PAN

[jo]

As posted by Ellen on the Film Role Rumors thread, Variety was the first to report that Hugh has joined the new film project on the origin story of Peter Pan, called simply "PAN".

Hugh personally confirmed his joining the project when he was interviewed by Huffington Post, during the Empire State Building lighting ceremonies --

It's official: Hugh Jackman has joined the cast of Warner Bros. "Pan."

The Aussie actor confirmed the casting news to The Huffington Post while lighting the Empire State Building in green and gold for Australia Day on Friday (Jan. 24) in New York City, alongside his wife Deborra-Lee Furness.

"I'm very excited," Jackman said, smiling from ear-to-ear. "I love it. I love the director Joe Wright, I love working with Warner Bros. and I think this is just really exciting. It's a very cool project. And it's wonderful for my kids!" he added.

Variety was first to report that the Golden Globe-winning actor was set to star as Blackbeard in the flick based on the original tale of "Peter Pan." Garrett Hedlund is in talks to take on the role of Captain Hook...

What a project contrast -- he will be promoting PAN ( or will he be busy with THE RIVER?) sometime in mid- 2015, maybe the first weeks of July). The story of his career -- popular entertainment with an emerging profile of serious acting challenges!


*** PS : According to the official announcement the movie is still untitled and is simply referred to as PAN at the moment. It has an official opening date though for summer 2015 ( July 17).

PS: It looks like the use of the title "PAN" has now been fully decided. They have even revised the artwork of the title to incorporate the pan musical instrument.



Jo

[jo]

Official announcement from WARNER BROS ( film distributor for PRISONERS...and THE FOUNTAIN) --

www.deadline.com/2014/01/hugh-jackman-blackbeard-pan-warner-bros-cast/

Hugh Jackman Cast As Blackbeard In Warner Bros’ ‘Pan’

By PATRICK HIPES, Managing Editor | Friday January 24, 2014 @ 10:07am PST
Tags: Hugh Jackman, Pan, Warner Bros

Warner Bros is getting its Peter Pan movie in ship-shape. It has just announced it has set Hugh Jackman to play Blackbeard in Pan, the Joe Wright-directed update of JM Barrie’s Peter Pan tale. He joins Garrett Hedlund, who we scooped this week landed the role of Captain Hook after being in the mix with Boardwalk Empire‘s Jack Huston and Perks Of Being A Wallflower‘s Ezra Miller. The script is by Jason Fuchs, and Greg Berlanti is producing under his Berlanti Productions banner with Paul Webster. Sarah Schechter is overseeing for the studio.

In Fuchs’ script, an orphan is taken to the magical world of Neverland, where he becomes the savior of the natives and leads a rebellion against the evil pirates led by Blackbeard. Javier Bardem at one time was offered this part, but Jackman was later rumored to be in the mix, and now it is final. For the record, that makes a pretty formidable acting duo playing the same historical figure: John Malkovich is set as Blackbeard in NBC’s upcoming pirate drama series Crossbones from Neil Cross.

The studio said that the pic remains untitled, though it does have a July 17, 2015 release date after it was shifted last week to take the slot previously held by the studio’s Superman Vs. Batman movie. The move keeps Pan from being sandwiched between Fox’s Fantastic Four and Paramount’s Terminator reboot and took the pic off the the same date as Ted 2 from Universal.

Jackman, repped by WME, just wrapped shooting on Fox’s X-Men: Days Of Future Past, and his most recent pic in theaters was the Warner Bros’ thriller Prisoners.

“Hugh Jackman always delivers indelible performances that resonate with audiences,” said Greg Silverman, Warners’ President, Creative Development and Worldwide Production, in announcing the deal. “We know he will create a Blackbeard who will be a powerful presence in this original Peter Pan adventure.” Added Sue Kroll, President, Worldwide Marketing and International Distribution: “There is a reason that Hugh is known and loved the world over. He is uncompromising in his dedication to every role, and we are all thrilled to be working with him again.”

Interesting that the movie is still untitled.


