ROTTEN TOMATOES: Will Beyonce Star in Disney's "Aida"?

Will Beyonce Star in Disney's "Aida"?

by Scott Weinberg | July 09, 2007

Here's some good news if you love Elton John's "Aida" musical -- as well as Beyonce Knowles...

According to Jim Hill Media, Disney seems to be wooing Ms. Knowles back to the musical pool. They'd like the "Dreamgirls" star to anchor their big-budget movie version of Elton John's "Aida," which is based on the opera of the same name by Verdi. (Got all that?)

The project might not be getting underway immediately, but it does look like it's going to happen. Disney actually optioned an old "Aida" storybook (once upon a time) because they were hoping to make an animated movie out of it. (JHM even has the unused character pics to prove it!)

I've never seen the show, but I'd happily sit down to see "Aida." And if you have to ask why, I recommend you go check out some pics of Beyonce Knowles. Like this one...

Source: Jim Hill Media, Cinematical

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(1-18 of 18 posts) | Reply

bondsteraston writes:
on Jul 09 2007 11:48 AM

[b]no[/b]
Beyonce does not fit the part at all it would ruin this great musical. If they do it, it needs to be the original broadway cast

(Reply to this)

h-town24 writes:
on Jul 09 2007 12:10 PM

"Beyonce does not fit the part at all it would ruin this great musical. If they do it, it needs to be the original broadway cast" So you haven't seen a script, don't know who the dir. is and don't know what the hell is going on with the movie. But what yor dumbass does know, is that Beyonce will "ruin" it. Gotcha! Moron!

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Mr. Kong writes:
on Jul 09 2007 12:33 PM

Disney??!! Beyonce?!?! Oh Christ. I love Disney but it hasn't made many good live-action movies. Stick with the animation, Disney; it's what your best at. And I don't get the love for Dreamgirls. It was such a dissapointment.

(Reply to this)

cgcbooks writes:
on Jul 09 2007 12:48 PM

Is that her nipple I see?

(Reply to this)

Baccus83 writes:
on Jul 09 2007 01:00 PM

First things first. As Dreamgirls plainly showed, Beyonce is an awesome singer. She just can't act. She doesn't have the weight needed to carry a movie herself. Aida needs gravitas. I doubt Beyonce could pull off such an intense roll.

(Reply to this)

Bigbrother writes:
on Jul 09 2007 01:37 PM

In reply to this comment (#910686)
isn't it all going to be sung though. Maybe that'll help her with the acting weakness. Plus I can't think of anyone else who can sing who'd be a better Cleopatra...Foxy or otherwise :)

(Reply to this)

FourthWall writes:
on Jul 09 2007 01:54 PM

As if the musical itself wasn't bad enough

(Reply to this)

DiscoDan writes:
on Jul 09 2007 02:51 PM

I saw a high school perform Aida and That was good so surely a professional job will be amazing.

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MyDearestFosca writes:
on Jul 09 2007 06:13 PM

I dunno'... Beyonce might, MIGHT be right for this role - she always looks, while acting, like she's angry about something, which certainly fits the character (somewhat).

On the other hand, there's the emotional scenes. And the fact that AIDA really isn't all that great.

As if SWEENEY TODD wasn't controversy enough.

(Reply to this)

Chloe25 writes:
on Jul 10 2007 06:15 AM

[b]GAH![/b]
She is a terrible actress, despite the fact she can sing and this is a singing movie. I don't care what anybody says, Dreamgirls could have been about five times better if she wasn't in it. I have two words people.... HEATHER HEADLEY!

(Reply to this)

wordweaver writes:
on Jul 10 2007 12:27 PM

In reply to this comment (#912102)
[b]I woulf die for beyonce[/b]
GAH,i woud die for beyonce but I have to admit that Heather Headley is splendid. She was ravishing when she played the part on stage, absolutely ravishing.

