Back in May, we heard about the Frank Sinatra biopic that Martin Scorsese will be directing with Universal producing. Now mega-stars Johnny Depp, Leonardo DiCaprio and George Clooney are rumored (courtesy of UK newspaper The Guardian) to be in contention for the role of Old Blue Eyes. It’s probably important to note here that Clooney’s rep, Stan Rosenfeld, told EW, “I wouldn’t believe anything I read in British papers” — which isn’t exactly a denial — while a Universal rep said the studio had no comment. (Reps for DiCaprio and Depp were not immediately available for comment.)
Fact or fiction, I do kind of love the idea of these actors having a glitzy Hollywood tussle over what will surely be an Oscar-buzz role (and movie). My vote? Johnny Depp. If his take as Captain Jack Sparrow and bank robber John Dillinger proved anything to us, it’s that this man is a chameleon who’d slip into the role of the legendary singer seamlessly.
I know Leo and Scorsese have a rapport, after working on The Aviator, The Departed, and now Shutter Island, but I just don’t see him as Sinatra. His character transformations always seemed a little phony to me and I worry his performance would pull me out of the movie.
As for Clooney, I see him as Hollywood’s perennial nice/funny guy, which to me means quirky comedies like Burn After Reading and the upcoming Men Who Stare at Goats. That said, he’s shown a knack for drama (Syriana, Michael Clayton) and would no doubt look good wearing one of the Chairman’s dark suits with gleaming gold cufflinks.
But if we can go beyond the Depp-DiCaprio-Clooney trifecta, I think the best person for the job would’ve been the late Phil Hartman. His version of Sinatra was one for the books (clip and poll, after the jump).
Who do you guys think would make the best Blue Eyes? Sound off on our poll and below!
Photo: Solarpix/PR Photos
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ummm… shouldn’t someone who’s known as “Old BLUE Eyes” be played by someone with… ohhh… I don’t know.. BLUE eyes? And colored contacts just wouldn’t work, because those things make people look stoned (pupils don’t move). I don’t like DiCaprio, but of the three he’s the only one that would work. Why not take a chance on someone NEW? Surely there are some really good unknown actors out there that would do a great job.
My thoughts exactly. Why keep recycling the same actors.
New, I like new. I do not like any of these actors for Frank. Don’t get me wrong, they’re great actors, but they are not right. Find someone that fits!
I agree that they should use an unknown. That’s the first thing that I thought when I saw the poll. It shouldn’t be any of those guys. They need to find someone who can sing, has blue eyes, and who is skinny (if they decide to go with his younger days).
Not crazy about any of the 3 choices.
Johnny Depp is an awesome choice. Although I haven’t seen Pirates but, Ed Wood, Sweeney Todd, Fidning Neverland, Edward Scissorhands, and his voice in Corpse Bride are all amazing!!! He has also shown us how cool (like Sinatra kind of cool) he can act in movies like Pirates (At least I have heard that) and Public Enemies. Perfect choice!
The key to Sinatra was his height. At 5′7″, he always had tried, to make himself the biggest thing in the room. You need an actor who is 5′7″ or shorter, or you never understand who Sinatra was and why. So, none of them.
So, Dustin Hoffman could play him in his later years, haha.
Not necessarily. They can do alot with camera angles, etc.
Can I vote Piscopo?
DENIED.
Hartman > Piscopo
Of the choices, the only one I’d like to see is George Clooney and even he wouldn’t be the best IMO. Go for someone different, not so well known, to play Old Blue Eyes.
If this movie is supposed to span his entire life, they need someone else to play him younger. Of those 3 you mention, only Leo could come close to pulling off Sinatra in his 20s. The movie needs to aim for somebody who can pull off the physical resemblance like Philip Casnoff did in the TV miniseries. Sinatra was SKINNY!
Um, no. Leo should absolutely play Frank. Nothing phony about his performance in The Aviator, and as much as I love J. Depp as an actor, Johnny has a penchant for the strange and Frank doesn’t seem particularly strange.
None of them.
I think they could utilize different actors for different periods of his life, a la “I’m Not There”. It seemed to work. But, Sinatra should at least be portrayed by an actor who somewhat resembles him, and I think that excludes Depp and Clooney and might be pushing it with DiCaprio too.
How about Harry Connick, Jr???
THANK YOU. Someone who sings would be appropriate.
My choice exactly. Get someone who can sing like Frank.
