Discuss: Do We Buy Nicole Kidman as an Action Star?
Get ready -- in the wake of an oldie but goodie like Harrison Ford and a young but slick Matt Damon, we're now getting ... Nicole Kidman. The Hollywood Reporter posts that she's going to star in (and produce) a new action adventure called The Eighth Wonder. They're saying practically nothing about the plot, but we do know that it's a globe-spanning race centered on an archaeological discovery. "The goal is to create a movie that will be to Raiders of the Lost Ark what the Bourne movies are to James Bond movies: a character-driven, treasure-hunting thriller." Nicole Kidman. Really? To anchor a big action adventure franchise?
I mean, let's forget her notorious "iffyness" on sticking with certain projects and focus on the theme of this flick. Do any of you really think she'll pull in the audiences as the next action star, or even pull it off in a way to tantalize apprehensive audiences? I would love, love, love to see a kickass woman take the action adventure reins, but her?
Yes, she's done some flicks with action in them -- often, for some reason,-playing a doctor -- Days of Thunder, Batman Forever, The Peacemaker. But that's really not the same as becoming an action icon. Sure, she's got Australia on the way, but that's more as the romantic side to Hugh Jackman. She has lots of talent, but perhaps they're best suited to films like To Die For, Dogville, The Hours, Moulin Rouge!, and Fur.
THR mentions that she was supposed to star in Mr. and Mrs. Smith (can you imagine Brad, a collection of babies, and Nicole?!), but she dropped out and Angelina stepped in. And then there was the chase-heavy The Invasion, which by all accounts Ms. Kidman should have bailed on. Then there was another possible thriller, but that dead-ended. Now, action specialist Simon Kinberg is writing this pic for her over the fall.
Maybe Kidman will get cold feet and back out of this project too. It could happen, opening the door for another actress. But for right now, we've got Nicole gearing up to get dusty, kick butt, and revel in archaeology.
So, what do you think about that?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
9-17-2008 @ 9:13AM
Scott Weinberg said...
I know one thing: DANG you chose a good pic. I think she's seriously gorgeous.
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9-17-2008 @ 1:08PM
eugene said...
Oh lord no...
Please, hollywood, when casting women in action roles, please pick women who at least look like they weigh more than the guns they tote around.
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9-17-2008 @ 1:21PM
kevjohn said...
Is it too early to buy my tickets now?
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9-17-2008 @ 1:39PM
tallmofo514 said...
Nicole Kidman seems a tad barbie to me...I mean - for Mr and Mrs Smith..wow, she'd seem a bit too barbie , but then you had Angelina who had that crazy badass wild side to her personally. When it comes to action w Nicole ..all is blocked by her holding that walkie talkie in the Peacemaker .."take the shot!"
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9-17-2008 @ 2:41PM
Anna said...
Personally, I am tired of always seeing Angelina Jolie playing the badass/ fearless...etc. characters.
9-17-2008 @ 3:26PM
Astin said...
Agree with Eugene there. How can you take someone who looks like they weigh the same as a bunch of celery seriously as an action star? One good punch and you'd think she'd break in two.
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9-17-2008 @ 5:56PM
gah said...
America doesn't really buy Nicole Kidman as anything according to box office receipts.
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9-17-2008 @ 5:57PM
joits said...
nope i cannot see her as an action star. she does not look the part. they would be better served hiring another actress who is probably not as high profile and thus save themselves a lot of money.
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9-17-2008 @ 8:26PM
Christian M. Howell said...
As long as she doesn't cry her way through it like The Invasion, it could work. After all, someone writes the stuff and it's fake.
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9-17-2008 @ 8:27PM
Christian M. Howell said...
Hey Austin, you're saying that Angelina Jolie is buff?
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9-17-2008 @ 9:00PM
David said...
Come on, she's an ACTRESS. No reason why she shouldn't be an Action Babe. I'll bet she'd relish the opportunity to shake her image up and confound her (many) critics. After all, who thought she had any comedy chops before "To Die For"?
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9-18-2008 @ 12:53AM
Nechyfer said...
REmember Angelina Jolie?
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9-23-2008 @ 6:41AM
AJ said...
Geena Davis totally sold me in Long Kiss Goodnight, she kicked ass in that film.
One I'm most interested in is the fact this sounds earily like Mathew Reilly's last book, which lends a bit of credence to the rumor given he's Australian as well, that could be a connection.
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9-19-2008 @ 1:43AM
bella said...
Because, she has starred in action films: i.e. Peacemaker, Batman Forever, Interpreter, Invasion ---- and she did very very well on them, even if the films are not blockbusters.
She will be a gorgeous, beautiful, intelligent female action star!!
I would absolutely LOVE LOVE it.....
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9-19-2008 @ 6:36PM
charlie baker said...
hmmmm how about Tina Faye and the character could be named Sarah. See Sarah run. Run Sarah run. Look America, see Sarah run. Run Sarah run.
See Sarah decimate the Democrats. Look Hillary look. See the Democrats take a dive. Dive Democrats dive. See Hillary grin. Grin Hillary grin. She's smarter than she looks. Look smart Hillary. Oops overcasting. Better luck next time Hillary.
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9-19-2008 @ 6:29PM
Glen said...
She was tough and believeable enough in Dead Calm.
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9-20-2008 @ 4:00AM
alex said...
Because she is gorgeous and a dream on the screen! Put her in an excellent film and we all going to be wowed!! To tell you the truth, can't wait to see Kidman in one of those really good action films. She would have given WANTED (Angie's film) a different aura (not to say Angie is not absolutely fabulous in that film) but Kidman with porcelain beauty with toughness and grit?? Wowie I can't wait, it would be to die for!!!
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9-20-2008 @ 4:07PM
Rose said...
while i don't have a problem with nicole starring in an action movie, she's a good actress i think she can pull it off but i dont agree with the fact that everyones comparing her to angelina jolie, their are other actresses out there that have starred in action films, kate beckinsile in Underworld, Halle Berry in Catwoman, Jessica Alba in Dark Angel ( i know that isnt a movie but it should have been), Milla Jovavich in Resident Evil, i mean there are plenty of female actresses out there that kick butt why shouldn't nicole kidman be able to do it
9-20-2008 @ 5:08PM
ReturnofTheLebowskie said...
I'm a bit skeptical if anything RDJ can do so could Kidman and she may be able to pull it off, who knows?
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9-21-2008 @ 11:41AM
Nick Mayor said...
She's in great shape and a great actress. Not having an open mind is pretty stupid until you see the movie. She's already proven herself in so many different roles so just wait and see.
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