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Variety.com is reporting that Brad Pitt is being pegged to star in The Odysseey, based on the epic Greek masterpiece written by Homer. While he hasn’t officially signed on, Warner Bros. is setting it up in the hopes of having George Miller directing, Plan B producing, and Brad Pitt in the lead role of Odysseus.
I think that this could be a really great idea except for one thing. WB has decided they won’t exactly be following the original story of The Odyssey, which follows Odysseus’ torturous journey home from Troy, a trip that takes years and leads him into dangers like Sirens, a Cyclops, and Hades. Instead, they’re adapting the story and setting it in a futuristic space story.
WHY? Why would they do that? The Odyssey is a brilliant piece of literature packed full of adventure and excitement. It most certainly does not need to be set in outer space in the future – Ancient Greek mythology is perfectly adrenaline-pumping all on its own. I’m wondering how Brad Pitt will feel about the adaptation. I know he reads a great deal in constant search for good movie ideas and having already done a film like Troy, I have trouble picturing him agreeing to do this total upheaval of The Odyssey. I guess time will tell, and if he does film it, I’ll watch it out of curiosity, but in all honesty, everything inside of me is cringing at the thought of such an incredible and ridiculously huge change in the original story.
What do you think?
(Thanks for the link, Ligaya!)
683 days ago
***CORRECTION*** & REMINDER -
CHANGELING ALERT:
HBO will have “First Look: Changeling” TOMORROW, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2008.
HBO-W 7:15 pm PT
HBO-E 4:15 pm PT.
On my Dish satellite HBO’s various channels start at 300.
“First Look” is usually airs several times on HBO’s different channels. It’s a behind the scenes look on set on the shoot, new & different mini-interviews with Clintalina.
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682 days ago
I still think it was a tactless thing to say, “we fell in love during the filming of Mr and Mrs Smith”. Brad was still very much married to Jennifer Aniston at that time, for another full year (before they announced the separation, I mean, not the divorce), and talking about starting a family with her, so it wasn´t quite like their marriage was totally over at that point at all.
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682 days ago
Correction for my post. I didn’t mean “Gia” I love
Angie in that. But, what was that movie w/ben afleck & jennifer lopez? Gigly or something…..
Sorrry for the faux paux.
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682 days ago
Ligaya, thank you for posting excerpts from the Hello magazine article. I don’t know if I can get a copy at the Barnes & Noble near where I live (in GA/SC area). Not all the magazines they carry in their big city stores are sold there.
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682 days ago
The parents falling in love in mr and mrs smith quote actually went into my brain as them falling in love but in a movie. Like when I watch mr. and mrs. smith it is jane and john falling in love. For the kids it will most likely be mommy and daddy falling in love but in character. Does that make sense?
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682 days ago
YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING !!! THIS BOOK IS ALREADY SO GREAT AND I HAVE BEEN WAITING A VERY LONG TIME TO SEE THIS BOOK MADE INTO A FILM AND IT MAKES ME SICK TO THINK THEY WOULD TOTALLY CHANGE IT.
FIRST OF ALL, BRAD PITT PLAYS ACHILLES, NOT ODYSEUS! THE ACTOR SEAN BEAN IS ODYSSEUS IN THE FILM TROY AND SHOULD BE IN THIS NEW FILM AS HIS SAME CHARACTER. I WOULD WATCH THE FILM IF SEAN BEAN WAS IN IT, HE DID A GOOD JOB IN TROY, AS WELL AS EQUILIBRIUM, AND THE LORD OF THE RINGS AS BORAMEAR. HE CAN EASILY PLAY THIS ROLE AND MAKE IT WORTH WATCHING !! DON’T DO IT BRAD !!
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682 days ago
Thank you Sherry.
But there are people out there who somehow confuse the two, because US weekly has twisted that for them. They don’t even have to say it these days, just have to drop a little bit of salt into the much “worried and pick” wound, that’s all.
US weekly made the falling in love part the crime, instead of the cheating part. Because they had no proof for the latter.
BOTH Brad, Angie and Courtney Cox say there was no cheating and no lying. Courtney said he fell in love and he told Jen when he became aware of it. Angie already talked about falling in love to Vogue 07.
There is NOTHING new here!
US weekly did the same thing in 07, making it out to be more than it was by their vicious double talk. Which their hateful readers swallowed whole. These readers don’t like to think for themselves, but they do like to regurgitate the unfounded hate. Totally blinded by their jealousy and narrow view of life.
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682 days ago
Hi everyone, and thanks for the congrats, Ligaya. I was so excited about winning Brad’s picture I promised Randi I’ll send a photo of me holding the pic when it arrives. And thanks too for that excerpt from Hello (I wonder if my brother in the UK can buy it for me.).
On to the topic of The Odyssey. I gotta admit, I’m curious as to how they will spin the story with a sci-fi/futuristic twist. I also am a big fan of Greek Lit and still enjoy re-reading them even now. I did like the Coen Bros O Brother Where Art Thou movie, and I also liked Troy myself, although I know there were probably more people who didn’t like it. I don’t think I’d mind if the story would just be loosely based on The Odyssey, so long as the story they come up with is good.
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682 days ago
Passerby, yes the kids will think that way. But when they get older, i mean like 16 to 18 years old, their thinking will be different. Also it depends on what Angie and Brad will tell them about the film too.
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682 days ago
I posted excerpts from new interview with critic Peter Travers (I think with Rolling Stone) for ABC News on the “Today Show” thread – includes how she protects the kids from tabloid stuff.
Isacutie, I got mine from Barnes & Noble (& Borders too, I think). They regularly carry UK magazines Hello! and OK! It’s a weekly so better tell your brother to get it asap before it disappears. The photos alone are worth it.
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677 days ago
When I first read this post, I couldn’t agree more with Sherry on why, why, WHY would anyone want to turn The Odissey into some weird, hollywoodesque, sci-fi thing. I thought there’s more than enough action and adrenaline in the original story to make a great epic movie that could interest both Greek mithology fans and Hollywood fans.
However, I then remember a cartoon series I used to watch when I was a kid; it was called Ulises 31 (Ulises or Odiseo are the Spanish names for Odysseus) and guess what: it was a futuristic, space-era Odyssey. I can’t remember how accurately or loosely they followed the story, I just remember the main characters were Odysseus, Penelope and their son Thelemaccus (I’m not really sure about how you spell it in English…). But what I DO remember is that I absolutely LOVED it… How would that translate into a movie, however, I don’t really know, and anyway, I can’t really see Brad agreeing to be a part of something that could go very wrong…
Regarding who should play Odysseus… If this movie ever gets made, I understand it is not some Troy franchise, so I don’t see why should Brad not star just because he played Acchilles in Troy. Anyway, I suppose we would get a rather tough, scruffy-bearded guy instead of the babyface, perfect-hair-and-makeup one we got in Troy (I have to say that although I enjoyed Troy very much, I think Acchilles was one of Brad’s worst roles, even though I consider him a wonderful, very much undervalued actor).
And in relation to Troy not really following The Iliad… well, that’s true, but I once read an interview with the film’s director, who said he had read and loved The Iliad as a youngster (he read it in Greek, can you believe it…?!), but he had wanted to do his own thing, loosely basing it on the actual story.
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424 days ago
allthough i love brad pitt( a very underated actor) and george miller one of the greatest storytellers, i seriously doubt that a futuristic odeyssey is a good idea.i thought troy was a good movie and i am a big fan of greek mythologies, + i remenber seeing an adaptation of homer`s story on the hallmark channel which was great.my advice, follow the story closely because it is a great one or drop the project.
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