(Reply to this)

aoikimmery writes:
on Oct 13 2007 10:02 PM

I don't think Beyonce has the voice for the role. I'd much prefer someone with a more honeyed tone, like India.Arie (what happened to her?) or...She's actually all I can think about. Too bad Aaliyah can't do it; she'd be perfect. I like Heather Headley, although I think she overpowered some of the songs on the OCR a little. It would be a dream if Disney could get the original broadway cast, but that's not going to happen, because that's not going to draw in a mass audience; not the way big pop names like Beyonce and Christina Aguilera will.

I even heard a far-fetched sounding rumour that Zac Efron was being considered as Radames, which (as much as I adore Zac *hearts in eyes*) is totally not a good idea. I think he'd be a good vocal match for Radames, but physically/dramatically I can't see him in the role.

I liked the idea of Disney doing Aida back when it was still going to be an animated picture. I feel so sorry for the toddlers and kids growing up in the 00's; they're completely missing all the great classics of Disney animation. Sure, CG and live-action are nice, but even masterpieces like Toy Story and Finding Nemo can't hold a candle to The Little Mermaid or Beauty and the Beast, in my humble opinion. I was hoping Aida would bring the musical animated-fable genre back. :(

(Reply to this)

somethingawsome writes:
on Mar 22 2008 01:37 PM

BEYONCE! uuuugh Shes a terrible actress. You know who would be great? The other girl from Dreamgirls Anika Noni Rose she would be perfect

(Reply to this)

JessicaJelks writes:
on Jun 17 2008 03:21 PM

I think that Beyonce fits the part of Aida perfectly! I actually think that she has really blossomed as an actress. She has an amazing voice, though not very disciplined she sure can belt it (and that's really all that matters to the general public). The same goes for Christina Aguilera as Amneris. I should know, because I've played the role of Amneris... twice! I've also been to two Aguilera concerts and she rocked both of them. She certainly has the attitude as well as the lungs for it. Sherie Rene Scott was the perfect Amneris, and I actually saw her perform! I also know that Idina Menzel played the role of Amneris after Sherie, and that was a trainwreck. Idina was recently in the Disney film Enchanted, so I hope to god that they don't cast her as Amneris (if Christina doesn't work out) just due to familiarity. I would love to see that hunk Adam Pascal (who was in the original cast and movie of RENT) as Radames, but Zac Effron? Excuse my French, but HELL NO! He nearly ruined the movie of Hairspray. He's so goofy looking too, not to mention child-like. Heather Headley would most likely do a better job of the role of Aida than Beyonce, but most broadway actors and actresses dwell too much in the dramatic when they get onto the big screen, or so I've noticed. I idolized Idina Menzel for her role in Wicked, that is until I saw her in Enchanted. What a tragedy. The general public will identify more with Beyonce and Christina, and I think that that is the deal breaker in most casting situations. I can't wait for the film to come out because I will definitely be seeing it!

(Reply to this)

KRAZOOM writes:
on Aug 27 2008 12:21 AM

I think look wise Beyonce is stunning and could fit the part perfectly solely based on her looks.. The only problem is, Beyonce is a TERRIBLE actress and it has NOT gotten any better since her debut. If she had a better acting ability then I wouldn't have a single complaint since I don't complain about movies not out yet but bad acting ruins a movie for me and Beyonce definitely fits the category for a bad actress.

(Reply to this)

Sydney C. writes:
on Mar 15 2009 12:59 PM

In reply to this comment (#910687)
Haha well maybe that would make sense if she was rumored to play cleopatra...but since this is AIDA, it isn't going to work. Heather Headley was a power house in that musical along with Adam Pascal, and Beyonce, althouh she does have a voice, just doesn't fit in with that kind of talent. Anyone know how valid the claim is that Zac Efron will play Radames? Because I swear on my life if that has any validity at all, Disney has officially died.

(Reply to this)

cashimiere t. writes:
on Dec 16 2009 09:25 PM

In reply to this comment (#910682)
I love beyonce. but aida is my favorite musical and no one i mean one can play aida but heather hedley. I think she should play the part.

(Reply to this)

Joe M. writes:
on Dec 20 2009 04:41 AM

The good news is Disney is looking to make the movie version of one of its greatest musicals. The bad news is Beyonce. She just can't act - period.

(Reply to this)

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