brownie Posted February 3, 2006 Report Posted February 3, 2006 From Variety: FUQUA AND FREEMAN SPY JAZZ AMBASSADORS Source: Variety February 3, 2006 New Line Cinema has acquired The Jazz Ambassadors, a pitch for Antoine Fuqua to direct and Morgan Freeman to star in as jazz impresario Duke Ellington, says Variety. Fuqua is expected to next direct the Paramount drama By Any Means Necessary this spring. "Jazz" covers the Ellington orchestra's tour of Iraq during a 1963 CIA-led coup that would eventually pave the way for Saddam Hussein's rise to power. Part of the intrigue is the discovery, years later, that the CIA exploited the global zeal for Ellington's jazz by planting spies in the entourage as the orchestra toured hostile parts of the world. When and if Ellington knew of the program will be part of the drama. Jeremy Donner will write the script. Freeman and his Revelations partner Lori McCreary will produce with Fuqua. Variety obviously has no idea who exactly Duke Ellington was Will they shoot this in Iraq? Quote
king ubu Posted February 3, 2006 Report Posted February 3, 2006 From Variety: FUQUA AND FREEMAN SPY JAZZ AMBASSADORS Source: Variety February 3, 2006 New Line Cinema has acquired The Jazz Ambassadors, a pitch for Antoine Fuqua to direct and Morgan Freeman to star in as jazz impresario Duke Ellington, says Variety. Fuqua is expected to next direct the Paramount drama By Any Means Necessary this spring. "Jazz" covers the Ellington orchestra's tour of Iraq during a 1963 CIA-led coup that would eventually pave the way for Saddam Hussein's rise to power. Part of the intrigue is the discovery, years later, that the CIA exploited the global zeal for Ellington's jazz by planting spies in the entourage as the orchestra toured hostile parts of the world. When and if Ellington knew of the program will be part of the drama. Jeremy Donner will write the script. Freeman and his Revelations partner Lori McCreary will produce with Fuqua. Variety obviously has no idea who exactly Duke Ellington was Will they shoot this in Iraq? It will be a blatant celebration of all the good things Saddam did as US proconsul on Iraqian soil! Can't wait to see it! Seems the fellas don't even know themselves "when and if" Ellington knew about them spies! Great, should be a terrific film! And who got shot in Iraq? Rumsfeld wasn't there so, obviously not him... Quote
JSngry Posted February 3, 2006 Report Posted February 3, 2006 Impresario? Morgan Freeman, eh? O...k... Too bad Aolph Caesar's no longer with us... Quote
Ken Dryden Posted February 3, 2006 Report Posted February 3, 2006 (edited) I don't know what sounds more ridiculous...the plot of this film (spies who could be good enough musicians to play with Duke Ellington) or the casting of Morgan Freeman as Ellington. Freeman is an excellent actor, but the resemblance just isn't there. Edited February 3, 2006 by Ken Dryden Quote
AllenLowe Posted February 3, 2006 Report Posted February 3, 2006 actually, I think Justin Guarini should play Duke - Quote
Ken Dryden Posted February 3, 2006 Report Posted February 3, 2006 I can just see someone casting Samuel L. Jackson.... After all Billy Dee Williams was miscast as Scott Joplin, with Dick Hyman playing piano for him. Quote
Hardbopjazz Posted February 3, 2006 Report Posted February 3, 2006 Maybe Clint Eastwood will direct it. Hey he was on this board a while back saying he was working on a jazz moive. This sounds like it is going to suck. Quote
jazzbo Posted February 3, 2006 Report Posted February 3, 2006 (edited) I think he could pull it off. Would be a hoot of a movie to see if they manage to make it. Edited February 3, 2006 by jazzbo Quote
AllenLowe Posted February 3, 2006 Report Posted February 3, 2006 how about Gary Coleman? (well, maybe as Pee Wee Marquette) Quote
relyles Posted February 3, 2006 Report Posted February 3, 2006 I don't know what sounds more ridiculous...the plot of this film (spies who could be good enough musicians to play with Duke Ellington) or the casting of Morgan Freeman as Ellington. Freeman is an excellent actor, but the resemblance just isn't there. An excellent actor should be able to make the lack of a resemblance a non issue. Quote
ValerieB Posted February 3, 2006 Report Posted February 3, 2006 the absolute best person for the role is terence howard! Quote
relyles Posted February 3, 2006 Report Posted February 3, 2006 the absolute best person for the role is terence howard! I am a Terence Howard fan, but are you basing that on a possible resemblance or on his ability to bring the role to life? Quote
ValerieB Posted February 3, 2006 Report Posted February 3, 2006 the absolute best person for the role is terence howard! I am a Terence Howard fan, but are you basing that on a possible resemblance or on his ability to bring the role to life? both, although i've never seen him play this kind of role. he's so good though that i'd bet on him pulling it off. Quote
.:.impossible Posted February 3, 2006 Report Posted February 3, 2006 At first, I was thinking "isn't Morgan Freeman a little old to be playing Ellington?" I guess I don't usually think of Duke as 64 years old. I think I have this image of him as a perpetual young man. Let's see, if this takes place in 1963, that would make Duke 64 years of age. According to le internet, Freeman is 69 years of age. I guess this is about right. Terence would have to wear a mask to look 60 anything. I'd love to see him play Ellington at a younger age though! Quote
7/4 Posted February 3, 2006 Report Posted February 3, 2006 I don't know what sounds more ridiculous...the plot of this film (spies who could be good enough musicians to play with Duke Ellington) or the casting of Morgan Freeman as Ellington. Freeman is an excellent actor, but the resemblance just isn't there. Road crew? Road managers? Quote
.:.impossible Posted February 3, 2006 Report Posted February 3, 2006 Yeah. It said 'entourage'. Quote
ValerieB Posted February 3, 2006 Report Posted February 3, 2006 Terence would have to wear a mask to look 60 anything. I'd love to see him play Ellington at a younger age though! sorry, i guess i didn't read the first post thoroughly. didn't know the age factor. agree with you that that's a bit too old for terence. Quote
.:.impossible Posted February 4, 2006 Report Posted February 4, 2006 I think he'd pull off a great young Ellington though. Excellent casting Valerie! Quote
JSngry Posted February 4, 2006 Report Posted February 4, 2006 How about Teremce as Wayne Shorter? Quote
Chuck Nessa Posted February 4, 2006 Report Posted February 4, 2006 (edited) Freeman could be "great". Depends on the script. 90% of impersonation is attitude and I'm sure Mr Freeman understands the Ellington attitude. Edited February 4, 2006 by Chuck Nessa Quote
catesta Posted February 4, 2006 Report Posted February 4, 2006 How about Teremce as Wayne Shorter? Homie needs to cut them finger nails. Quote
Lazaro Vega Posted February 4, 2006 Report Posted February 4, 2006 This sounds like it could be a good Hollywood movie. What the hell. The great Hollywood movie that needs to be made, though, is Louis Armstrong's My Life In New Orleans. Now that New Orleans is all but gone maybe it's time Hollywood brought it back to life. Quote
marcello Posted February 4, 2006 Report Posted February 4, 2006 (edited) Has there ever been a good one? Bird was such a depressing disaster. Lady Sings the Blues was a crime. I can't wait until Mary J. Blige makes the Nina Simone movie. Should be a classic. Edited February 4, 2006 by marcello Quote
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