Jon Turturro asked to play Eamon De Valera in Michael Collins

The King of Moo

Just saw this in an interview today on the AV Club:

AVC: Along with your hair, one of the other malleable things about you is you’ve been called upon to play almost any race. You’ve been Italian, Russian, Spanish, Mexican—it seems like you’re an all-purpose “ethnic” guy a lot.

JT: Well listen, I’m not white, let’s face it. [Laughs.] My background is southern Italian, but there’s probably some French and Spanish in there. There could be some northern African, Greek, Turkish, you know. Everybody’s in there. And also, I’ve played in classical plays. I did Endgame. I did Godot. I’ve done Shakespeare. I may do a Chekhov next year. So I can do different things. And sometimes, like when I did Box Of Moon Light, even though Tom [DiCillo] is Italian and the character is based on his dad, there weren’t any racial or ethnic things in it. And that was nice, just to do something like that.

But yeah, as an actor, the way you look can dictate a lot of what you do. The more skilled you are, the more malleable you are, the bigger opportunities you’ll have to work. I don’t always want to have to do an accent or this or that, but sometimes you also have to have the opportunity to work. So yeah, I’ve played German, even—I’ve played all kinds of things. They actually wanted me to be the president in Michael Collins. They wanted me to be Eamon De Valera, because I look like him. I couldn’t do it, so Alan Rickman did it. I was shocked. I was like, “Are you kidding?” [Laughs.] But I guess De Valera’s a Black Irishman but he’s got a Spanish background. But I was laughing because growing up, I was always beaten up by Irish kids. [Laughs.] And I would have been the President of Ireland!

Link:http://www.avclub.com/articles/john-turturro,58178/2/

What do you think of this? I'd never heard about it before.
After seeing the film, it's hard to imagine anyone else but Alan Rickman in the role. But I can see Turturro doing it. He's a fantastic actor, and he certainly does have a physical similarity. Wonder if he'd have been able to do the accent though!

Duffy the Vampire Slayer

The King of Moo wrote: »

Wonder if he'd have been able to do the accent though!

I'd say it would have been tough. Dev could have ended up sounding like Barton Fink.

DrumSteve

Look into your heart Michael... Look into your heart!

Mocha Joe

8 year olds, dude.

Corkfeen

Mocha Joe wrote: »

8 year olds, dude.

It's sort of sad that you registered an account to complain. But anyway, probably plenty of people on the film forum that never heard of this, including myself.

Back on topic, Turturro is a great actor but i'm not sure if he could have done better than Rickman on it. Although to give credit to the man, he's one of the few redeeming factors in the Transformers movies.

MyKeyG

I think seeing him in some of his previous dorkier roles would have definately put me off. In fact the man has one of the most comical appearances in Hollywood. I can't believe he was even considered. Just my opinion of course.

dlofnep

They are supposed to be making a new movie around the Easter Rising. I think development is stalled though..

Hank_Jones

Weird, just watched O Brother Where Art Thou last night,
also watched Barton Fink not so long ago as it was on the telly.

The guy is an extremely underrated actor who seems to be overlooked by a lot of people.

The Recliner

Corkfeen wrote: »

It's sort of sad that you registered an account to complain. But anyway, probably plenty of people on the film forum that never heard of this, including myself.

Back on topic, Turturro is a great actor but i'm not sure if he could have done better than Rickman on it. Although to give credit to the man, he's one of the few redeeming factors in the Transformers movies.

I think you missed the point of the post

That is an epic first post

It is a Big Lebowski reference to Turtorro's character

Pretty cool that someone registered to post it imo

Corkfeen

The Recliner wrote: »

I think you missed the point of the post

That is an epic first post

It is a Big Lebowski reference to Turtorro's character

Pretty cool that someone registered to post it imo

I feel disgraced, it's been so long since I saw The Big Lebowski. So I cordially apologise to the guy who had the first post. Hangs head in shame and sips white russian...

foxyboxer

Heard about that at the time. Read the diary Neil Jordan kept and published when it came out.

Interesting too that Michael Cimino was initally set to direct "The Big Fella" with Kevin Costner to star as Collins. *shudder*

Mocha Joe

Corkfeen wrote: »

I feel disgraced, it's been so long since I saw The Big Lebowski. So I cordially apologise to the guy who had the first post. Hangs head in shame and sips white russian...

Apology accepted.

I probably spend way too much of my life waiting for a chance to quote that film.

Corkfeen

Mocha Joe wrote: »

Apology accepted.

I probably spend way too much of my life waiting for a chance to quote that film.

White Russians for all boardsies.... If anyone holds me to that.. :mad:

kearneybobs

I would have to agree that he seems to be a rather under used/appreciated actor.
Can anyone recommend a film of his that isn't somewhat tongue-in-cheek to a certain degree. Not sure I know of one of his that isn't.
Literally just finished watching the Big Lebowski and got the ref by Mocha Joe! Hang your head in shame Corkfeen! tut tut. :pac:

The King of Moo

kearneybobs wrote: »

I would have to agree that he seems to be a rather under used/appreciated actor.
Can anyone recommend a film of his that isn't somewhat tongue-in-cheek to a certain degree. Not sure I know of one of his that isn't.
Literally just finished watching the Big Lebowski and got the ref by Mocha Joe! Hang your head in shame Corkfeen! tut tut. :pac:

He's great in Quiz Show. Plays it completely straight. Really good film too.

The King of Moo

foxyboxer wrote: »

Heard about that at the time. Read the diary Neil Jordan kept and published when it came out.

Interesting too that Michael Cimino was initally set to direct "The Big Fella" with Kevin Costner to star as Collins. *shudder*

In that version we'd probably win the War of Independence and get a 32-county republic straight away, with Michael surviving and getting the girl too!