ROTTEN TOMATOES: Ellen Page Escapes Sam Raimi's Hell

Ellen Page Escapes Sam Raimi's Hell

Script squabbles? Oscar hangover? Either way, Page is out.

by Jeff Giles | March 03, 2008

It looks like Ellen Page won't be going to Hell after all.

Less than a month after it was reported that she had signed on, Page has dropped out of Sam Raimi's Drag Me to Hell. The news comes from Bloody-Disgusting, where sources say Page "didn't like the latest draft of the script" -- an explanation dismissed out of hand by the site in favor of good old-fashioned "I almost won an Oscar cold feet."

The Universal release, described as "a morality tale about the unwitting recipient of a supernatural curse," is still on track -- but now Raimi needs to find a new leading lady. Got any ideas for him?

Source: Bloody-Disgusting

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(1-20 of 34 posts) | Reply

Gimy writes:
on Mar 03 2008 05:45 AM

oooh wow...she's ALREADY too "hollywood". i can't believe she's 21, i didn't even realize that till i just checked. her performance in Hard Candy was one of the best i've ever seen in a chic leading role. that was one creepy 2ss movie...

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MarkMortimer writes:
on Mar 03 2008 05:49 AM

Who cares? I would want to see the film on the merits of the plot, director and effects - not some chick who almost won an oscar.

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whiskeyriver writes:
on Mar 03 2008 05:55 AM

The film is probably better off for it. Ellen Page is a terrible actress. I will stand by that statement steadfastly.

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romsy writes:
on Mar 03 2008 06:04 AM

please, shes a good actress and sam raimi is the one who sucks here, besides the first two spiderman movies(which are really just "okay" movies) name one good raimi movie, and don't say anything from the evil dead series because you might love them but they are terrible movies with horrible acting and even worse effects. so now that shes out and the man that ruined venom is all that's left then i weep for this horrible movie.

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Shatter24 writes:
on Mar 03 2008 06:12 AM

I hardly think she's a poor actress. She's just getting started and has shown a mature-ness in her performances that goes beyond her years. Plus, she also has a knack for comedy, as seen in Juno, which is actually quite difficult (just b/c you can cry on command doesn't mean you can make people laugh).

I think she's listening too much to her agent and manager. "Don't take that horror film role, your Oscar-quality now, only do small indie films". And thus, mainstream audiences will forget her. The best actors and actresses can balance mainstream fare with smaller more personal films, thus making a name for themselves w/ audiences and critics alike.

As a replacement, I would suggest: Claire Danes (if you want someone young looking w/ acting chops), or one of the main ladies from Lost (Kate or Claire - who are used to thriller-type work and are under-exposed), or what about that other X-girl Anna Paquin (wasn't she nominated for an Oscar at some point?) If you want a big name actress, Keira Knightly might be willing to do it (she did do those unspectacular Pirate sequels).

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whiskeyriver writes:
on Mar 03 2008 06:23 AM

In reply to this comment (#1614068)
Really think she has a knack for comedy, eh? Well, she sucked something terribly on SNL this past weekend. True, they were awful skits...but she made them that much MORE awful.

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ringostarfish writes:
on Mar 03 2008 06:35 AM

In reply to this comment (#1614065)
Apparently you've never seen or heard of A Simple Plan or The Gift (or even The Quick & The Dead or For Love Of The Game). And you obviously don't appreciate art direction, editing, or camera work if you really believe all that nonsense about the Evil Dead films. Fail.

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gemini0577 writes:
on Mar 03 2008 06:52 AM

In reply to this comment (#1614068)
Correct me if I'm wrong... and I may be... but didn't Anna Paquin also win the oscar?

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Vortex&Vertigo writes:
on Mar 03 2008 07:16 AM

Yes Anna Paquin won the oscar for the piano. In one point for the first X-maen she went to the Rosie O' Donnel show and telled Rosie that she keeps her Oscar in the closet. She dosen't like showing off her oscar to her friends. I personaly think Anna has potential but she needs more exposure.

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skatalite writes:
on Mar 03 2008 07:44 AM

A new leading lady, huh?

