There’s always the possibility I’m going to wake up tomorrow morning and discover this blog item was just a very strange dream, but according to today’s Variety, Jennifer Lopez (near left), John Travolta, Luke Wilson, and Shirley MacLaine are negotiating to climb aboard the big-screen adaptation of the iconic ’80s soap Dallas (which starred Larry Hagman and Linda Grey, far left). Director Robert Luketic (Monster-in-Law, Legally Blonde) plans to cast the quartet as members of the oil-rich Ewing clan: J. Lo as Sue Ellen, Travolta as J.R., Wilson as Bobby, and MacLaine as Miss Ellie. Which leaves me wondering who Luketic is eyeing to play Pamela. If he wants to stir up some behind-the-scenes intrigue, how about Jennifer Garner?
In other remake news, Ice Cube is planning to produce and star in a cinematic version of ’70s sitcom Welcome Back, Kotter, to be written and directed by The Hot Chick’s Tom Brady. According to Variety, ”the film will be played for laughs,” though given Hollywood’s track record with TV-to-movie adaptations, I think it’s best if the film’s producers let us be the judge of that.
Which brings me to this question: Which one of these movies are you most looking forward to? And yes, smart alecks, ”none of the above” is an acceptable answer.
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I have only one question. Why?
Considering the parade of unsuccessful TV show remakes, how can movie execs keep spending millions on more of them? Why remake Dallas or Kotter when the original series is still showing several times a week?
Not for nothing: Horschach (okay, Ron Palillo) is my upstairs neighbor. If they do go ahead with Kotter, he should totally get a cameo!
Isn’t J.Lo of latin heritage? Were the Ewings latin?
Dallas, only because the team of actor’s seems more entertaining. If Cube can compile a decent cast, I may have interest. However, if it turns into another ‘Honeymooners’ where everything is so incredibly loosely based it deserves another name, I will have no interest.
I think your suggestion of Jennifer Garner is about the ONLY appropriate choice for any of these characters. J.Lo would be far better as Pamela since Sue Ellen is older. Aren’t Bobby and J.R. brothers? I can’t see Luke Wilson and Travolta as brothers and I certainly can’t see Travolta as ANY kind of Texan!! So I guess this is going to be a comedy??
Neither one looks appealing at this point. Welcome Back, Kotter? Did not anyone learn from Bewitched and The Honeymooners? And I was very excited about Dallas until I read the cast, which seems asif its shaping up to be a comedy. Although Dalas was campy as hell, even with a big name cast it risks becoming the The BEverly Hillbillies of remakes. Or Bewitched. Did I say Bewitched?
I think Lopez would be much better as Pamela Ewing, too. It would give a slight racist bent to J.R.’s disapproval of Bobby’s relationship with her, which just makes it that much more fun to hate J.R., in my mind.
Actually, I think Kelly Preston would make a spectacular Sue Ellen, if you use her appearance in the “she Will Be Loved” video as her audition, and focus on Sue Ellen trying to hold on to her youth while battling depression (and alcoholism)…
I like the Welcome Back Kotter idea; that should be very good.
As a huge fan of Dallas, I always had misgivings about them making a movie, but now I am really skeptical with this cast. John Travolta as JR??? He and Luke Wilson look nothing alike and J Lo is so inappropriate as Sue Ellen. Even Shirley Maclaine is miscast as Miss Ellie. At this point, they might as well make a satire and not a straight up drama.
Kill me now!!!
I am a HUGE fan of Dallas. HUGE. I even stuck with it past the dream season…
…Pam being irreversibly (at least not back to Victoria Principal) burned in a firey car wreck was the last straw, however.
NONE of the TV movies have been overly successful – War of the Ewings, JR Returns and the abyssmal “The Early Years” involving Jock’s and Digger’s creation of their fued.
This movie, especially with HUGE names attached, just reeks of total bullsh*t – how could they POSSIBLY pay all these people the insane salaries they’re going to ask for?
On a related note, the backlash against the movie involving certain residents of Dallas not wanting it filmed there is a slap in the face of a show that brought the city that killed JFK back to unblemished prominence on the WORLD scene, not just the US.
Leave the show alone – release every season on DVD and don’t tarnish one of the greatest phenomenons in television history.
Okay, here’s my two cents. Dennis Quaid as JR, Matthew McConaughey as Bobby, Owen Wilson as Gary Ewing, plus J. Lo as Pamela. She looks a bit like Victoria Principal. Shirley McClaine is too hard edged for Miss Ellie. How about Shirley Jones or Constance Towers? Or better yet cast Warren Beatty as Jock Ewing! Or Harrison Ford. My pick for Sue Ellen would be Teri Hatcher.
I like the casting of John Travolta, it seems like kind of a wink and a nod to Urban Cowboy. As for Sue Ellen, I want a redhead, come on, can’t they get Marcia Cross to work on a southern accent?
Who cares about this show…no one want to see a big screen version of this lame show. I means its on TV still..why do i have to pay to see a big screen version of this movie. I have a 75 inch plasma tv….I think that is big enough to see this lame movie. Just go visit this free dating site http://www.singlesPalace.com where its free to meet other singles on. Its better than watching this lame show or the movie they are making of it.
What next? A Dynasy movie? Falcon Crest? ooh! Can’t wait
I can totally see John Travolta as a Texan……..Urban Cowboy? Love the idea of him as J.R.
“Welcome Back, Kotter” will be played for laughs? What crazy nut would ever think about making a comedy out of a – well – comedy?
I like J-Lo but she is too young for Sue Ellen. They need an older actress – Kim Cattrall or an actress in her late 30s – to play the troubled, sexually deprived rich wife of J.R.
Luke Wilson is not exactly hunk material for Bobby. How about Matthew McConaughey?
In the same vein as the propsed Falcon Crest movie (thanks for the laugh Lily!), I hope they make a Scarecrow and Mrs. King movie!
I’d be first in line for that one!
Oh my gosh!! I thought I was the only one waiting for “Scarecrow and Mrs. King”!!
Seriously, I loved that show
Juan “can’t see Travolta as any kind of Texan?” I guess “Urban Cowboy” was before his time……No wait, on second thought, now that I look back at that flick—Juan’s right!
They should cast the actor who played BILL on Freaks and Geeks as Bobby! He was obsessed with Dallas…
I soo don’t want J.Lo to do this! I know ya’ll may not like her as an actress, but she’s charging full force w/ 2 independent films, El Cantante and Bordertown to be released this year. It’s a return to her drama roots, and will create a long deserved recognition for her acting, which she undermines in those rom-com movies of hers. She’ll get her Oscar, I’m sure, but then I’m worried she’ll fall into another downward spiral w/ this crappy news of a cheesy Dallas remake. Ugh, Jen don’t do it! Run away, run away!
Why not Owen Wilson as the third Ewing brother, Gary? And Brad Pitt, who actually appeared on the “Dallas” series, could play Southfork foreman Ray Krebbs (aka the fourth Ewing brother).
Gotta wonder if John Travolta will make a cameo appearance in Welcome Back Kotter!
J. Lo as Sue Ellen? These people actually get paid to do casting? Well, given the fact that she cannot act and this remake is destined to be a train wreck, maybe there is a method to their madness.
This is going to be an awesome movie event if they can get it together with the cast. Not a one of the chosen cast is right.
This is going to be an awesome movie event if they can get it together with the cast. Not a one of the chosen cast is right.
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