Jo

[jo]

I didn't realize that BLACKBEARD was a real life character ( I thought he only belonged to fiction like Peter Pan and Captain Hook) --

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackbeard

Here are some excerpts from Wikipedia ( do read on, for his longer biographical sketch on the same site) --

Edward Teach (c. 1680 – 22 November 1718), better known as Blackbeard, was a notorious English pirate who operated around the West Indies and the eastern coast of the American colonies. Although little is known about his early life, he was probably born in Bristol, England. He may have been a sailor on privateer ships during Queen Anne's War before settling on the Bahamian island of New Providence, a base for Captain Benjamin Hornigold, whose crew Teach joined sometime around 1716. Hornigold placed him in command of a sloop he had captured, and the two engaged in numerous acts of piracy. Their numbers were boosted by the addition to their fleet of two more ships, one of which was commanded by Stede Bonnet, but toward the end of 1717 Hornigold retired from piracy, taking two vessels with him.

Teach captured a French merchant vessel, renamed her Queen Anne's Revenge, and equipped her with 40 guns. He became a renowned pirate, his cognomen derived from his thick black beard and fearsome appearance; he was reported to have tied lit fuses under his hat to frighten his enemies. He formed an alliance of pirates and blockaded the port of Charleston, South Carolina. After successfully ransoming its inhabitants, he ran Queen Anne's Revenge aground on a sandbar near Beaufort, North Carolina. He parted company with Bonnet, settling in Bath Town, where he accepted a royal pardon. But he was soon back at sea and attracted the attention of Alexander Spotswood, the Governor of Virginia. Spotswood arranged for a party of soldiers and sailors to try to capture the pirate, which they did on 22 November 1718. During a ferocious battle, Teach and several of his crew were killed by a small force of sailors led by Lieutenant Robert Maynard.

A shrewd and calculating leader, Teach spurned the use of force, relying instead on his fearsome image to elicit the response he desired from those he robbed. Contrary to the modern-day picture of the traditional tyrannical pirate, he commanded his vessels with the permission of their crews and there is no known account of his ever having harmed or murdered those he held captive. He was romanticised after his death and became the inspiration for a number of pirate-themed works of fiction across a range of genres.

I wonder if they are going to create a really fearsome look for Hugh as Blackbeard?

Although Blackbeard sounds more like the stuff of legend, can't quite believe that this will be Hugh's first film biopic ( maybe semi-fictional ) of one man named Edward Teach!

Jo

[jo]

I've been checking the reactions to the Jackman casting on some key filmsites ( AICN/JoBlo/ComingSoon)

www.joblo.com/movie-news/hugh-jackman-confirmed-as-blackbeard-in-joe-wrights-peter-pan-reboot

www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=113955

www.aintitcool.com/node/65901?utm_source=full-feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_term=coolnews&utm_campaign=1310_RSS



and there are some interesting reactions ( I am paraphrasing- sorry, if I mix them up ) --

*Hugh is very good casting.

*Hugh is more recognized now for his talent as an actor. It used to be that he is just Wolverine. But could he play bad? Someone suggested that in The Prestige, he was pretty " bad".

*Ian Mcshane was Blackbeard in Pirates of the Carribean and he would do anything. Someone replied : "Watch PRISONERS".

*Hugh is too likeable? Can he really be a great villain? We'll see...

*Hope Hugh is not singing in it.

*There may be too many Peter Pan projects : Film ( Hook, etc), Stage ( Peter Pan, with Mary Martin, Peter and the Starcatcher - soon to be made into a film), In the works ( Disney with Peter and the Starcatcher, Sony with Channing Tatum as Hook). Because the property is now in the public domain and Peter Pan is a very popular figure.

*PAN seems to connote something else ( Replies: Where's Labyrinth? Doesn't sound like Peter Pan). PAN sounds like it skews to a broader audience base. No wonder the movie remains untitled at this point.

*Hugh was a very good villain in DECEPTION, although the film itself was not good.

*Not interested, until I learned that Joe Wright is directing. His Hanna ( with Saoirse) is awesome....and his other movies are well-directed ( unusual style, though, such as in Anna Karenina).

*Casting has now made the project more interesting -- will go and see it.

*Maybe Peter Pan will show up only later...the movie could be just about the Pirates??

*How will this movie ( Jackman, Hedlund, Warner Bros, Peter Pan legend) stack up on the same release date against Marvel's AntMan ( Michael Douglas, Paul Rudd) at the box office - July 17, 2015? Comic book vs Classic and best story for children ever ??


Jo

[jo]

I've never seen any of the PIRATES OF THE CARRIBEAN franchise, with Johnny Depp.

But I came across the movie of POTC-On Stranger Tides on cable and caught most of it. My interest was perked by the character of Blackbeard ( as portrayed by Ian McShane - remember him as the dead journalist in SCOOP?) who was featured in the whole story. In this story, Blackbeard was fairly mature, with a grown-up daughter ( Penelope Cruz), with greying hair and beard.

