Cool News
Say what now? Steve McQueen Biopic in the works?!?
Ahoy, squirts! Quint here. Steve McQueen was a man's man, no two ways about it. Good looks, sure... but he also had raw machismo, pure masculinity incarnate. And on top of all that, he was a great actor. He's not always appreciated for it, but if you go back and watch films like BULLITT and CINCINNATI KID and even his more underseen movies like JUNIOR BONNER you'll see a real actor who knows how to say a lot with very little. He communicated so much with his eyes, truly understanding the visual medium of filmmaking. Michael Cerenzie, who produced the great BEFORE THE DEVIL KNOWS YOU'RE DEAD and Christine Peters have the rights to a biography of McQueen written by Marshall Terrill and have the full cooperation of McQueen's widow, Barbara Minty and are close to attaching a director according to Variety. The movie is supposed to cover McQueen's addictions (woman, vehicles and drugs) as well as chronicle his three marriages, including his infamously stealing Ali MacGraw away from Robert Evans. Now, I think McQueen's life is of course ripe for a biopic, but that question remains... who the hell today can play McQueen, especially in a picture that's going to go from young McQueen to his losing battle with lung cancer in his later years. One of the reasons McQueen is amazing is that he doesn't really have a like today. I suppose Russell Crowe is close, but I don't think Crowe can play young McQueen anymore. Do you guys have any thoughts?
Readers Talkback
comments powered by Disqus-
+ Expand All
-
Yer right: no living actor can approach McQueen. So maybe render him in CGI inserted into live-action, or something.
-
You know it could work.
-
My thought exactly.
-
No mother effin' Steve McQueen.
-
As in the Band Queen. <P> Freddy Mercury would have been Thee Rock God of his generation if he didn't have an overbite and he only banged chicks. God rest his soul. I'd be first in line to see a biopic film made about him.
-
Interesting choice. Personally I think Lazenby is a bit old, but I guess makeup can work wonders these days. Buttttt, obviously Daniel Craig is the only "name" actor who looks anything like McQueen, so it'll be him or a complete unknown
-
could probably do it. Or Tom Sizemore when he was much younger.
-
sim looks, good actor
-
Great actor. Looks a lot like McQueen.
-
That if I wanted to cast a Steve McQueen type today. I couldn't do it. Then I saw Layer Cake with Daniel Craig and thought. We have one. A steve mcqueen biopic will be a flop. Intersting subject. Would make a good book. Yet not a film.
-
I'm not too familiar with him, but seems okay if he had a lot going on on his life.
-
Robert Evans as Himself! "You think you can steal a woman from me? I'm Kid Notorious!" Great show, by the way.
-
Yes, he kinda looks like him, but doesn't have the charisma or the acting skills to play an icon like Steve McQueen!
-
and they can make it a musical. That'll be manly!
-
He can use his groundbreaking AVATAR fx work to digitally include a lifelike computer avatar of McQueen into the movie.
-
That would be weird.
-
I vote for Welches Strawberry Jelly! Mcqueeny hated The Blob. The Blob need's it's story told faithfully. McQueen was caught pissing on it, and trying to set it on fire. It used to be a harmless a vegatarian.
-
Man, she can play ANYONE.
-
...dad gummit!!!
-
Is Damien Lewis a good enough actor to play him? I imagine if this is true they'd want a big name star. My question is will we get to see the likes of Paul Newman, Bruce Lee etc pop up in it? Neal McDonough(sp) from Band of Brothers could do Newman - he has the eyes & Jason Scott Lee doesn't seem to be busy! I'd half expect the whole film to focus on Great Escape & Bullit. WAS his life that interesting? I have no idea, I don't really rate him apart from in Magnificent Seven & Towering Inferno.
-
A master thespian.
-
Here's to Bill Brasky!!!
-
Honestly, virtual actors are not that far away from us. 10 years max, I'd say.<p> I'd rather see Steve McQueen (virtual) starring in the Steve McQueen biopic.
-
The only actor who looks like Steve is Eric Close - Without A Trace. Be fun to have the McQueen biopic directed by a certain British director called... Steve McQueen
-
1) They usually (not always) get the person's life wrong to a large extent, 2) Biopics are clichéd stories- usually showing in Act I a prominent rise to fame, ACT II trouble dealing with the fame and ACT III dying/fading away and tus requiring the viewer to feel some manufactured emotion. There are exceptions to this formula but the vast majority of biopics are a lazy bunch of films. And then you sit there and think "That actor is not getting the voice right" or "He looks NOTHING like so-and-so!" It's fucking silly.
-
Damn You Michael Bay
-
Marshall Terrill´s book is great. But no one will ever capture McQueen! Just make a real cool documentary instead.
