Melissa McCarthy to Headline Live-Action Tinkerbell Movie

[MovieBob]

Melissa McCarthy to Headline Live-Action Tinkerbell Movie

Bridesmaids breakout-star will play new version of famous fairy for director Shawn Levy

In case you hadn't heard, movies based on characters today best remembered from classic Disney movies are big business now [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/138674-Disney-Debuts-Live-Action-Cinderella] - even when Disney isn't the one making them. Now, Twentieth Century Fox is getting in on the game with a new take on Peter Pan's iconic fairy Tinkerbell, and comedy megastar Melissa McCarthy is reportedly signed for the titular lead role.

Night At The Museum helmer Muppets Most Wanted [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/138093-Shawn-Levy-Talks-with-Warner-Bros-for-Minecraft-Movie] this year. The film (which does not have an official title) is described as a "comedy adventure."

McCarthy has been on a serious box-office hot streak since breaking out in Bridesmaids, with the hit sitcom Mike & Molly also to her credit. In addition to Tinkerbell and a fast-tracked sequel to the buddy-cop hit The Heat with co-star Sandra Bullock, she's also heavily rumored as a prime contender for the all-female Ghostbusters reboot. [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/137925-Paul-Feigs-All-Female-Ghostbusters-Reboot-Gets-Heat-Writer]


Source: Deadline Hollywood [http://deadline.com/2014/11/melissa-mccarthy-tinker-bell-shawn-levy-1201289728/]


[http://www.escapistmagazine.com/movies-and-tv/]

Permalink

 

[Covarr]

Spoiler

I like Melissa McCarthy well enough, but isn't Tink supposed to be super thin and sexy? Like, this isn't just a coincidence of actresses who have played the role in the past, this is an intentional part of the character. It'd be like casting Peter Dinklage as Fezzik in The Princess Bride, or Tom Hanks as Kunta Kinte in Roots. McCarthy is talented and funny, but I think she'd be miscast as Tinkerbell.

P.S. Thanks

 

[vid87]

Spoiler

I like Melissa McCarthy well enough, but isn't Tink supposed to be super thin and sexy? Like, this isn't just a coincidence of actresses who have played the role in the past, this is an intentional part of the character. It'd be like casting Peter Dinklage as Fezzik in The Princess Bride, or Tom Hanks as Kunta Kinte in Roots. McCarthy is talented and funny, but I think she'd be miscast as Tinkerbell.

P.S. Thanks

I'm assuming that's going to be the point of the whole movie or at the very least it's not based directly on the Disney version.

 

[JoJo]

Okay. I'm guessing this is just one to capitalise on a young female audience with a well-known character because there really isn't that much to get a 'new take' on with Tinker Bell, as far as I can remember she's just a spiteful little fairy who adores Peter. Can she really carry a movie by herself? I'm curious to know more but I have a feeling I'll be counting myself out pretty quickly, I'd be pleasantly surprised if they didn't cut out the dark interesting parts of the original setting.

 

[vid87]

Okay. I'm guessing this is just one to capitalise on a young female audience with a well-known character because there really isn't that much to get a 'new take' on with Tinker Bell, as far as I can remember she's just a spiteful little fairy who adores Peter. Can she really carry a movie by herself? I'm curious to know more but I have a feeling I'll be counting myself out pretty quickly, I'd be pleasantly surprised if they didn't cut out the dark interesting parts of the original setting.

As far as this version I couldn't tell you, but Disney has absolutely found ways to capitalize on the character beyond shallow name-checking - they have a "Fairy" series where Tink is not only the main character (and talks) along with a broad cast and defined world, but lives up to her name by being a resourceful inventor.

 

[Pyrian]

Well, she's certainly got the attitude for it.

 

[Sol_HSA]

I like Melissa McCarthy well enough, but isn't Tink supposed to be super thin and sexy?

Meh, they'll just fix it in post.

 

[Skeleon]

Huh, so it'll be live action? I had just assumed it meant she'd be voice-acting, so it wouldn't matter what she looks like if the voice is right. If it is live action, then I guess it just depends on what they're planning to do with it story-wise. Sure, she doesn't look anything like we know the character (Julia Roberts in Hook looked more like that) but if the only thing we're sure about is that the character has the same name and some characteristics... the story might be... anything, really. So who cares. *shrug*

 

[shadowstriker86]

Spoiler

My thoughts exactly. One thing to voice, another is when you have a tyranitar trying to disguise itself as a pikachu, it....it just doesn't work. And yes, it is because she's fat.

 

[VondeVon]

as far as I can remember she's just a spiteful little fairy who adores Peter. Can she really carry a movie by herself?

....actually, if they take that angle...? Well, I'd be interested in a movie that portrays Tinkerbell in an extremely negative fashion. Of course, if they did? There will be accusations that a larger actress was chosen because only 'good' characters are visually ideal - or words to that effect.

 

[DoctorM]

Just because it's live action doesn't mean that her character can't be CG.
I'm thinking this is going to be a Smurfs movies sort of thing. The fairies were CG in Maleficent (and looked awful).