Campy movie -- I wonder if PAN will carry a similar directorial slant or will Joe Wright give us a different storytelling style?


Jo

[jo]

PAN has now been officially classified in the IMDB data roster as under PRE-PRODUCTION.

www.imdb.com/title/tt3332064/fullcredits?ref_=tt_ov_st_sm

One of the producers is ERIC FELLNER, one of the key WORKING TITLE producers for LES MISERABLES. He worked closely with Hugh and the Les Miserables cast. This is not a Working Title project, though. I wonder if he was key in the casting of Hugh for PAN?

One of the other producers, Paul Webster, worked with Joe Wright in Anna Karenina, Pride and Prejudice, and Atonement.

Jo

[jo]

Casting calls --

INCA Productions ‏@incaevent · 48m
Boys aged 11 to 13 are invited to audition by filmmakers for the new Peter Pan movie, directed by Joe Wright & starring @realhughjackman

CastWeb Casting ‏@castweb · 2h
Open auditions for new Peter Pan feature film starring Hugh Jackman www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-26116934 …

[jo]

There is a dedicated site for the auditions --

www.panmoviecasting.com/


There is an indicated duration on how long and when the young actor cast as Peter will be involved in filming.

•All auditionees must be available for the production period in London from April til early Autumn 2014

Presumably this might also be the time period of the entire filming and is a good indication of Hugh's own schedule? April to maybe September -- that is a fairly long time for filming -- 6 months. I wonder if some of it would really be for special effects and may not involve Hugh?

Does this mean that he can only be available for GREATEST SHOWMAN no later than late September/early October? Just speculating, of course. Presumably, he will be involved in THE RIVER in early 2015?

Also, the production will be in London. Hugh can do double time -- if he has the spare time, he can work with the creatives in London at The Royal Court for the eventual staging of THE RIVER on Broadway. He will be on the frequent London run again, just as he did when he filmed Les Miserables.

Also, will they use an English accent for this movie?


Jo

[jo]

Empire Magazine announcing the auditions --

www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=40095

Joe Wright Announces Peter Pan Casting Call
Neverland's got talent

10 February 2014 | Written by Phil de Semlyen | Source: Warner Bros.





Are you aged between 11 and 13, comfortable in tights and fearless in the face of very long queues? Unafraid to smile at a crocodile or cross swords with a scurrilous buccaneer? Well, Joe Wright wants you for his Pan casting call. The director will be searching for his Peter at Wembley Arena on February 23.

The event is open to boys of all ethnicities, as long as they’re accompanied by parent, guardian or benevolent fairy over the age of 18, and no taller than 5' 4" (the boy, that is; not the fairy). It all kicks off at 10am.

According to the official synopsis, “The role of Peter is described as a courageous and adventurous orphaned boy living in a world of fantasy and dreams, which sometimes leads him into trouble”. Villainy in the movie will be provided by Hugh Jackman as Blackbeard, with Tron: Legacy’s Garrett Hedlund heading to a fantasia of an altogether more swashbuckling kind as Captain Hook. The twist is that J. M. Barrie’s villain supreme will be on the side of the angels in this iteration as Pan and he team up to take on the nefarious Blackbeard.

Ice Age: Continental Drift scribe Jason Fuchs wrote Pan's screenplay, and the producers are Greg Berlanti and Warner Bros.’ Sarah Schechter. The current release date is July 17, 2015 - formerly the home of Superman/Batman. Aspiring Pans should head over to the official casting website for the full low-down on the casting call.

Are they expecting a lot of interested young actors??!!! The Wembley Arena is such a huge place to hold an audition!


Jo

[mamaleh]

LOL, if they go with the stereotypical "arrrr" pirate-speak, I am chuckling at the thought of Hugh's struggling with all those hard Rs. Maybe Deb can take over for Jess Platt as dialogue coach. Her Rs have become more Americanized in recent years.

(Kidding--I'm pretty sure they'll go with a standard British accent.)

Ellen

[jo]

In this recent " I am in love " instagram photo --



is that facial stubble the beginning of his Blackbeard look ...It is even more pronounced in that photo with Dali sharing Valentine Day's greetings. In two months time ( towards end of April), filming is supposed to start for PAN.