-
I hope they cover that part of his life..
-
3...
-
Michael Sheen only plays real people - Kenneth Williams, Tony Blair, David Frost, Tony Blair, that League Of Gentlemen guy, Tony Blair, the werewolf bloke in Underworld - so he seems like the perfect choice to play Steve McQueen (once he's finished shooting Franklin T Marmoset: The Movie).<p>Michael Sheen!
-
and the furthest thing from The King of Cool. Steve would kick his fat ass.
-
Put some latex on the motherfucker and cue the Oscar.
-
If there was, maybe Rick Baker could do the make up for the actor playing Wacko Jacko??
-
I loved his role in FANTABULOSA. It was scary how much he was like Kenneth Williams. He's definitely the #1 actor out there to play a real person who we know, but I think Steve McQueen is pushing it. McQueen was a proper man's man.
-
... shag Kate Winslet. JAMMY BASTARD!!
-
He’s always reminded me of McQueen.
-
...from Life and Band of Brothers. He looks just LIKE McQueen....
-
both have a good look for the part. Have to be sure they could do the voice, though.
-
I love them. THE AVIATOR, WALK THE LINE and RAY are three of my favourite films over the last five years. <p> And for anyone who says that INFAMOUS is better than CAPOTE - they're lying. Toby Jones' Capote shows the more fun and flamboyant side to him, but Philip Seymour Hoffman showed the cold harsh reality of what happened. <p> But I'm still pissed off that Hoffman beat Heath Ledger for the Oscar for his role as Ennis Del Mar. Mind you, that was a strong year at the Oscars - Terrence Howard, Jaoquin Phoenix and David Strathairn concluded the list. <p> 2006 was such a great year for film - MUNICH, CHILDREN OF MEN, THE PRESTIGE, PAN'S LABYRINTH, SYRIANA, CASINO ROYALE, V FOR VENDETTA, LITTLE CHILDREN, BABEL, HARSH TIMES (very under-rated IMO), THE DEPARTED...
-
Thoughts?? <p> http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0185272/
-
Sacha Baron Cohen would be great as Freddie Mercury, eh?
-
....in his dreams.
-
C'mon guys, it's obvious.
-
I agree. But who will play the great, late Paul Newman? Because he's got to be in it, eh?
-
10 years ago, Kevin Costner would have been perfect for this role...now, he's a bit too old. How about THE OC's Benajmin McKenzie? He's a decent actor and he looks the part - he's the right age as well, at 30.
-
Surrounded by a bunch of A-list actors.......or put an established actor in makeup to make him look like McQueen. Hell, I never Anthony Hopkins looked like RIchard Nixon, but they pulled that off.
-
Or not.
-
Or Mathew McConaughey. Just so long as it's someone shirtless and oily. Oh yeah. Or they could always cast Gary Oldman. Somehow or other, he can play anyone. He could also play Ali MacGraw.
-
Easliy the best actor of his generation. Stick some make-up on him and he's good to go as McQueen. <p> Or Gary Oldman, he can do anything.
-
I mean, the guys only directed Hunger and now he wants his own biopic? What a nerve, WHAT A NIOOVE!!
-
Would be great for it. They even have written a song called "Steve McQueen.
-
thank you I'll be here all week! please...try the fish!
-
Steve McQueen to direct
-
Both have more than a passing likeness to McQueen, but Daniel Craig's got the charisma...
-
I mean, obviously.
-
He looks just like Steve.
-
Great western by McQueen.
-
You know that's what will happen.
-
And I can actually see her as Ali McGraw. But she needs to learn a new face besides "bitch".
-
Denis Leary did a great little McQueen-alike in the Thomas Crown remake, so he would be an interesting choice...
-
and McQueen will be played by Ashton Kutcher or one of the Jonas Brothers. I seem to have become very cynical of late.
-
waking terrors.
-
Glad someone else spotted the likeness, now he just needs to dye that ginger barnet.
-
Rip Taylor
-
It is sad for me to say but, I would have casted Heath.. In a perfect world I think he would have nailed it.
-
Damian Lewis is just about the only actor that could possibly pull off acting as the great man. If in doubt watch "Band of Brothers". Not only does he look like him but he has quite a few of his manerisms.
-
...goose-stepping in a SS uniform outside of McQueen's house.<P>Steve McQueen and Keith Moon (The Who's Patented British Exploding Drummer) used to live side-by-side in Malibu. For kicks (and because of McQueen's role in THE GREAT ESCAPE), Moon used to march outside of McQueen's house while dressed as a Nazi.
-
Damien Lewis, Daniel Craig - these guys are vaguely McQueen-esque. But I doubt anyone has enough cool to pull off being Steve McQueen.