Oh, god, I don't want to see this.
Can't Disneytoon just go back to making Disney Fairies movies?

Btw, doesn't Great Ormond Street Hospital own the rights? Can they really license movie rights to more than one studio at a time?

Edit: It seems after the copyright expired the UK government granted them an unlimited copyright.

The U.S. doesn't recognize it though. So we get Disney's Tinker Bell films, the live TV musical, the modern update TV series, and now this.

I can see why Disney is backing away.

 

[Belaam]

I have two daughters who love the Disney Fairy universe and have seen those film far more times than I can count. And frankly, they're pretty good; heck, they're freaking Annie Hall compared to most shows aimed at the pre-school/elementary school age range.

But this sounds like a terrible decision if this Tinkerbell is also live action and it's not a Smurfs type live action. Dear god, I just hoped this movie is something.like the Smurfs because the it would be better than my initial impulse. But casting an adult humor actress who looks nothing like her character in a film that is guaranteed to draw in young audiences whose first reaction will be confusion is asking for a disaster if it's McCarthy in some CGI wings.

 

[crazygameguy4ever]

how are they going to shoot the film when all the people on set keep throwing up from see the human whale in tinkerbell's costume?..brrrr.. got cold chills there.. tinker bell doesn't weight 300 pounds ,they need a thin actress to play the character, not a fat one.

 

[Grumman]

No. Just... no. I would quite possibly have been interested in seeing this movie, but when I think "Tinkerbell", I do not think "44 year old, overweight woman." All three of the previous Tinkerbells were 24, so getting someone nearly twice as old for the new movie seems like an insanely bad casting decision.

 

[Imperioratorex Caprae]

Not a fan of this chick, and its nothing to do with her size. I just don't like her, don't find her funny at all and don't see her as a good choice for Tink. Also if she's any way attached to the gender-swapped Ghostbusters it'll be another reason for me not to watch it. I was previously not on board before because of a personal feeling that with Harold Ramis' passing, the series should have been retired, and not because of it being an all-female cast (I actually always wanted to see at least one female member added to the team).
There's just something about this chick that sets me off, partially because of some of her comedy bits being really insensitive on certain issues like fibromyalgia.

 

[Nergui]

The 2003 Peter Pan movie had the best Tinkerbell played by Ludivine Sagnier.

If you have not seen this movie yet, do yourself a favour and go buy or rent it, NOW!!

 

[happyninja42]

Spoiler

My thoughts exactly. One thing to voice, another is when you have a tyranitar trying to disguise itself as a pikachu, it....it just doesn't work. And yes, it is because she's fat.

That's exactly the thing though. Most of her roles have relied on the punchline of "It's funny because she's a fat person trying to do skinny person stuff."

I suspect they will have multiple hilarious situations that rely on us laughing at her trying to do something and failing miserably at it...you know...because she's fat...and that's funny....apparently -__-

I suspect wire harnesses will be employed to have her floating about like Tink, and we'll see her failing miserably at it, because that's apparently all any director can think to do with her.

Personally I'd like to see her do some dramatic stuff, because I think she would be great at it, but she's sadly been typecast as "the funny fat chick", and I'm afraid she's not going to escape that role for some time.

 

[FPLOON]

On the one hand, this combination, alone, peaked my interest something fierce... (Thanks, news!)

On the other hand, I feel conflicted that there could be a scene where Tink can't fit through a hole-shaped opening... (Thanks, thread!)

Regardless, you can't say this isn't a "new" take on Tinkerbell especially if McCarthy is playing a live-action Tink instead of a CG Tink... Also, this all made me realize that I haven't seen The Pirate Fairy yet and I really should since I do follow the Fairy series, "kinda"...

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

Is she going to voice the character? Or is the unique selling point of the movie "Tinker Bell is an overweight woman in her 40s"?

 

[Dragonbums]

Okay. I'm guessing this is just one to capitalise on a young female audience with a well-known character because there really isn't that much to get a 'new take' on with Tinker Bell, as far as I can remember she's just a spiteful little fairy who adores Peter. Can she really carry a movie by herself? I'm curious to know more but I have a feeling I'll be counting myself out pretty quickly, I'd be pleasantly surprised if they didn't cut out the dark interesting parts of the original setting.

As far as this version I couldn't tell you, but Disney has absolutely found ways to capitalize on the character beyond shallow name-checking - they have a "Fairy" series where Tink is not only the main character (and talks) along with a broad cast and defined world, but lives up to her name by being a resourceful inventor.

Those movies are admittedly a joy to watch. I'm being serious. Very well rounded television movie series.

This isn't the first time Disney has done this. (although they don't do a lot of it.) I remember way back when they had a live action Cinderella movie that featured a black women as Cinderella and a Philippine man as the Prince. Still remember that movie fondly, and I don't think it was bad. (Of course it's hard to fuck up something like that unless you got some trashy actors and directing.)