Btw, some people are confusing Bluebeard with Blackbeard


Jo

[jo]

The auditions for the role of Peter took place at Wembley Stadium - here is a video report on the hopefuls:

www.independent.ie/videos/entertainment/search-is-on-for-new-peter-pan-star-30034514.html

The turnout reminds me of those video clips of extras hoping for a place in the Les Miserables movie.

Many hopefuls, all speaking with an English accent. I wonder if they will stick to any new find from these ranks or will they broaden the search to young actors already experienced in filmmaking ( although presumably the young people who auditioned at Wembley may include some who already have acting experience, not just sheer natural talent)?

Of the young actors who have worked with Hugh -- who would be/have been an excellent candidate for Peter -- Troye from Origins:Wolverine, Dakota from Real Steel, or Daniel from Les Miserables ? Troye would be too old now, Dakota is just around 14 and Daniel, also 14, has just finished in his role as Jack in INTO THE WOODS.

Will the principal characters in PAN ( Peter, Hook, and Blackbeard) all speak with an English accent? I would love to hear Hugh speak the language (with the original accent) of his parents.


Jo

[jo]

Filming locale identified - Bedfordshire in England.

www.bedfordshire-news.co.uk/News/Hugh-Jackman-to-come-to-Bedfordshire-to-film-new-Peter-Pan-movie-at-Cardington-Sheds-20140311092822.htm

Hugh Jackman to come to Bedfordshire to film new Peter Pan movie at Cardington Sheds

Written byKATHRYN CAIN


X-MEN star Hugh Jackman is to star in the new Warner Bros production being filmed at the Cardington Sheds later this year.

The studio has announced that Jackman, who played Wolverine in the blockbuster films, has been cast as Blackbeard in the latest Peter Pan movie.

He joins Garrett Hedlund, who it was announced last week will be playing Captain Hook in the adaptation of the classic tale.

In the latest version of the story, Peter Pan is an orphan who is swept away to Neverland and goes on to become a hero among the natives there as he leads a rebellion against a band of evil pirates, led by Blackbeard.

At the weekend Bedfordshire on Sunday reported that a casting call had been put out for actors to appear in a new feature film called 'Pan' being filmed at Cardington Shed two between May and September this year.

Warner Bros has said however that although the film has previously been referred to as Pan, it is actually untitled.

It's set for release on July 17 next year.

The schedule will probably allow his family to join him for most of the filming.


I wonder if Hugh has enough time for another movie ( before THE RIVER) after this project wraps?




Jo

[jo]

Cardington Sheds are converted airship construction structures now used for filming.


www.thestudiotour.com/cardington/index.php

theStudioTour.com

Cardington Airship Sheds
Shed Door rolled open - October 2007 (photo by Tony Crowe)


Built during the First World War for Airship construction, one of the sheds at Cardington (Bedfordshire, UK) has recently been put to good use to house the cavernous sets for Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, The Dark Knight Rises and Inception by Warner Bros.
The production company worked at the site for 10 months prior to Batman Begins to prepare the run-down structure for use as a massive stage.

NEW: Cardington Studios Website
Following Warner Bros' use of the sheds from 2005 to 2012, new owners have refurbished the sheds and set up support facilities for production companies to use. (August 2013)

Dimensions (each shed):
Length: 812 ft (247m)
Width: 275 ft (84m) total, clear width is 180 ft (54.9m)
Height: 180 ft (55m) total, clear height is 157 ft (47.9m)

Although it's not soundproofed (and therefore not a 'soundstage'), the shed is proving very useful for building massive sets, and as post-production sound technology improves, the need for soundproofed stages is reduced. The total amount of floor space available (223,000 sq feet, or 5 acres) is over 5 times the size of the largest soundstage available in Hollywood (Stage 15 at Sony Pictures 41,985 sq ft), and is almost 3 times the size of the largest soundstage in the world, Stage 15 at Babelsburg Film Studio in Germany (78,954 sq ft

The signage that used to be outside the site 'T.I.G. Cardington' is said to stand for 'The Intimidation Game' which was the codename for Batman Begins.
Cardington Sheds (still from Batman Begins Extras DVD release)


If you're on Facebook, join the We Love the Cardington Sheds group for updates and historical information.
•Movies shot at Cardington
•Photo Gallery
•History of the Sheds
•Links
•Google Map
•Official Cardington Studios Website

If you want to explore the links, please go back to original site.

My mind is already wondering at the kind of spectacular sets they are going to build!