-
Or Tim Roth.
-
Anyone want to disagree with me? Cause, I've got a gun. And, I'm kind of a "Loose Cannon".
-
Ya gotta have someone portray Peckinpah.
-
A bio-pic about the "King of Cool" is long overdue. Other gems in McQueen's catalogue include "The Great Escape" and one of my personal favorites "Tom Horn". Hard to say who should play him. Daniel Craig does bear a striking resemblence though. Hopefully they'll do it right.
-
...have clearly never seen a Steve McQueen movie... or watched an interview with him... or read a book about him... or seen a picture of him. Although, I do think the Damian Lewis suggestion has a lot of merit. That guy is phenomenal.
-
Daniel Craig is the only actor out there that can resemble Steve, in any form of fashion!
-
The guy from Life on Mars.
-
would focus on British and Aussie actors. Guess us Yanks just aren't cool enough.
-
Post-lap band weight loss Harry Knowles as McQueen. Ever see McQueen's beard in his later years? Looked as scary as Harry's.
-
...I had a screenwriting course at UM with Alan Trustman...the guy who wrote Bullitt...and he confirmed this much to my dismay.
-
twice as much...
-
FTW It'll be a shit movie anyway FTW
-
Have you seen that guy. He could easily pull off McQueen. Already looks like him, and is at the age where he's not to young or two old. Check him out...he'd be perfect. I was watching Without A Trace the other day and thinking...dude kinda looks like Steve McQueen. How funny.
-
...with the stupid tendency to read "biopic" as if it rhymes with "myopic" ???<p> I KNOW it's actually BUY-o-PICK, but nevertheless I'm plagued by mispronunciation within my own brain. Sigh. Worse afflictions out there. Shouldn't complain.
-
Should play Detective J'onn J'onzz in a pulpy noir/sci-fi Martian Manhunter movie.<p> Yep.
-
He can do anything.
-
They have Damian Lewis and McQueen photos side-by-side, and I think he would be a good choice physically. Unfortunately, I only know Lewis from 1 episode of Band Of Brothers and Dreamcatcher, so I'm not a great judge of his ability.
-
Craig would be the best choice both looks-wise and stylistically, but Jane could pull it off as well.
-
funny funny stuff<p> And I am in favor of this film. Barry Pepper for the younger roles.
-
You mean it DOESN'T rhyme with myiopic?!
-
who gets promoted to CO of Easy Company - he now has a TV Detective show (who doesn't right? I think I might actually have one somewhere).
-
it's all the Steve you need.
-
Eric Close definetly bears the strongest resemblance. Half his facial expressions are almost direct copies of McQueen. Craig is a much bigger name obviously but he's clearly modeled himself on McQueen and I think its worked brilliantly for him.
-
Make the switch just before Bullitt. <p> I was around 14 when he died. I remember a friend pranked me the same year he passed. Rode his bike up and said..."Ya hear Steve McQueen died?"...I only knew him from The Towering Inferno" at that time...but I was sad to hear of his passing. Later I found out he was full of shit. <p> Then, 8 months later...he really DID die. Just a weird coincidence.
-
I could see Craig or Lewis as McQueen, although there can be only one... McQueen that is. As for Russell Crowe... c'mon! Really! Computer says no.
-
Just saw it about a month ago, and he was so effortlessly cool in it. Plus, it was just a good story with a badass car chase through the hills of San Francisco. I've read some things about McQueen, and he seemed to have a huge ego. For Example, something about not getting top billing over Paul Newman in The Towering Inferno really pissed him off.
-
Yeah. Suck on that one.
-
I'm not a big Thomas Jane fan..but he and Daniel Craig are the closest in spirit and machismo to the late great Steve.
-
No offence to our Homosexual bros here in the forum. Though hollywood is rife with effeminate, eyebrow plucking, skinny jeans wearing, wheatgrass sipping, pansy actors under the age of 40. It would likely have to be an unknown or more likely an Aussie. Steve McQueen was the ultimate bar room brawling real life bad ass mans man. He trained and from what I heard trained very well under Bruce Lee in Lee's backyard with James Colburn. I suppose Matt Damon could do a descent job. Too bad, there are no rebels in Hollywood anymore. They are all cookie cutter robots. They all say the very same Political things, same insular political Rob Reiner agendas, all drive their Priuses,all of them have their publicists so far up their asses they wouldn't have an orignial thought if it wasn't scripted by marketing, agents , publicists ect. Maybe that's way they hate Russell Crowe because they can't control him and he speaks his own mind for better or worse and he likes a good scrap. McQueen, James Colburn, Bruce Lee, Jack, Shatner, Eastwood, Sly, Burt, Richard Roundtree, There will never be the like again when did it become passe to be a man???? It would be nice is some off the young actors in hollywood actually knew how to through a football without an ex NFL technical consultant teaching them to do it.
