Funny Casting Alternative of the Day: Eminem for Hayden Christensen
Filed under: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Casting
Sometimes, casting alternatives seem to come out of left field, like this latest one. According to MTV, before Hayden Christensen was cast in the new science-fiction flick Jumper, it was... Eminem -aka- Marshall Mathers. What the F***?! I've heard of strange possibilities before, but this pushes those strange boundaries. It would be like hearing Mick Jagger was up for a role Christopher Walken got, or Debbie Harry instead of Mia Farrow.
Sure, Eminem did alright in his movie, but it's not a stretch to pretty much play yourself. Anyway, writer/director Doug Liman says that the two met and they were having "conversations" about his participation. It was back in 2006, right after Liman was tapped to adapt the sci-fi book by Steven Gould. As Liman describes it: "The thing is that you're like, 'Oh my God, what would that movie have been like? But you've got to understand that Nicole Kidman was originally cast as the lead in Mr. & Mrs. Smith, and Brad Pitt was originally the lead in Bourne Identity." Wow. I'm sure both of those actors are thrilled that their possible casting is being equated to Eminem -- a guy who has only acted as a version of himself. Anyway, when Hayden entered the picture, Marshall's shot faded, and Christensen got to jump around the world all fancy-like.
Who would you have liked to see: Hayden or Eminem?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
2-15-2008 @ 5:39PM
Polowy said...
Slim Shady, for pure comedic effect
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2-15-2008 @ 5:56PM
ParadiseAlley said...
well, i'm sure christopher walken and mia farrow aren't exactly happy about being compared to hayden christensen. i would've rather seen eminem than that whiny doosh who ruined the star wars films with all of his moping. i was really excited to see jumper until i saw it stars that whitebread weiner...
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2-15-2008 @ 11:45PM
AJ Wiley said...
Eminem. Definitely Eminem.
The article seems a little condescending toward him...I thought 8 Mile was a very good movie, and if anything else, he's a brilliant rapper.
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2-16-2008 @ 5:54AM
Lewis said...
who the fuck is eminem? A nobody. Sure, Hayden's not the greatest actor in the world but atleast he's an actor. Each person starts with a profession simply because they are good at it, so they should stick to what they do best.
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2-16-2008 @ 12:31PM
onedollarwilliam said...
If you think Christiansen started acting because he was "good" at it you should give his history a look. He was a c-list TV schlock child actor, and has not one time demonstrated talent beyond "Goosebumps: Night of the Living Dummy III". (Which in the interest of complete disclosure was my favorite Night of the Living Dummy.)
Eminem, on the other hand, is (whether you like him, or his music, or not) a clever guy with one of the most important elements of being a good actor: an understanding of how people think. Currently he uses that understanding to generate conflict in his music, but the distance from what he does to film acting is really very short.
Hey, it worked for Marky Mark. ;)
3-07-2008 @ 9:43AM
Tesia Wilcox said...
Dude! your so right! I agree
2-16-2008 @ 7:08AM
zwo said...
It's easy say Eminem played basically himself but he didn't. Even if the 8 Movie wasn't just partly autobiographical, he'd still have to follow the script, which means serious acting. Playing himself would mean improvising and doing whatever you wanted. Also, Eminem has a strong charisma on the screen and it's something you can't learn. You either have it or not. Hayden doesn't have it. Charisma can do more for a movie than years of acting experiences and skills.
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2-19-2008 @ 9:02AM
JanusCarrera said...
does it really matter? the movie turned out to be a hoorid crap-tastic "movie". i'de say eminem though so it wouls be a little funny
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3-07-2008 @ 9:37AM
Tesia Wilcox said...
I have to say Hayden. He is best for any role. "Come On" he is an actor; and who is "Eminem" some moody white rapper "FOR CRYING OUT LOUD"! Besides, I think most people, "Including Me," would rather watch a good looking actor anyway. RIGHT!
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