Jo

[jo]

Rooney Mara in talks for the main female lead role ( Tiger Lily) --

www.thewrap.com/rooney-mara-negotiations-play-tiger-lily-warner-bros-pan/

Rooney Mara in Negotiations to Play Tiger Lily in Warner Bros.’ ‘Pan’



Movies | By Jeff Sneider on March 12, 2014 @ 11:40 am Follow @theinsneider

Hugh Jackman and Garrett Hedlund are expected to star in the Joe Wright movie

After co-starring in Warner Bros.’ Oscar-nominated drama “Her,” Rooney Mara is in negotiations to play Tiger Lily in the studio's big-budget tentpole “Pan,” an individual familiar with the project has told TheWrap.

Joe Wright is directing from a script by Jason Fuchs, and Greg Berlanti is producing with Paul Webster and former WB exec Sarah Schechter, who now runs Berlanti's production company.

Also read: Oscar Nominees: Rooney Mara Dishes on Nude Scenes, Brad Pitt on Pranks, George Clooney

“Pan” tells the untold story of how a young orphan boy from London is spirited away to the magical Neverland where he finds grand adventures that shape him into the hero known to generations as Peter Pan.

The film is expected to star Hugh Jackman as Blackbeard and Garrett Hedlund as Captain Hook.

Wright is planning to create a world that very international and multi-racial, effectively challenging audiences’ preconceived notions of Neverland and reimagining the environment.

Also read: Casey Affleck, Rooney Mara Clash With the Law in ‘Ain't Them Bodies Saints’ Trailer (Video)

Warners executive Courtenay Valenti will oversee the project for the studio, which will release the 3D movie on July 17, 2015.

Mara, who previously starred in “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo,” next stars in Stephen Daldry's “Trash” and a Terrence Malick movie. She's represented by WME and Management 360.

Rooney is one of the impressive new talents in Hollywood, having been nominated for an Oscar in her role in THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATOO. Rooney, who is Irish/Italian, is going to play the part of a native American in this tale of Peter Pan -- will that cause a controversy?




Jo

[jo]

Interesting which other actresses she supposedly beat for the role, according to Variety --


variety.com/2014/film/news/tiger-lilly-warner-bros-pan-1201102262/

March 12, 2014 | 11:40AM PT

Hugh Jackman and Garrett Hedlund also on board


Justin Kroll
Film Reporter
@krolljvar


Warner Bros. has tapped Rooney Mara to play Tiger Lily in its Peter Pan origin tale “Pan.”

Hugh Jackman and Garrett Hedlund are also on board with Joe Wright set to direct.

Sources say an open casting is being held to fill the role of Pan, as the character is between 10 and 12 years old.

Jason Fuchs penned the script with Greg Berlanti, Paul Webster and Sarah Schechter producing. Courtenay Valenti is overseeing for the studio.

The film will be a new take on the classic story. It is set during World War II and follows an orphan named Peter who is kidnapped by pirates and brought to Neverland, where he discovers he’s destined to save the land from the pirate Blackbeard.

The world being created is multi-racial/international – and a very different character than previously imagined.

The studio took on an exhaustive search in finding the right girl to play Lily looking at other actresses such as Lupita Nyonog’o and “Blue is the Warmest Color” thesp Adele Exarchopoulos before going out to Mara for the role.

WB dated the film for July 17, 2015, and sees it as a franchise that can appeal to the “Harry Potter” and “The Lord of the Rings” fanbase.

Mara just started production on the Todd Haynes pic “Carol” starring Cate Blanchett and was most recently seen in Warner Bros.’ “Her.” She is repped by WME and Management 360.

Jo

[jo]

Btw, in the storyline, the romantic chemistry ( even if they are fighting all the time) is between the fierce native American princess Tiger Lily and the (still) two-handed and (still) Peter-friendly and (accidentally)heroic young James Hook

Sorry, Blackbeard has no romantic interest -- he is a malevolent but charismatic ( " mesmerizing", "Svengali-like") pirate villain all through and through ...Hugh can really look fearsome in that full beard!


Jo

[jo]

The casting of Rooney Mara as the native warrior princess (not expressedly native American in the Fuchs script, albeit the Barrie book describes her as coming from the Picanniny tribe, but more like from tropical Central and maybe South America because their tribe resides in a more tropical place called Neverland) has caused much controversy and considerable outrage on social media and message boards.




