Phantom of the Opera gets an official greenlight...and the director is...

Scott Weinberg · 02-14-2003, 08:34 PM

Joel freakin' Schumacher. Ugh.

http://www.screendaily.com/story.asp?storyid=11259

Nick Sievers · 02-14-2003, 08:38 PM

Quote:

"I'm thrilled to have the rights back for the film version of Phantom and to have such a brilliant director on board," said Lloyd Webber

I take it Webber hasn't seen many Schmacher flicks?

Josh Simpson · 02-14-2003, 08:59 PM

Why doesn't someone just give my my guilty pleasure of Phantom of the Opera with Robert Englund made back in the late 80's or early 90's. I've always like that for some reason. Of course, I haven't seen it in years.

Brian Lawrence · 02-14-2003, 09:15 PM

It can't be as bad as the Dario Argento take on Phantom of the Opera. Now that is one of worst smelling films ever made.

Given all the versions there have been, I have to wonder if the rights to this thing are sold at flea markets.

Jeffrey Gray · 02-14-2003, 10:04 PM

Wait a second, if Webber picked Schumacher, then we don't have much to worry about, do we? It's not like Webber's not going to have creative involvement on this...

**HTF Ads**

PatrickL · 03-07-2003, 12:05 PM

I don't like this musical to begin with. Still, I bristled to read this morning that Schumacher thinks Antonio Banderas, just over 40, is too old to play the title role in the movie. In fact, he's about the right age since the character is supposed to be a Svengali-like father figure to the girl.

Schumacher says no to Banderas

I've heard Hugh Jackman's name tossed around (though not by Schumacher). Jackman, like Banderas, has musical theatre chops but is attached to a stage project soon which probably makes him either unavailable or expensive.

Bryan Tuck · 03-07-2003, 12:40 PM

I have to admit my initial reaction to this was kind of an "Eeeek!!" too. But I dunno. I've noticed that as long as Schumacher stays away from Batman, he tends to make movies that are at least decent. And his films tend to have an over-stylized look to them, something that might actually work for Phantom.

I just hope we don't get a skin-tight rubber masquerade costume for the Phantom.

As for Antonio Bandares, I agree that he is not too old to play the title character, but I thought he was being considered for Raoul. Oh, well. No doubt he has the acting and musical chops for it, but both Raoul and the Phantom are supposed to be French. I guess we'll see.

I am now cautiously but curiously looking forward to this.

Jason Seaver · 03-07-2003, 12:54 PM

Schumacher has made some horrible movies, but he's also made some pretty good ones - I liked 8mm, I've heard nothing but good things about Tigerland, I'm at least interested in Phone Booth despite having seen the lame preview umpty-dozen times... And The Lost Boys, Flatliners and Falling Down all have their fans.

(And he's got a movie with Cate Blanchette and Colin Farrell coming out in Europe this May that I've never heard of? How does that happen?)

(And he did the costumes for Sleeper? Geez, the IMDB is a font of weird and scary information!)

Anyway... I don't fear this guy out of general principle - but I get the feeling that he shouldn't be allowed to get to comfortable. But a lot of filmmakers are like that; they don't feel much ownership of a Batmovie or the like, so they don't necessarily feel compelled to do their best work. The Phantom Of The Opera could be the same problem, but if he is (as has been implied) pretty tight with Webber, he might be more willing to bring his A game to it.

Michael Reuben · 03-07-2003, 02:04 PM

How many of you have seen the musical? (Listening to the various cast albums doesn't count.) Schumacher's over-the-top style could be just what this thing needs. It's all about spectacle and grand gestures. In fact, I think they could probably reuse some of the sets from Batman and Robin.

And don't doubt for a minute that Andrew Lloyd Webber will be very hands-on.

M.