I totally agree with your suggestion
What about Ryan Gosling? I think he could potantially work for this role.
Yes! I feel like he is such and underrated actor- because people just know him from “Notebook”.
Matt Damon kinda looks like him. Is his acting up to it? Whaddaya think?
Joseph Gordon-Levitt
or
Philip Seymour Hoffman, if he lost the right amount of weight
None of them. How about Jude Law, blue eyed, wiry frame or James Marsden.
I like both sugestions, especially Marsden. He certainly knows how to sing, and I really think all he needs to give a great performance is the right director and character.
Jude Law is a great actor (people seem forget after all the nannies and Sienna Miller), and he fits the bill too, I just don’t think he would as convincing.
oooh i like james marsden as old blue eyes. that sounds right.
Josh Lucas??? His eyes are very blue but can he sing and dance?
Cate Blanchett. what? she played Bob Dylan quite well. that woman is a chameleon.
or someone unknown. i don’t think any of the 3 you mentioned would work. you’d never see Sinatra, but the famous actor trying to be Sinatra.
From what I understand, they are going to use Sinatra’s original recordings for the music, so singing voice won’t matter in this case – which leaves Harry Connick, Jr. out because they need someone with real acting chops. As far as the aging process in the movie, Leo didn’t convince me as the older Howard Hughes in The Aviator – he just reminded me of Leo dressing up like an old person. Clooney is almost too charming for the role. Depp’s prior role choices convince me he can play the dark side of Sinatra, so Depp would be my choice.
LEO would look the most like a young Sinatra, I just don’t see him playing it. I would vote for Michael Buble he already has the voice and the ability to perform that style of music.
Agreed
Zac Efron. Seriously.
Robert Pattinson
I CAN NOT WAIT for the Twilight movies to be done and Robert Pattinson is never heard from again.
wtf
Get real!!!
OK noooo doubt about it!!! JOHNNY DEPP! He may not be blue eyed but he gots a voice, singing, HANDSOME face, and a passion for acting so he would do great and 100% perfect in any film!
I mean its Johnny hes superman in acting! A pro!
Ryan Gosling is a good pick.
Hands down JOHNNY DEPP is the one to play SINATRA…of course, JOHNNY would have to wear contacts to create “Ol’ Blue Eyes” but JOHNNY’s done that before. Take a look at his eyes in “Alice In Wonderland.” And I’m sure JOHNNY could do SINATRA’s voice (please, no lip-synching)…JOHNNY’s got a great voice (ie. “Sweeney Todd”).
Besides, I’d love to see JOHNNY pair up with SCORCESE. DiCAPRIO is a great actor but not right to play SINATRA. And I think CLOONEY played like SINATRA in those “Ocean’s” films. Go, JOHNNY, go! I LOVE YOU! And you gotta’ win an Oscar someday…this flick could be it!
I think that Johnny Depp could play any part!!!
I’m always amused by the never ending myth building that Cloony is a “nice” guy which I can assure he his not
and you know this, how?
And you know this because?
Chris Pine might also be a good choice b/c he’d look right for the part, but I’ve only seen him in Star Trek so I’m not so sure about the acting
Chris would be perfect for the role physically (although he’s much taller than Mr. Sinatra was but then so is Johnny Depp). And the man is a very talented actor. I’ve seen him in a few movies already and he has a great career ahead of him.
To Bill poster: JOHNNY DEPP is about 5′7″ if not shorter…I met him in person, and believe me, JOHNNY’s short!
You know, RYAN GOSLING, isn’t such a bad choice…he’d be my second pick. GOSLING is very, very talented.
Johnny is actually 5′ 10″! Even if this is not tall… he’s tall enough for me
Anyways I think Johnny can pull anything off
James Franco.
I like this idea. Or James Marsters.
yeah franco has got the sinatra aura… but depp’s way too good,i put my money on him
Jay Leno – toats.
Puff daddy. Who says Sinatra’s gotta be an old irish dude.
uhh, Frankie was Italian, man.
2 words – Hilary. Swank.
Man, that broad can act!
None of them. They are all very good actors but I would like them to use someone new and different for a change. It would be nice to see someone in the role who can completely get into the role without the audience knowing anything about this actor and who makes us just focus on Sinatra. I mean out of the three choices the only one that could maybe pull that off would be Depp.He always seems to get into the character more than Dicaprio or Clooney.