ROTTEN TOMATOES: Tom Hanks Drops Out of Darabont's Fahrenheit 451 Comments

Tom Hanks Drops Out of Darabont's Fahrenheit 451

by Jeff Giles | March 31, 2008

Summary

Frank Darabont's long-gestating adaptation of Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451 is in need of a new leading man. Back to Article

(1-49 of 49 posts) | Reply

Kollikodon writes:
on Mar 31 2008 06:15 AM

hmm...

oh S***... what about Steve Buscemi?

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donwillymo writes:
on Mar 31 2008 06:49 AM

So what who needs this Tom Hanks character, what has he ever done!? Sounds like a c-list actor with that name Tom Hanks. I don't think this Hanks person will make it in Hollywood! Take it from me you heard it here first.

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TombstoneLawDog writes:
on Mar 31 2008 06:52 AM

In reply to this comment (#1662104)
I would LOVE to see Buscemi in the lead for this (Irony: started career with Fire Department), but he is not NEARLY charismatic enough as a leading man. ..And, god help me, the boy is FUGLY.

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donwillymo writes:
on Mar 31 2008 07:28 AM

Yeah, "Mr. leading role" sounds like "Mr. *****". Tell you what, let me be Mr. supporting role. That sounds good to me. I'm Mr. supporting role.

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bwozar07 writes:
on Mar 31 2008 07:35 AM

My gut tells me that Josh Brolin might end up in this role.

I'd prefer to see Edward Norton in it though...

(Reply to this)

Shatter24 writes:
on Mar 31 2008 08:22 AM

How about Bruce Willis, in one of his world weary rather than kick butt roles? Or, Matt Damon could be interesting, if we're looking for an intellectual type.

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spitting into the wind writes:
on Mar 31 2008 08:37 AM

Christian Bale would be fantastic for the part.
Of course if he could tempt Daniel Day-lewis to immerse himself in the role eveyone would be a winner!!!!

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donwillymo writes:
on Mar 31 2008 08:48 AM

Let me be the first to say it cause you know like a hundred other people will...Christian Bale. I got it, Christian Bale will star in every leading role in every movie.

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donwillymo writes:
on Mar 31 2008 08:49 AM

oh forget it spittingintothewind beat me to it. proves my point even more.

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jokerboy1991 writes:
on Mar 31 2008 08:52 AM

Darabont is great, I love SHAW SHANK REDEMPTION, THE GREEN MILE, and THE MIST was really good. Sounds like or a cool movie, I wish HANKS was still in it. Maybe JOSH BROLIN, EDWARD NORTON, or perhaps THOMAS JANE. Though I would rather see JOSH BROLIN in it.

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tomwaitsjr writes:
on Mar 31 2008 10:02 AM

he's looking at "a short list of people."

How about a "list of short people!"

Danny Devito. . . They could have cool chase scenes where he runs over the flamethrower's legs.

I also hope they mention that it is only perfectly O.K. to burn books that you don't agree with when you haven't read them.

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Vortex&Vertigo writes:
on Mar 31 2008 10:03 AM

I don't like to be a skeptic, but this remake has been trying to see the light of day for ages. Ever since Mel Gibson was trying to do it some 15 years back. I don't know how much money has been waisted all these years but wow, they sure have waisted a lot of time.

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digitalrelic writes:
on Mar 31 2008 10:06 AM

Meh, Christian Bale was already in Equilibrium which was pretty much a Fahrenheit 451 rip off anyway.

I think Ewan McGregor would make a fantastic Guy Montag.

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digitalrelic writes:
on Mar 31 2008 10:14 AM

Edward Norton or Clive Owen would be great as well.

(Reply to this)

donwillymo writes:
on Mar 31 2008 10:25 AM

Guy Pierce

(Reply to this)

donwillymo writes:
on Mar 31 2008 10:26 AM

...sorry just saw 'The Proposition' again, f'ckin awsome

(Reply to this)

kissman24 writes:
on Mar 31 2008 11:07 AM

Argh! Well, this was a big loss. I was looking forward to this film and Hanks had something to do with that. I hope they can pull in another great lead actor to fill the role.