Well, let's see... How about some Bryce Dallas Howard action? Her and Raimi have worked together and she's a well-enough actress. Hmm, or Dominique Swain.

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Product_of_You writes:
on Mar 03 2008 07:47 AM

I just love how people completely go off hearsay and what some biased rotten tomatoes reporter writes and suddenly everyone is judging her character. Mabye she DID drop out because the script blew. Sheesh. People. I swear. They think they know everything.

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7thhell writes:
on Mar 03 2008 08:17 AM

I read she dropped out because of a scheduling conflict and fears of an actors strike this summer.

Pushing the start date on this Hell movie caused a conflict with two other projects she will be working on. Whip It!, a Drew Barrymore film, and another film called Peacock.

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dahluzz writes:
on Mar 03 2008 08:35 AM

let's see, a woman who unwittingly receives a supernatural curse. well, based on experience alone, i'd say your top candidates are sarah michelle gellar, naomi watts, jessica alba or hillary swank. seriously, how many of these movies can they make (or remake)?

the thing that sucks about supernatural curses is that there's no way fight them. some girl got murdered 30 years ago and now her spirit wants revenge and doesn't care who she gets it on.

good for page for not doing this. sam raimi's cred is in the toilet right now, so why not wait until he gets some of it back before hopping on a project (especially as a recent oscar nominee).

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jokerboy1991 writes:
on Mar 03 2008 08:37 AM

Damn I really wanted to see her in this, I think she would be great in this. Why are people saying shes a bad actor? havent you seen HARD CANDY, JUNO, or X3 (Shes was cool in that, not a good movie though). Shes 21, you guys make it sound like shes been acting foever and has never done a good movie, shes already made 2 great movies by age 21! Why you guys bashing SAM RAIMI, he gave us Spiderman (Pretty good) and S2 (GREAT) and THE EVIL DEAD series.

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jokerboy1991 writes:
on Mar 03 2008 08:38 AM

In reply to this comment (#1614081)
Every Director makes a bad film or two.

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danielfrohlich writes:
on Mar 03 2008 08:54 AM

I'm glad she didn't do this, Sam Ram Raimi needs to prove himself again. I didn't mind the first two Spidey movies (I didn't think they were masterpieces either) but the last one was just horrible. I almost walked out of the theater and I never have that feeling. Ellen is a smart young actress I'm sure she knows what's best for her career.

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mattdaddy36 writes:
on Mar 03 2008 09:20 AM

In reply to this comment (#1614065)
Whoever said Sam Raimi is a bad director should watch "The Gift" and "A Simple Plan", both of which are excellent films. Everyone rips on Raimi for the Spiderman series, however, the first two are excellent and I can't think of a better director for them, especially for the time. The 3rd Spiderman tried to do too much, and should have kept the villians to two, not three. And by the way, Evil Dead 1 and 2 are awesome! You really can't go by the acting and effects because 1 was made for like 100 grand (Raimi-files please don't go nuts because I don't have exact numbers) and there was NOTHING like Evil Dead 2 out in the mid eighties and there were no CGI effects. This was also a low budget offering so give it a break! The camera effects and the crazy pacing are what that movie is all about. Modern movie makers should all credit Sam Raimi for his use of the camera, because they emulate it all the time!

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rgallitan writes:
on Mar 03 2008 11:05 AM

Anna Paquin sounds like a good choice - not that I know anything about the role, but I'd love to see more of her as a matter of principle.

And please, please, pretty PLEASE stop with the bashing Raimi just because of SM3. Every single superhero franchise goes to hell sooner or later - usually at #3. It proves nothing. This whole thing is the most idiotically overblown backlash I've ever seen.

Now, if this Drag Me to Hell flick turns out to be a stinker, THAT might mean something.

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tara_g writes:
on Mar 03 2008 02:25 PM

This story is completely false, how could this site publish something so beyond truth.

she dropped out but it's because the film's production got pushed back to a later date that now conflicts with her other films. THAT is the reason.

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stevegilpin writes:
on Mar 03 2008 02:44 PM

Who gives a ****?

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