The three big names who want to play Frank Sinatra
Back in May, we learned about Martin Scorsese's plan to helm a Frank Sinatra biopic. The film, penned by Phil Alden Robinson, is said to be an “unconventional biopic that will touch on all phases of Sinatra’s life.” Of course, the big question since May has been, who can possibly play Sinatra, especially in a film that is obviously set to follow him through many periods of his life and career? Who has the skill, the gravitas, the drive for such a role?
Turns out, three of Hollywood's biggest A-listers think they do.
Scorsese’s go-to boy, Leonardo DiCaprio, has long been rumored to be interested in starring in the film. It’s a natural pairing, as Scorsese and DiCaprio have, in recent years, crafted an amazing career essentially together (honestly, can SHUTTER ISLAND just come out already?). But Leo is not the only one gunning for a role sure to be awards season fodder. Johnny Depp and George Clooney are now also “in fierce competition” to make Ol’ Blue Eyes their own. And, surprisingly enough, DiCaprio is not the first choice. Universal is apparently on Team Depp.
One of the major hurdles in making a biopic about a singer is casting someone who can sing, but whoever gets the Sinatra role doesn’t need to worry about that. Universal and Mandalay have already cleared the rights to use Sinatra’s catalog, meaning that we don’t need to agonize over whose voice we’re going to hear, but whose mouth it’s going to come out of. I don’t know if I can picture Clooney belting out “My Way” in a way that doesn’t just look like George Clooney singing “My Way,” not Sinatra singing “My Way.”
While Universal may be pushing for Depp, and we can assume that Scorsese wants Leo, Frank’s daughter Tina would like the role to go to Clooney. Part of that may be due to the fact that Tina is concerned that Scorsese wants to make a “hard-hitting” film that would not shy away from the “violent, sexually charged, hard-drinking Frank.” Clearly, his family would want a gentler Frank revealed the world, and Clooney might be a better fit for that type of role. Tina is the executive producer of the project, and is the one who cleared the film to use Sinatra’s own recordings, so her opinion is of utmost importance.
It's almost guaranteed that the part will go to one of these big names, but do you have any other ideas for the role?
Source The Guardian, via Cinematical
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