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High School With Money writes:
on Mar 31 2008 11:16 AM

Ralph or Joseph Fiennes.

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tempest3991 writes:
on Mar 31 2008 11:19 AM

It'd be hard to make this movie any better than V for Vendetta or Equilibrium. Those two movies are excellent....

Somehow i think seeing this movie would remind me of those at every turn :(

(Reply to this)

Matanuki writes:
on Mar 31 2008 11:21 AM

Edward Norton gets my vote.

(Reply to this)

johnsomc writes:
on Mar 31 2008 11:40 AM

Did he say a list of short people? Oh, sorry...

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Pilgermann writes:
on Mar 31 2008 12:27 PM

I hope that Darabont doesn't make this film too political. Politcs are involved I guess, but Bradbury himself says it's not a book about government censorship or anything like that. In his own words, "...I wasn't worried about freedom, I was worried about people being turned into morons by TV."

I'd say FAHRENHEIT 45` was quite prophetic...

(Reply to this)

trgdr777 writes:
on Mar 31 2008 01:35 PM

In reply to this comment (#1662759)
I agree. Everyone tries too hard with the political undertones these days. I really enjoyed this book, and I hope they do it some justice. To be honest, I'd rather see a lesser known actor take the lead role.

(Reply to this)

volid writes:
on Mar 31 2008 02:00 PM

Tim Roth ?

(Reply to this)

alsanali writes:
on Mar 31 2008 02:36 PM

Just wait and watch... Shia LaBeouf will land the role.

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punktuate writes:
on Mar 31 2008 02:57 PM

Christian Bale ****s badass movies but he already did a movie where books and emotions were banned it's called Equilibrium if you haven't seen it rent it it's badass

(Reply to this)

largely writes:
on Mar 31 2008 03:23 PM

Sorry Josh Brolin? The guy thinks he's the new Nick Nolte. He's too sinister looking to play Montag. Montag needs to have a boyish innocence to him. That's why Tom Hanks would've worked. Unfortunately Tim Robbins is too old otherwise he would've been perfect. Maybe Hugh Jackman or Ioan Gruffudd could work?

(Reply to this)

Trufire writes:
on Mar 31 2008 04:29 PM

I could see Hugh Jackman playing the part or Christian Bale. Of course Ewan McGregor and Clive Owen I bet would do a terrific job as well. As sad as it is to see Tom Hanks drop out like this, this role can definitely be filled with other top quality actors.

(Reply to this)

zbbrox writes:
on Mar 31 2008 04:35 PM

John Cusack. He's a lot like Hanks in that he's got a great "every man" quality and is great with both comedy and drama. And he likes doing intellectual stuff with a message. Plus, Darabont loves Stephen King, and Cusack was just in 1408!

(Reply to this)

Defshep writes:
on Mar 31 2008 04:55 PM

In reply to this comment (#1663326)
Cusack would be a good choice. Nailed it with the Tom Hanks comparison.

(Reply to this)

ThunderMammoth writes:
on Mar 31 2008 05:58 PM

Honestly, with Darabont directing... I could see any of the choices people have mentioned on this thread. I hope William Sadler gets to be in the flick too.

(Reply to this)

Novastar. writes:
on Mar 31 2008 07:22 PM

Tim Robbins.

(Reply to this)

Cupcakemafia writes:
on Mar 31 2008 08:00 PM

Guy Pierce or Clive Owen, they would be excellent actors in my opinion!

(Reply to this)

Jimbo93 writes:
on Mar 31 2008 08:04 PM

Clive Owen, Ioan Grufford, and John Cusack all sound good. Too bad about Hanks. I can't wait to see Darabont's adaptation. Has anyone seen the old version with Julie Christie? I've heard it's bad.

