Media Morsels 6.17.11

  • Aaron Sorkin + Johnny Gallagher = AMAZING!!!
    Oh my Thespis, dear readers. I can barely contain my excitement: John Gallagher, Jr., has signed on for Aaron Sorkin's new HBO pilot, More as This Story Develops!!! Can you imagine a pairing that would make me happier? This is the series I've been waiting for Sorkin to write - I just need him to articulate how I feel about the infotainment we call news, and this show will no doubt let him do that. And this pilot is pulling great actors, including Gallagher's Pieces of April costar, Alison Pill. HBO, you must pick up this pilot. It will be my new favorite show! (By the way, Happy Birthday, Johnny!)

  • American Idiot on Celluloid
    Dear readers, do you remember when Tom Hanks took in a performance of American Idiot, and there was talk of his Playtone production company adapting the stage show for the big screen? According to The Hollywood Reporter, that may actually happen, with the film hitting screens in 2013. The report says American Idiot's director, Michael Mayer, will direct the film adaptation, and that Billie Joe Armstrong will play St Jimmy, the role he successfully played on Broadway. Now if only they'd announce that John Gallagher, Jr., will play Johnny, I'd be a happy lady! Stay tuned for details as they're announced.

  • Haven't I Seen You Somewhere?
    New York Magazine has an online feature this week highlighting the actors who won't leave the screen this year. Among them are Ryan Gosling, who has three movies set to release before October (Crazy Stupid Love, Drive and The Ides of March (the Farragut North adaptation)) and JTims, who also has three movies coming up (Bad Teacher, Friends with Benefits and In Time). Who are your favorite screen stars, and would you prefer him/her to be in several movies at once, or would you rather spread out the releases? Answer in the comment section below.

  • Tony Follow Up
    Here are some post-Tony tidbits worth noting:

  • Spider-Man Swings (Officially) onto Broadway
    At long last, Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark opened on Broadway this Tuesday. (Read my review here.) The stars came out for the event, and not just the stars behind the show. Sure, Bono, the Edge and original director Julie Taymor were there, but so were Matt Damon, Barbara Walters and President Bill Clinton. Of the show, the former POTUS said, "What an amazing and historic night on Broadway. New York has never seen anything like [this show]. And I am very proud of them for not giving up. It was fabulous." And now, here are some photos from the night, courtesy of Broadwayworld.com, and a sneak peek into Reeve Carney's dressing room, courtesy of Broadway.com:
  • Oscar Update
    What's that? Oscar talk? In June? I know it's early but The Hollywood Reporter recently ran an article about some early-buzz Oscar possibilities. One of those possibilities is that, according to THR, this year may be Leo's year. My favorite actor has been nominated before, but has not taken home Oscar gold. THR suggests that now it's his "turn" and that his role in the Clint Eastwood (read: Oscar bait) Hoover biopic may be the winning one. Of course we'll have to wait until December to even see the movie...

  • New The Muppets Trailer

  • Coming to Broadway
    Usually after the Tonys, we see a glut of closing notices for shows that didn't do well on theatre's big night. But this week, we learned about several shows set to open on Broadway in this new season:
    • Follies - The acclaimed Kennedy Center production will play Broadway's Marquis theatre sometime this summer. It will play a limited engagement, most likely through the holiday season. Exact dates and casting has not been announced.

    • Other Desert Cities - This latest Jon Robin Baitz (who has written for The West Wing) play received much critical acclaim when it ran at Lincoln Center's off-Broadway house this season. This fall, it will take up residence at Broadway's Booth theatre (recently home to Next to Normal). Casting and exact dates have not been announced.

    • Nice Work if You Can Get It - Directed by recent Tony winner Kathleen Marshall and starring Tony winner Matthew Broderick, this new musical will play a yet-to-be-announced Broadway theatre next spring.

    • A Streetcar Named Desire - While this isn't a new play, the Tennessee Williams classic is reported to return to Broadway in spring 2012. This revival would star Blair Underwood.

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