CANNES: Terrence Howard In Talks To Play Cameron Crowe’s Marvin Gaye
EXCLUSIVE: The actor tells me he has been talking to Cameron Crowe about starring as soul singer Marvin Gaye. Crowe has been working for 3½ years on the Sony biopic. The director has gone back to the drawing board after Will Smith turned down the role. Mowtown founder Berry Gordy Jr. is supporting the project, which has secured rights to Gaye’s music. Scott Rudin is attached as producer. Howard, of course, is a singer himself. Marvin Gaye was one of the influences on his debut album Shine Through It. “Nothing’s been signed on paper yet,” Howard tells me. “Everybody who loves music will hate me if I get this one wrong.”
Terrence Howard is soft and camp and difficult (one of the reasons he was iced for Cheadle in Iron Man 2). There must be better choices out there…I think Jesse Martin is the perfect Marvin Gaye…and even Anthony Mackie?
To the dude that tried to dis Howard about getting fired and replace by Cheadle on Iron Man 2. As a fan of all three; Howard, Cheadle and The Iron Man Franchise- that was a dumb ass move! Cheadle sucked in that role. I’m sure the pay day and prestige of it was the reason he would take such a role, but he should have stayed in his lane! Howard was missed! No matter our personal feelings for actors, we must select talent best on the art of the craft! Respect Howards game. And as for Jesse Martin, He too is one of the great ones who id like to see more of!
Mackie has already fucked up a portrayal of a music legend (Tupac). We need not give him another one.
*Please note, I am not a Tupac fan, but he is still considered by many to be a legend.
Wow, actually sort of sorry to hear Crowe has put so much time into this. Not sure this is something I care to see, Crowe or not.
I gotta say this — even though the bulk of Eddie Murphy’s great performance in Dreamgirls was inspired by James Brown — his performance (and the character) towards the end, when he records “Patience” — the one song in a musical about a Motown-like label that actually soundsl ike Motown — I thought Eddie was channeling What’s Going On-era Marvin, complete with the little knit hat. He was great, though probably a little old to play Marvin in a biopic.
CROWE RULES- simple as that.
…except maybe ELIZABETHTOWN…that was poopoo.
NO this is not a good idea. What would be good? In these very spirited political times we are living in I would say a bio pic of a spirited politician would be good, a black one even better. Who? A bio pic of Adam Clayton Powell Jr….HIs life story is absolutely fantastical..His personality was almost unreal from what I’ve heard as was his movie star looks. Very charismatic. His background of african american aristocracy (kind of) is almost never dealt with in movies. His preaching style of fire and brimstone with hair flying all over the place: positively theatrical.
He was part of the first wave of the civil rights movement, had many wives including a famous Hollywood black actress, had mistresses, drank HARD, ended up the first elected black US congressman representing Harlem when Harlem (NYC) was H A R L E M. He was loved and hated. Just darken Terrence Howard’s hair and that’s it. He already has the mustache of that era. This could be an epic like Malcom X who frankly seems like a choirboy compared to Powell.
The problem could be with Powell’s heirs. I don’t know if they would give the rights but isn’t a former congressmen almost like public domain? Anyway that’s my pitch, LOL. I’m shopping this because it’s a better story and Terrence would do well in this.
Marving Gaye? Nice but not for Howard..
There was a biopic of Adam Clayton Powell Junior — it ran on Showtime, starred Harry Lennix and Vanessa Williams, called Keep the Change.
This is a brilliant pairing– like Hackford & Fox for “Ray”. This has Oscar written all over it. This is serious.
To all the clowns– if you live a thousand years you’ll still never achieve a tenth of T. Howard’s gifts– physically, intellectually or vocally.
Love Crowe, Hate Howard, Gaye is a story not worth telling…
Who’s the audience for this film?
@ Already Bored:
Who’s the audience for this film?
Anyone w/ taste.
So you should definitely stay home.
This man’s mark on every genre of music, civil rights & black identity is incredible.
You’re obviously not intelligent enough to understand that.
Terrence Howard will be a great choice for this role. I know he can do it.
Crowe’s biggest problem is his tendency to slap happy endings on everything, obviously a major reason he never made the Phil Spector biopic. And for someone who portrays himself as a sweet, innocent little boy journalist, trying to get him on the phone for an interview if you’re just some piddly little writer like myself and getting past his dragon gatekeeper publicists is a tougher task than parting the red sea. When I worked at Creative Screenwriting, Steven Spielberg did an e-mail interview with us for War of the Worlds. What’s Crowe’s excuse for treating people that aren’t in his rarified air like specs on the floor?
you got a little heart. a sad life awaits you.
OMG No!!!!!!!
Jesse L. Martin was born for this role, I can’t handle the thought of this story being done half-ass, this needs to be done right and with all of the music. I would rather not see it done if Howard is gonna do it. Marvin’s story while a downer, painful, he created some amazing music, it was his life he struggled to create music. I am ready for that story to be told but hell no on Terrence. Not only does Jesse sing great, he has got Gaye’s swagger down. Marvin’s family is riding hard on whitwashing the truth, thus the Gordy approved soft story but now with more money being tossed at it they want to get it done. Respect the man get it done right.