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mjag4242 writes:
on Mar 31 2008 09:25 PM

Did anyone check out "Equilibrium" released around 2002? Not a great movie, but I bring it up since it borrowed so heavily from fahrenheit 451 AND starred Christian Bale... which a lot of people seem to want in this role.

(Reply to this)

Product_of_You writes:
on Mar 31 2008 10:33 PM

I agree about Hugh Jackman or Christian Bale.

I think another cool guy for the role could be Viggo.

(Reply to this)

jeremyd4 writes:
on Apr 01 2008 02:43 AM

I was thinking Viggo too... I'd like to see him get more roles because after Eastern Promises it seems like he could play any kind of role. He hasn't quite reached the fame of the other actors mentioned, and he isn't a no-name either, thus, perfect.

(Reply to this)

Ryuk_Apples writes:
on Apr 01 2008 05:08 AM

In reply to this comment (#1663548)
Absolutely horrible.

(Reply to this)

tomwaitsjr writes:
on Apr 01 2008 10:45 AM

There's not much reason why it couldn't be a woman in the role.

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rsav1976 writes:
on Apr 01 2008 11:09 AM

Vendetta was a 451 ripoff and wasn't a very good one at that. Bale's name came to mind first because of Equilibrium, but I doubt it would happen. I could see Kilmer, Norton or even Kevin Bacon easily take on this role. Montag needs to be someone who can put on a good poker face, yet still turn up the intensity when need be. The original is such a great Francois Truffaut film too so check it out in case anyone is curious. Beautifully filmed (vivid colors) and well acted as well.

(Reply to this)

rsav1976 writes:
on Apr 01 2008 11:12 AM

I totally forgot about Viggo. Shame on me, and he would be right at the top of my list as well.

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tomwaitsjr writes:
on Apr 01 2008 04:24 PM

Add Ryan Gosling.

(Reply to this)

rgallitan writes:
on Apr 02 2008 08:31 AM

I vote for Guy Pierce - he hasn't been around enough lately. Viggo works too.

Btw, Equilibrium sucked. Not that it was totally unwatchable. It was pretty to look at and sucked in very amusing ways. But suck it did.

(Reply to this)

jokerboy1991 writes:
on Apr 02 2008 08:39 PM

GEORGE CLOONEY?

(Reply to this)

Bobby23 writes:
on Apr 03 2008 09:29 PM

Jake Gyllenhaal...

(Reply to this)

Tobey, Boi writes:
on Apr 04 2008 11:18 AM

In reply to this comment (#1662104)
Steve Buscemi would make a great Montag (or however you spell it, it's been a while), but he's too scrawny to play a "fireman" i think. Ed Nortons a good choice too. But I hope to Allah that they get Mickey Rourke.

(Reply to this)

Tobey, Boi writes:
on Apr 04 2008 11:19 AM

In reply to this comment (#1662104)
Steve Buscemi would make a great Montag (or however you spell it, it's been a while), but he's too scrawny to play a "fireman" i think. Ed Nortons a good choice too. But I hope to Allah that they get Mickey Rourke.

(Reply to this)

sparky565 writes:
on Aug 17 2008 10:05 PM

In reply to this comment (#1669150)
Ok, I know this seems stupid because he already plays a fireman but at the same time that helps. I thought of this long before he had this role anyway. How about Dennis Leary? I think he has the charisma and the acting ability plus he has the look and looks good as a fireman. I personally think he could pull it off better than most of the people mentioned. They just don't "fit" the role. It is a role that the look and feel as well as the acting is all very important. I think Dennis Leary fits the role perfectly.

(Reply to this)

StefansZ writes:
on Feb 03 2009 12:48 AM

In reply to this comment (#1663547)
TOTALLY agree with those two! Either of the two would do a FANTASTIC job, I'm sure.

And Mickey Rourke? Yeah.... uh... no.
1. He's way too buff for the role.
2. Way too old.

(Reply to this)

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