EXCLUSIVE: I’ve learned that Warner Bros was hoping to start production on Clint Eastwood’s musical remake of A Star Is Born as early as February 2012. But now insiders tell me it “could push” because Beyoncé announced her pregnancy tonight at MTV’s VMAs. That will give the studio more time to settle on a male co-star for the singer/actress since Eastwood’s first choice, Leonardo DiCaprio, isn’t doing the pic. (Clint used his time with Leo on the studio’s J Edgar Hoover biopic to discuss A Star Is Born.) The project, which has been at WB for several years, has generated talk of pairing Beyoncé with Will Smith and with Christian Bale and with lots of other leading men. Beyoncé and Jay-Z wed in April 2008: he’s a good actor so I say give him the role. Clint is producing through Malpaso as well as helming the script by Will Fetters. Producers are Billy Gerber and Basil Iwanyk and Jon Peters (who made the infamous 1976 version with Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson). There have been a trio of A Star Is Born versions made since the 1930s. Or even quartet if you consider What Price Hollywood (1932) made by George Cukor, which is often forgotten.
Beyoncé Pregnancy Affects 'A Star Is Born'
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This story was tired after the first remake. Do we really need another one?
Michael Fassbender? Ryan Gosling? Chris Pine?
Is musical star power any guarantee of a successful movie? Ask Madonna, Britney, Whitney, and countless others before. It most certianly is NOT. Adding a remake into the mix stacks the deck against them.
Now Streisand, Garland, and others have been successful (as well as cringe-worthy on ocassion), but Beyonce hasn’t really proven herself as a bankable screen actress. She was enjoyable in a supporting role in “Austin Powers”, “Dreamgirls” was not much of a stretch, and her “Obsessed” starrer was looked like it should have been direct-to-Lifetime.
So in the Land of Remakes comes yet ANOTHER version of “A Star Is Born”? Aside from the 4 above-referenced versions, this story has been told many other times with variations – from “The Rose” to Walhberg’s turn in “Rock Star”. Even “Boogie Nights” owes some provenance to ASIB. This story has been told so often that even an award-winning director like Eastwood may have difficulty finding new ground to uncover. Will he write the soundtrack as well, and if so, can Beyonce handle his brand of jazz?
It is very tiresome that well-established directors like Eastwood, Scorsese, and even Scott (with the proposed “Blade Runner” remake) now take this uncreative approach. So the question is: “Is a remake/reboot or a comic book the only way a film can be greenlit these days?” If so, it speaks very poorly of the “leadership” at the studios.
Think any of the suits read this wbesite?
cathy, keep it real, most of Whitney Houston’s movies have been successful and profitable. I can’t say that about Madonna and Britney.
She is right Cathy.
The best “star is born” was the NON-musical one. It was so good they remade it twice. Maybe for this third one, rather than cast a singing non-actress like Beyonce (her tour-de-force performance in Obsessed aside!)maybe they should cast a really good actress, period. Of course, if not having Beyonce in the lead is a deal-breaker, then let her take acting lessons. True, Whitney Houston’s movies made lots of money, but frankly Beyonce does not have the charisma of Whitney in her hey-day.
Beyonce must have the best publicist in Hollywood because her pregnancy IS EVERYWHERE. Geez, does anybody really care?
And another ‘Star is Born’? Why don’t they just make it into a weekly TV drama and get it over with.
I don’t think they’d be able to sustain it as a weekly TV drama, IMHO. It’s probably better off as a feature film that they reimagine every 20-30 years.
It is completely understandable that her pregnancy news would be everywhere.. She is a big star and this is her first baby. The thing is how long will the interest last. I don’t think this will be a global thing like we have seen with other celebs. Bey and Jay are not that tabloid popular. And the public won’t be going crazy. I hope the baby takes after her..
I don’t care about a remake. Sick of them actually. The original with Barbara was enough. And I don’t see any beautiful song coming out of it either. Why Clint is doing it makes me shake my head.
Maybe this is a sign.. Don’t do it.
I think that could work. Give it the “mildred pierce” treatment like HBO did.
Yes, savvydude, people do care. Because they are curious about celebrities and what they do. That’s why you’re reading about it in this article as well, because apparently you care, else you would not have read it AND commented on it. When Angelina, or Katie Holmes, or Julia Roberts, or Hallie Berry get pregnant, there’s a media frenzy. Beyonce and JayZee are two of the most famous and richest people in the music industry. You don’t think people would be curious or care when she gets pregnant? If you don’t think so, then I have an igloo in Iceland that I can sell to you.
@carthy Obsessed made close to 80 million on a 25 million dollar budget. Most actors would kill for those numbers.
No, most actors would not kill to work on something with a budget of $25M.
Considering the fact that most actors are unemployed, yes, they would.
That movie did not gross $80 million.
LLcoolJ would be perfect for the male lead!
Definitely NOT!!!!!
Bee-ounce-say isn’t even good for this role.
I would mention Columbus Short, who was so electrifying in Cadillac Records, or Terrence Howard, also good in Hustle and Flow, but people seem determined to cast her opposite a white guy. It’s kind of sad that if she’s not opposite a white guy it becomes a “black movie” and since Beyonce won’t be playing a maid or a mute dope being saved by a white person, I doubt anyone white would see it.
Ignoring the whole remake crap and how God awful the bloated, baggy-eyed DiCaprio would have been in this, I’ll focus on Beyonce’s film career instead – if she wants to be known as a real actress, she really needs to stop playing singers. She’s played a singer in all but one of her movies. Singers who crossed successfully over into film like Cher and Bette Midler never played singers all the time. Singers like Beyonce are all about artifice so she needs to play regular people in order to try to pass herself off as human, something she’s never done. She looks like a mannequin and acts like one too.