Interestingly, I hope people are simply not just being politically correct or paying lip service to equal opportunity issues - because if you have read the script, the role calls for more than just someone who looks the part. In the script, Tiger Lily is one of the four major characters, together with Peter, James Hook, and Blackbeard... and calls for someone with real acting chops ( she plays quite a feisty and strong-minded character, with occasional emotional moments)and real big screen presence and appeal. She is the first believer in the legend of Peter Pan ( who himself did not believe his own legend and destiny). She must also be a great fighter and should have strong chemistry with young James Hook. Based on the first script draft, Tiger Lily has almost as much dialog and action scenes as the three other major characters! You do need an actress who has the physical appeal and acting strengths of someone like Rooney Mara. To me, it is not just the physical characteristics ( i.e., looking like a native of central or south America or even native American) but the ability to portray the role as it was meant to be that counts.

If the role is fairly small ( not much dialog and not too many scenes), maybe to consider a newcomer with the right physical look could work, but I am not sure that we can get the kind of Tiger Lily as screenwriter Jason Fuchs portrayed the character in his script if the casting was mainly to fit the look. If Lupita Nyong'o did not work out in the casting of Tiger Lily, Joe Wright must have weighed all the factors before he finally chose Rooney.

There are also other key supporting roles, one of them being the role of Smee ( formerly Sam) -- they have cast it with a foreign actor ( the first of the multi-racial casting) --

www.bleedingcool.com/2014/03/13/adeel-akhtar-to-play-smee-in-joe-wrights-pan/

Not sure if this quite makes up for Rooney Mara as Tiger Lily, but at least we are finally starting to see a bit of that “very international and multi-racial” cast Joe Wright has promised for his Peter Pan prequel Pan.

The Wrap reports Four Lions star Adeel Akhtar has been cast to play the pirate Smee in the film, signing on as Garrett Hedlund’s Hook’s right hand man.

Ok, it’s a start, but with a white Tiger Lily (cringing, still) and Hugh Jackman as Blackbeard, I don’t think anything less than a non-white actor cast as Peter Pan himself will really live up to Wright’s grandiose vision. To his credit, the open casting call does say “Open to all ethnicities.”

Jo

[jo]

JoBlo.com speculated on how Hugh might look as Blackbeard ( although they borrowed the image from The Wolverine filming) --




Based on the script however, Blackbeard seemed like a more fastidious person


Jo

[jo]

Blackbeard look coming along nicely

Hugh Jackman ‏@realhughjackman · 4m
iPhone = A blessing and A curse.

http://instagram.com/p/lpW61hihM-

Jo

[mamaleh]

Peter has been cast. He's Levi Miller. variety.com/2014/film/news/levi-miller-tapped-to-play-peter-pan-in-warner-bros-pan-exclusive-1201136941/

Ellen

[jo]

A beautiful boy --




In the story, Peter shares his beautiful blue eyes with the mother he never knew.


Is the young actor from the UK or is he American...or could he be Australian --

Wright was looking for a new discovery for the role of Pan, conducting an extensive casting search in the U.K. with open calls, and Miller seems to fit the bill — his biggest credit to date is an episode of “Terra Nova.” He is repped by CESD Eaton Management in Australia and attorney Fred Tozeck.

Jo

[jo]

Here are some glimpses of previous screen time of Levi Miller --

www.cinemablend.com/new/Joe-Wright-Finds-His-Peter-Pan-Warner-Bros-Reimagining-42153.html

Please scroll down to the two video clips.

Also, another site ( Moviepilot) says that he was supposedly discovered during casting calls in the UK. So, the British accent in the above clips must be authentic then?

Okay -- Brit Hugh Jackman -- time to practice the accent of the original Blackbeard ( a real English pirate who sailed for the Crown and was named Edward Teach)


Jo

[jo]

Can't believe this supposed standoff makes the news - must be a slow day for news

tvnz.co.nz/entertainment-news/depp-jackman-cruise-in-standoff-over-hotel-suite-5873509?ref=rss&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

I think the referred hotel is THE CLARIDGE'S

Hugh is filming not exactly in London, but in Bedford ( 47 m/75 km from London) -- maybe he might opt to rent a house ( like they did when he was filming Les Miserables) at or close to Bedford so his family can join him in more family-friendly/suburban surroundings? Filming is supposed to be from May to September, which would allow his family to visit with him for a lengthy time?

Jo

[mamaleh]

Agree--it's a nothing story. Must be a very slow news day in New Zealand. Anyway, it's very likely he won't be there all that time, as his role is considerably smaller than Hook's.

Ellen