-
Pitt plays Redford...But who gets 'Cool Hand Luke'?
-
The only time Crowe's name should be in the same sentence as McQueen is to say "Crowes name should never be in the same sentence as McQueen."
-
always thought he resembled Steve since the Band of Brothers and Forsyth Saga days
-
He does not even have the qualities of Mcqueen's preserved stool. <p> Yo Russel I got a shotgun waiting for your fecking phone, you egotistical eeejut.
-
I'm sick of people that don't look like the star they are portraying. It would win Oscars.
-
Check out the first three episodes of _Band of Brothers_. It's like watching McQueen again. Also: http://popwatch.ew.com/photos/uncategorized/2007/10/15/liars_l.jpg
-
Righteous! Before I even finished reading the article Craig was the first one who came to mind. Similar looks, similar badassery. He's a natural choice.
-
is the best choice by far. The episodes of "The Closer" he did showed how good of an actor he is.
-
Can't thing of his (or his character's) name. He was also in the Werewolf GI's flick.
-
From Band of Brothers looks alot like McQueen.....
-
One just has to watch "Life" to know he'd be perfect for the adult McQueen. Young McQueen would have to be played by someone else, obviously. As for Russell Crowe - blecch! Bite your tongue - especially not Fat Russell Crowe. He's a mess and much too obvious an actor. McQueen calls for subtlety.
-
...to play the adult McQueen: http://www.damian-lewis.com/2007?w=34
-
He's always reminded me of McQueen.
-
I dont get the Daniel Craig thing. Okay he's an ok actor. He pouts ways too much and plays on his looks and not his acting anymore. You could say I am slightly OCD about Steve McQueen and since seeing Band of Brothers there was always only one person to portray him. Believe me just go out and borrow, beg or steal BOB. Its worth watching for some of the best acting I have seen in a long time. Its a shame but I havent seen Damian Lewis in anything else apart from a drama "Friends and Crocodiles". The problem would be finding a good credible actor to play him in his youth.
-
Are they going to leave out the fact that he died of AIDS? If the filmmakers are cooperating with the family then I'm sure they're going to try to rewrite history with this one.
-
McQueen died from cancer. Just because he was bisexual doesn't mean he died of aids. And he was tough enough to admit that he was afraid of dying. That's a tough hombre there.
-
Hes on Sons of Anarchy also but in green street hes a bad ass.Bonus points for be able to ride his own motorcycle.
-
Jan. 16, 2009, 7:44 a.m. CST
not one person has seen Shotgun Stories? Michael Shannon, people
by mattvideo
Because as much as Damian Lewis might look like McQueen, he'll never be more than some piddly little TV actor. Michael Shannon, on the other hand, looks enough like McQueen and has actual movie star charisma to back it up.
-
This is terrible news. Damien Lewis is the only one who's got the looks, the moves, and the acting chops to do this right.
-
Eric Close from "Without a Trace" looks more like Steve McQueen than ANY actor I have ever seen!
Top Talkbacks
- AICN COMICS PODCAST: The @$$Holes take stabs at MAN OF STEEL, plus a review of Scott Snyder’s SUPERMAN UNCHAINED! -- 132 total posts 125 posts
- Harry's 25th Picks & Peeks of 2013!!! With THINGS TO COME, OCTAMAN, Bette Davis, STOKER, HOWLING, LIFEFORCE & more! -- 331 total posts 111 posts
- Sweet knights of Colombus!! A new trailer for ANCHORMAN 2: THE LEGEND CONTINUES has been unleashed!! -- 108 total posts 108 posts
- WWZ blah-ditty, blah, blah, blah! AICN HORROR’s got a truly unique zombie film you should check out instead called THE BATTERY! -- 89 total posts 84 posts
- A Few Nice "Making Of' Pics From THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2!! -- 73 total posts 73 posts
- PROMETHEUS 2 now has a writer!!! -- 710 total posts 71 posts
- Wanna hear the least annoying sound in the world? Repeat after me: Universal picks up DUMB AND DUMBER TO!! -- 115 total posts 60 posts
-
Jonathan Demme To Direct
AMC’s First Sci-Fi Pilot!! -- 57 total posts 57 posts - Copernicus On The Science Of STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS!! -- 1248 total posts 50 posts
- AICN COMICS REVIEWS: WOLVERINE! THE TRUE LIVES OF THE FABULOUS KILLJOYS! SPACE 1999! LIBERATOR! & MORE! -- 45 total posts 45 posts