CATHY:
Whitney Houston of all the modern divas has had the most success with her films and television movies. She is also th emost believable/natural on screen.
The Bodyguard – over $400mil WW gross
Waiting To Exhale -$67mil gross on $23mil budget- adjusted for inflation that is over $115mil gross
The Preacher’s wife- over $40mil
She is also a producer who produced and starred in
‘cinderella’ which was the highest viewed Disney tv show ever at 60mil viewers
The Princess Diaries I and II
The Cheetah Girls I and II
Everything Whitney Houston has starred in and produced was successful and made money and that is not even taking into account DVD sales.
She will also star in the Sequel to Waiting to Exhale next year, ‘Getting to Happy’ and I’m guessing that will make money also.
Beyonce is hit or miss and madonna is mostly miss, Mariah has bit parts with mostly straight to dvd movies except for Glitter which had a budget of around $20mil and only grossed $2mil, a bit part in’Precious’ which did make some money
Celine- no movie career
How about recasting Beyonce? Shes not a great actress. Why Not use Jennifer Hudson. She can act & sing.
Clint probably won’t wait…he will do another film first. With all due respect to Clint, at his age he doesn’t have the luxury of time on his side.
Perhaps, this may be a blessing in disguise…let’s hope so.
I think a Beyonce-Jay Z pairing for this pick is the best proposal listed.
What a shame that Clint Eastwood feels the need to pander after being accused of leaving blacks out of his last two movies.
Beyonce is an entertainer. Why not make this a good movie instead of ruining with a no-talent like her. Everybody in Hollywood loves Clint so he gets by with bull nobody else would. He’s going to make yet another crappy movie that will be nominated because everybody loves Clint.
Or, maybe they could make drag out ole Meryl to replace Beyonce.
Beyonce’ can’t act. Clint Eastwood is relieved.
Yeh, Cathy. Don’t knock Whitney or Beyonce like that. Whitney starred in two shows that I remember which were very well received at the box office – Waiting to Exhale, and The Bodyguard. Beyonce had a good role in Austin Powers, and Obsessed made a lot of money at the box office. So don’t diss either of them, and I’m sure a remake with her of A Star is Born will do just as well as a lot of remakes have. I’m glad Leonardo declined though. I’d prefer Matt Damon to him (Leonardo is too short). Will Smith or Christian Bale can be good as well but I’d prefer one of those hot British actors – the accents always get me everytime.
How many actresses have had films that opened at 28 million on a weekend? Name one Kate Hudson or Ann Hathaway did that accomplished that! Beyonce opened Obsessed to 28 million and that is a fact that has to be accounted for. Also, she was terrific in Cadillac Records. She has a committed fanbase who buys her records and she can sing and dance like no one else out there–Clint knew what he was doing with this casting. Christina Aguilera and that bomb Burlesque shows it too–you need a REAL songstress for this kind of film and Beyonce is it! I doubt Clint is deceived about her potential,his Oscars prove that he is not a dummy. Let him do his thing,and let Beyonce do HER thing in ASIB…
Perfect excuse. Recast. And solve this mess.
I am so excited for them… I wish Beyonce & Jay-Z the very best of happiness. Beyonce will be good in acting. She’s beautiful talent & she has what it takes, So don’t count her out.You can’t compare her to Whitney Houston they are two different people. Keep up the excellent work Beyonce & Jay-Z don’t let what people say stop yall show.
The world is not clamoring for another remake of a Star is Born nor is it dying for Beyonce to return to the silver screen. Let’s just let Beyonce have her baby, sell her perfume or do whatever it is she does, and we’ll all quietly forget about this project, mmkay?
@The Truth
Anne Hathaway opened Get Smart with a $38,683,480, The Devil Wears Prada with 27 million, Alice in Wonderland with $210.1 and her first big movie, The Princess Diaries did 21 million and went on to make nearly three times the amount of Obsessed’s total box office run. And both Hathaway and Hudson were nominated for Academy Awards something that-thankfully- Beyonce hasn’t accomplished! They don’t have her album sales but she doesn’t have a fraction of their movie power either. SO comparing them is ridiculous.
Congrads to Beyonce and JZ, I wis you all the best with your soon to be a bundle of joy.
I am for whatever Clint decides to do with the move because I like
what he does and enjoy watching all of his movies, so Mr. Eastwood
you do your thing cause I will support you.
The movie was good before so it will be even better cause you have new actors and actress to keep the movie alive.
Wake up people,he is not destroying the old movie he is just remaking it. As long as you live there will be change.
“Jay-Z is a good actor”? Based upon what movies would you make this claim?
Jay-Z and Beyonce are entertainer with a young appeal. I watched the VMA and I did not understand a word that Jay-Z and Kanye said. I don’t think that A Star is Born, HIP Hop version is worth remaking. The interest is not there for a mass audience. Beyonce is seen scantily clad and this is appealing to the masses. They don’t care if she can sing or dance, just eye candy. I wish them happiness with their new baby. As a mother, perhaps she will take lessons and attempt to become a serious actress. If that is what she endeavors for a career goal. Box Office numbers do not indicate talent-Disney tops the charts weekly with animated characters. Beyonce you are on the TV every five minutes selling something and you are half nude on every award show shaking your thing. You have earned time off to be a mother and wife, let your husband handle the breadwinning for a minute.
I Think Mark Walberg and Beyonce look good together for a movie and he can win his first academy…
I was surprized to hear about Clint taking on this project too, so
I’m hoping it’s because he has some surprizes lined up in the script. Something fresher and more real to say about Hollywood these days – esp since he one of those rare birds that could get away with it. If not, no, the whole idea is letdown.