The 1962 gruesome cult movie “What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?” is in the works for a remake directed, for some reason, by Walter Hill. Hill is best known for his macho action movies and westerns. Evidently he wants a change of pace. As you may recall “Baby Jane” is about two sisters fallen on hard times. Jane, played by Bette Davis, was a former child star, and Blanche, played by Joan Crawford, was a former movie queen. Jane had degenerated into a slatternly alcoholic who dressed like a ten year old, and Blanche was helpless in a wheelchair from an auto accident. They were forced to live together in a decaying Hollywood mansion in Hancock Park. So let’s throw out some casting ideas!! Of course, Faye Dunaway is everybody’s first choice for Blanche, but if she says no – how about Jessica Lange or Charlotte Rampling? (Actually Faye could play either role.) As for Jane, we could imagine Kathy Bates or Kirstie Alley in the part. Any suggestions out there?
34 Comments
Yawn..
My suggestion is to not do a remake, they can never live up to the original which was fantastic
I agree with palermo
Let’s start a petition to convince the studios or production company that this turkey won’t make it to Thanksgiving. Leave it alone!
Edward Lozzi
USE MEN
i have more than a few hilarious ideas for male casting…….
It will be difficult…both were make dykes so casting should start with that in mind. Wait a few years and put Lindsay L. in one part. Maybe Hillary Clinton could be cast as the other one after her current job is over.
I agree with Harvey (who agrees with palermo) ! lol 🙂
_________________
@holy hell
Great idea!
@Edward Lozzi
I’d sign it!
I don’t know of anyone in Hollywood today who can touch Bette Davis. She was an original, and there ain’t any copies. I agree with other posters here; leave it alone.
Why? Are there no original ideas in that town? Haven’t they learned with all the remake flops that have been churned out? Can Hush Hush Sweet Charolette be next? Stop.
Katie Holmes as Blanche and Tom Cruise as Jane. Blockbuster before it gets filmed.
Both have mean ‘brows that were between many women’s legs. Read about the story of Bette and Joan:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-566502/The-bitter-sexual-jealousy-Bette-Davis-wage-war-Joan-Crawford.html
Definitely Faye as Blanche…Jessica Lange would KILL the Jane part
Madonna for the Baby Jane part, she already is halfway there with the makeup and looks, for Godssakes.Oh ok, and mentally she’s there, too. So yeah, Madonna’s got a lock on it.
Valerie Bertinelli and Mackenzie Phiiips
Cidny Williams and Penny Marshall
The Olson Twins?
I can’t stand it when Hollywood feels the need to remake classic movies…. Are they really that at a loss for creative scripts? I think I’ll pass on seeing this re make because I’m perfectly satisfied with the original which stands the test of time….
it has already been remade once with vanessa and lynn redgrave in 1991, why remake again??
The GollyWeird fools should leave this one alone, this is a masterpiece that shouldn’t be tampered with. What’s next, a remake of Gone With the Wind?
The last movie I saw with Bette Davis was “Burnt Offerings”, great acting and a very scary unusual movie.
Meryl Streep? But, Palermo has the definitive answer.
Madonna would be the perfect Baby Jane if she didn’t have to act.
I agree with everyone who agrees that Hollywood should stop messing with remakes of classics. If they’re running out of ideas, it’s time to unplug it, pack it up & go home.
*sigh* No one’s gonna even go near Dunaway with a ten foot pole and lubricant. You know it and I know it. Lang is too unreliable, and Rampling isn’t bankable enough. Are you just making crap up to pass the time and fill column inches? Because it sure ain’t any form of reporting — it barely passes for fluff.
Madonna and Courtney Love.
Jennifer Anniston and Angelina Jolie.
Joan Collins and Linda Evans (the straight to DVD version).
Joan Van Ark and Donna Mills (the straight to TV version).
If you want a laugh, UK comedians already remade it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z11IoaJX7Co
Nancy Pelosi and Hilary Clinton, but nancy made too much money funneling govt funds to her district and her husband.. may not be interested.
Hillary looks more like Bette but Joan was a certified lesbo who bedded Marilyn Monroe so Hillary would fill her “shoes” much better.
Real beetle brows on them both!
Phyllis might enjoy:
http://www.jewishjournal.com/hollywoodjew/item/how_jewish_actresses_are_giving_jewish_women_an_image_boost_20110811/
Rewrite the script & characters as males & cast Alec Baldwin (Blanche) & Brad Pitt (Baby Jane)
It COULD be done but it would need the touch of someone who actually cared about the original. Faye Dunaway blames her portrayal of Joan Crawford in Mommie Dearest as the reason for her derailed career so it’s highly doubtful she would even consider playing a role Crawford (or even Davis) played originally. But I agree with Janet that she would really be an excellent choice for either of the roles. She is known for being slightly eccentric so who knows? She may be desperate to take on one of the roles, IF they were offered to her. She is also known to be very difficult to work with so maybe no one in town will touch her. Whatever happened to her dream project about Maria Callas? Diane Baker as Blanche would work; Joan Collins would rock too! It’s a shame Elizabeth Taylor is gone because she could have done Blanche too.
she went in the prostitute business, folks!!
I think I would play a perfect Baby Jane Hudson! Why not give an unknown a chance. 🙂
OK Hillary C. would love to get ahold of some fresh pickings!
I’m late to this discussion, but as palermo first said, why remake a classic? And frankly, I don’t think the story, which was fairly simple albeit a psychological thriller, would sell in this movie market. That is of course, unless the script were updated to include young scantily clad actresses, sex, blood/gore, sex and a few explosions. Oh, and sex.
We should have 2 versions (like Sleeping Beauty did)!
1st Version (seriously GOOD movie):
Faye Dunaway or Meryl Streep
with
Shirley MacClain (spelling?)
2nd Version (seriously SILLY movie):
Lady Gaga as Baby
with Madonna
I’m surprised I haven’t seen this suggestion yet! 😉