Oscars Will Toast Last 10 Years of Musicals–Jennifer Hudson, Tom Cruise, Meryl Streep Could Be Singing
UPDATE: The Academy just sent out a press release confirming the story. So nice. Everybody wins. It’s going to be a very good show. The tribute will be to Movie Musicals of the Last Decade– starting with “Chicago” and including “Hairspray,” “Mamma Mia,” “Enchanted,” and –hmmm??– the failed “Rock of Ages.” But also “Sweeney Todd,” “Dreamgirls,” etc. Could mean Jennifer Hudson, Johnny Depp, and even– yes– Tom Cruise. Why not? Bring him on! (What will they do about the “South Park” musicals? Fun!)
Earlier: I told you right at the start that with producers Neil Meron and Craig Zadan we’d be getting a big musical Oscars. The award winning producers of “Chicago” and “Hairspray” were chosen because of their strengths. They’ve already gotten Adele to sing “Skyfall”–and maybe more. Baz Bamigboye, writing in the UK Daily Mail Friday morning, reports that Meron and Zadan are planning a tribute to movie musicals.
They are said to want Meryl Streep and John Travolta (not sure why) plus Hugh Jackman and Anne Hathaway, nominated from this year’s “Les Miserables,” as well as their co-star Samantha Barks. “Les Miz” might not win the Oscar but it’s going to be featured heavily on that show.
http://tinyurl.com/azp3ysm
They’ve already got Rob Ashford to help them with the choreography. But there are plenty of others including Amy Adams, who’s a phenomenal singer. And why not re-stage the dance number from “Silver Linings Playbook” with Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence? Or the dancing from “The Artist” since Jean DuJardin is coming back to present Best Actress this year? The possibilities are endless!
Roger Friedman began his Showbiz411 column in April 2009 after 10 years with Fox News. Friedman previously wrote the Intelligencer column at New York Magazine, He writes for Parade magazine and has written for Details, Vogue, the New York Times, Post, and Daily News and many other publications. He is the writer and co-producer of a film about R&B Music called “Only the Strong Survive,” which was released by Miramax in 2003 and was a selection of the Cannes, Sundance, and Telluride Film festivals.
brandz
Since Streep won Best Lead Actress last year, she will present Best Lead Actor this year. It’s Oscar tradition.
Marc
totowolf-
You are forgetting Meryl won her 3rd Oscar last year for “The Iron Lady” so it is Oscar tradition for the winner of that category to return to following year to present the Best Actor category. Hence, Meryl would very likely be in attendance.
Jack
Meryl will be there to hand out the Best Actor trophy so it’s quite possible that she will join in the musical production. Plus, she loves to show off her wonderful singing ability which she gets to use so seldom.
mone46
It would be great if you were Meryl Streep !!
Ron Dante
Wonderful Idea for the show.
Music from those great scores can only make the show more interesting and filled with the magic of those incredible artists.
Bravo.
Abbie
Meryl Streep is going to be there anyway as she won Best Actress last year so is presenting the Best Actor category this year.
wonderwolf
Meryl will be there regardless to present the Oscar for Best Actor, so I would be surprised if the Academy would try to take advantage of her presence.
saon
Meryl Streep is a formidable actress who can also sing. Wouldn’t it be odd NOT to have her perform at this tribute to musicals, given that Mama Mia was so good and such a huge success?
totowolf
I’d love to see Meryl Streep there, but she isn’t nominated and I feel it would be doubtful to see her.