michelle Williams.
In another era, this would have been a great role for Patty Duke.
Zoe Kazan, Alison Pill, Elizabeth Olsen, Olivia Thirlby and Brit Marling would be on my shortlist. Also, I LOVE the Mae Whitman suggestion. She's in her mid-20's now and I'd love to see her book a potential "breakout" role after a couple of years of solid work playing teen girls (Scott Pilgrim vs.The World , Parenthood, The Perks of Being a Wallflower.)
eden sher is so off the grid brilliant i'll be disappointed with anyone else
who's directing the elton john pic? there's so much potential in that 70s glam elton era i hope it's someone who can pull off the visuals of all that drug fuelled decadence (not to mention - in the words of ricky gervais - all the arse sex)
I think Alison Brie could make an interesting choice for Hilary.
I ADORE Eden Sher on The Middle and was shocked at just how much she looks like Hilary in those old photos. It's such a brilliant suggestion that if they don't at least seriously consider her they should be ashamed of themselves.
Also: THAT Tom Hardy picture should be linked to/included in everything on the internet ever.
What about Ben Foster for Elton John?
adam lambert as Elton john
I guess I have to chime in and say how much I enjoy the Middle as well. I mainly watch it to see Axl haha, but Sher is by far the funniest on the show.
Reese could make Hillary her Now Voyager, but I think she is too old to play a law student. Michelle Williams would be perfect and score her first Oscar. Aaron Tevit for Elton John, Zachary Quinto for David Furnish, and Oscar Isaac for Bernie Taupin.
Michelle Williams!! YES! I APPROVE.
HRC- Elisabeth Olsen or Amanda Seyfried (since I am sure one is more proven to be bankable than the other)
-To me this is easy casting. Now for young Bill, that's a real search.
Young Elton John- Joe Demspie
Young Bernie Taupin- Joseph Gilgun
Young Hillary: http://imperialname.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/rodham11.jpg
Young Bill: http://dianamarahenry.com/images/bill_clinton_signedcopyright_000.jpg
the young couple: http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mbom6s6Dye1r7iplao1_500.jpg
So, between Reese, Jessica, Amanda and Scarlett I guess I would go for Scarlett, not only because I think she looks like the young Hillary with the right makeup and hair (she's also a short woman), but because I'm finding interesting the direction her career is taking and this one could be a nice acting showcase for her.
For Bill... I don't know really who I would cast. I guess if Heath Ledger was alive he would be a nice fit for the part, but since he's dead I would go for James Franco or maybe Jake Gyllenhaal (both with a few more pounds)
They'll never do it b/c she's no celebrity, but Nina Arianda for Hillary!
Aubrey Plaza?
Adam Lambert does have the charisma to play Elton.
January Jones for Hillary. Maybe Joel Edgarton for Bill.
PSH is too old for the Elton role and is off in rehab for his herion habit.