Guys and Dolls Tagged Articles at Cinematical

It's only a matter of time before Guy Ritchie went back to the gangster filled underworld ... but he might do it to snappy showtunes. According to UK paper The Sun, Ritchie is reportedly itching to take on a remake of Guys and Dolls.

Supposedly, Ritchie and Jason Statham have been joking about writing a musical for sometime, one that would be "a cross between Worzel Gummidge and Bullitt." Now, Worzel Gummidge is a walking, talking scarecrow familiar to British children. He talks kind of like a Ritchie character, but I'm at a loss as to what a hybrid between Worzel and Steve McQueen would look like. Thankfully, we may never find out as he's willing to give up his Worzel Gummidge laced dreams for Guys and Dolls.

Rumors of a remake have been rampant for years (usually with Hugh Jackman's name attached), and with Damn Yankees being green-lit, it wouldn't surprise me if it's picking up some serious steam. Nor would it surprise me if Ritchie became attached, as he seems to be earning Sherlock Holmes goodwill. So, despite story's dubious origins and Madonna jabs, there's just enough here to make it worth talking about. If nothing else, we can use this space to bang the drum and remind whoever does land Guys and Dolls to cast Ewan McGregor as Sky Masterson. I'm still kicking myself that I missed him on the West End, and a movie would soothe those regrets nicely. Now, who to play Nathan Detroit ...

A random mix today:

• According to Moviehole, an unnamed studio is putting together a remake of 1955's glorious-if-way-too-long film version of Guys and Dolls as a vehicle for Catherine Zeta-Jones. Vin Diesel, who has been interested in the project since it was first mentioned almost three years ago, is angling to play Sky Masterson. Dear me. Vin, I knew Marlon Brando. Marlon Brando was a friend of mine and, while you've got the swagger and can probably even sing better than he did, you're no Marlon Brando.

• Calling all teenage, female, British His Dark Materials fans: New Line is holding a series of open casting calls to find just the right girl to play the starring role of Lyra Belacqua in their film version of The Golden Compass. While you'll undoubtedly freezing your ass sitting in line (if the studio tells you "be prepared to wait a while," you KNOW it's going to be a long time), this is your big chance to become the female Daniel Radcliffe - three movies, baby, not to mention a bigger pile of money than you can possibly imagine.

• In other New Line news, they have acquired the remake rights to Japanese horror flick Infection, and will produce a US version with Vertigo Entertainment. (Vertigo loves them some J-Horror, having produced both Grudges, both Rings, and Dark Water.) In order to make sure the remake is of the highest possible quality, New Line has hired Channing Gibson, the mind behind Cradle 2 the Grave, to write the screenplay. Gee, maybe they'll call this one Infection 4U, or something - he'll be right at home.
  

You all know about the Christmas musicals: Meet Me in St. Louis, White Christmas, etc. That's where you go if you want your holiday fix tinged with song (or, in the case of Meet Me in St. Louis, deep depression). This list is just an offering of seven wonderful (non-holiday) musicals from someone who is a complete sucker for the genre and actually likes to spend the holidays singing along with people on the TV.