Ellen is going to Sing You Home
Jodi Picoult’s new novel, Sing You Home, has a new (future) home: multiplexes. That’s because Ellen DeGeneres has obtained the rights to make it into a movie, which she’ll do as producer alongside gay Hollywood power players Craig Zadan and Neil Meron. The book, which debuted earlier this month in the No. 1 slot on the New York TimesBestseller List, is about a lesbian couple struggling to have a baby. It’s all still in the getting-to-know-you phase, so there’s no cast and no director and no script. But this isn’t Picoult’s first time having her work adapted for the screen. My Sister’s Keeper, starring Cameron Diaz and Abigail Breslin, also began life as a novel by Picoult. One sticking point that Ellen might keep in mind: she’s still complaining about how that one turned out, accusing director Nick Cassavetes of, in her words, “lying to my face.” So tread lightly on that original material, Ms. DeG.
When Evil Queens collide
No, the story of Snow White isn’t specifically gay. But it does prominently feature an Evil Queen, which – as any gay man will tell you – are plentiful in the queer forest. So what’s better than one Evil Queen? How about two, clawing each other’s eyes out for box-office take? How about three? That’s what’s going to happen when dueling live-action adaptations hit the big screen starting in 2012. There’s Snow White from director Tarsem Singh, which features Julia Roberts as the Evil Queen, The Social Network’s Armie Hammer as the Prince, and possibly Saoirse Ronan in the title role; and then there’s Universal’sSnow White and The Huntsman, set to star Kristen Stewart as Snow and Charlize Theron as the apple-bearing-witch/queen. Meanwhile, Disney has already been planning a live-action reboot of its classic titled The Seven, to be set in 19th century China and its dwarves reconceived as martial arts warriors/protectors of the cursed princess. One question: Who says creativity is dead in Hollywood? One more question: Is anyone in charge learning lessons from the failure of Red Riding Hood? Hope so.
Angels Crest turns Kate Walsh lesbian. Again.
Grey’s Anatomy/Private Practice star Kate Walsh has already portrayed lesbian characters in Under the Tuscan Sun and as a guest star on shows like the short-lived Karen Sisco. So she knows that, while plaid flannel isn’t as commonplace as the old-fashioned stereotypes would suggest, sometimes it has its place. And that place is Angels Crest, an indie drama about a small, working-class town whose residents are struggling to cope with the death of a 3-year-old child. (Think Rabbit Hole and Mystic River.) In the film Walsh plays an artist who, in the actors words, is “kind of gruff and no-nonsense.” (Hence, that plaid flannel shirt she’s wearing in a publicity still for the movie.) The film premieres at New York’s Tribeca Film Festival in late April with an arthouse release slated for later. It also stars Thomas Dekker, Mira Sorvino, Elizabeth McGovern and Jeremy Piven, who knows his way around working with lesbians from his days on Ellen.
Carey Mulligan and Michael Fassbender feel Shame
If Inception co-star Tom Hardy has any competition in the Hot Brit Gay Crush Olympics right now, it’s Michael Fassbender (Jane Eyre,Inglourious Basterds). And Fassbender, along with An Education Oscar nominee Carey Mulligan, is about to appear in the next film from up-and-coming director Steve McQueen (note to readers: that would be the U.K. art star, not the late American action film star – same name, different guys). Titled Shame, it’s about a man facing his own sex addiction – details on the gender object(s) of his habit are currently unavailable – and how his sister reacts to that struggle. The film follows McQueen’s acclaimed feature debut, Hunger, and a decidedly gay-ish short called Bear that consisted of two men wrestling. And no, in spite of that subject matter, McQueen himself isn’t gay. Confused yet? Maybe its 2012 release will clear things up.
*Romeo San Vicente is all for watching bears wrestle. He can be reached care of this publication or at DeepInsideHollywood@qsyndicate.com.
