Looks like Edwin A. Salt is about to add some spice to its script. Although Tom Cruise was originally attached to play the 2010 thriller’s title character — a member of the CIA who’s accused of spying for the Russians — news came yesterday that Columbia Pictures plans on rewriting the role for Angelina Jolie. (Click here to read Hollywood Insider’s scoop.) Even though I’m kind of over watching Jolie play some form of spy/killer/otherworldly beast, news like this always excites me, seeing as I’m always in support of women playing rad ass-kicking roles rather than just the stereotypical girlfriend/prostitute/single-woman-dying-to-get-married parts Hollywood often hands them. (Plus, these days, I admittedly would rather watch a caterpillar star in a movie than Tom Cruise.)
Of course, this isn’t the first time this has happened. 2005′s Flightplan, for one, was written for a male lead until Jodie Foster took over the role. And though that film definitely had its flaws — not to be blamed on Foster — it was nice to see Hollywood think outside the box a little. Now, if only we could go back in time and rewrite more films: For example, as much as I love, love, love Ah-nold in 1987′s Predator (pictured left), wouldn’t it be awesome to see an actress take on the ultimate testosterone-laced role (my vote would be for the criminally underused Michelle Yeoh, pictured right)?
Your turn, PopWatchers! What male roles would you like to see played by a woman instead? And vice-versa?
Star Wars, with Eliza Dushku as Luke Skywalker. I’d love to see her play the inner-conflict during the Vader-Skywalker fight in Empirte Strikes. Dushku does inner conflict brilliantly.
I’d like to see the Luke and Leia roles switched.
Make Willy Wonka “Wilemina Wonka” and, heck, have Vanessa Williams play her just like her Ugly Betty character.
If Romeo and Juliet is ever adapted for the screen again, have Mercutio be a woman.
Also, I think it would be interesting to have a girl as Huck Finn (no disrespect to Mark Twain, of course).
how about Harry Potter? With the recent surge of interest in vampires…how about Lestat from Anne Rice’s vampire books? Would make the relationship with Louis much more interesting….
How about an all-female version of “Ocean’s Eleven.” I’m not saying it has to be the same plot, but I’d love to watch some of Hollywood’s biggest stars, as well as some bit players stealing scenes, in a cool, big-budget movie.
apparently in the early version of a New Hope, Luke was supposed to be a girl (Luka) but Lucas decided to add a princess (Leia) instead, among other changes.
In similar spirit of the “Ocean’s 11″ idea, I immediately thought of having a female version of “The Sting.” I know, I know, it’s older than dirt. But they could modernize it somehow in the process…which would then become a female version of Ocean’s 11!
I would kill to see a female version of Superbad.
I was thinking of a female Indiana Jones, but then realized that was already done as Lara Croft (though not a well as it could hace been). So I’ll third the idea of Ocean’s 11. With women like Helen Mirren, Kate Winslet, etc… in it.
i heart michelle yeoh!
Goodfellas. Foul mouthed gun wielding mother lovin’ chicks. Hell yeah! But they couldn’t be “glamourous.” It would have to be women that can look . . . I don’t know the right word. Sigourney Weaver, Glen Close, Katee Sackoff. And Jenette Goldstein should be Henrietta Hill.
How about John McClane in Die Hard? I love! Bruce in the role, but it would be interesting with a woman as the central character. Maybe played by Sarah Michelle Gellar, who NEEDS a big breakthrough movie and she would kick a** in it! And make Aly Hannigan play Hans Gruber! It would be awesome!!
I’d like to see a female Lestat-kind of character. Mostly, I’d just like to see more strong female roles. On a side note, Michelle Yeoh is amazing & she deserves much better that “The Mummy 3.”
I think Predator WAS done with a woman — it was called Alien and was pretty da*n good, too…