Vanilla Gorilla

[Ace]

November 27, 2007

Dear Friends,

Season’s Greetings.

I’ve just returned from the beautiful Greek islands of Skiathos and Scopolos, where I was filming Mamma Mia this summer and into the fall. I had a wonderful time working with Meryl Streep, Colin Firth, Stellan Skarsgard, Julie Waters, Christine Baranski, Amanda Seyfried, and Dominic Cooper.

This January I’m off to South Africa to begin filming an action / adventure picture called Vanilla Gorilla.

Married Life, an ensemble piece, written and directed by Ira Sachs and starring Christopher Cooper, Rachel McAdams, Patricia Clarkson and myself is due for release this winter.

In fall 08, I will return as Thomas Crown, which will be directed by Paul Verhoeven.

For anyone who missed Seraphim Falls, an epic action/thriller set against the backdrop of the American Civil War starring Liam Neeson and myself, it is available on video and DVD.

Hope your holidays are filled with love, joy and the spirit of the season!

All good wishes,
Pierce
========================================

I guess the writer's strike did affect the start of TCA2 as Verhoeven thought it would and he found another film to do in the interim.

Vanilla Gorilla seems to be family adventure film and the synopsis from the IMDB is:

A New York girl befriends Gogo, the world's only living albino gorilla. Through sign language they communicate and bond, and their ensuing trans-African quest to return Gogo to the wild puts ruthless poachers, determined CNN reporters, and one very concerned parent on their tail."

imdb.com/title/tt1127352/maindetails

Promo advance poster:

[Ace]

This looks to be in the same kind of vein as The Adventures of Charlotte Doyle which looks like it won't be happening any time soon (and if it does it won't be happening with Dakota Fanning who like all children will grow up)

[Yuliya]

Has no one told the poor writer that its cruel to release an albino gorilla into the wilderness as albinos don't survive very well?

[Ace]

Hehe, I guess not. I wonder if Pierce ran the script past good friend Jane Goodall?

I'm having a hard time getting all that excited over this film, and not just because it means longer for TCA2 (I almost expected that with Verhoeven's remarks and so many other bigs films being set back by the strike) but it's hardly a stretch for him as an actor and it's a movie with seemingly the emphasis on the kid so it's not even going to be a stretch for him as an exhibitionist.

[sparklingblue]

I will withhold all remarks about this project.

It's really too bad there's another delay for TCA, but I look forward to Married Life.

[Yuliya]

Yeah, it's hard to get all warmed up about this. Do we know whom Pierce is going to play - a ruthless poacher, determined CNN reporter, or one very concerned parent? Of course, there's the little New York girl and the albino gorilla, but I hope they're out of the question. ;D

[xcully]

Uhmmm I don't like this type of story, but I hope.....

[Lauryn]

I'm having a hard time getting all that excited over this film, and not just because it means longer for TCA2 (I almost expected that with Verhoeven's remarks and so many other bigs films being set back by the strike) but it's hardly a stretch for him as an actor and it's a movie with seemingly the emphasis on the kid so it's not even going to be a stretch for him as an exhibitionist.

It struck me funny on hearing the title, Vanilla Gorilla. I thought, what, ho! PB is doing some voice work on The Cartoon Network <wink>

[Yuliya]

I loved the subject line! Until I realized what it meant...

[Ace]

yuliya said:

Yeah, it's hard to get all warmed up about this. Do we know whom Pierce is going to play - a ruthless poacher, determined CNN reporter, or one very concerned parent? Of course, there's the little New York girl and the albino gorilla, but I hope they're out of the question. ;D

But the last two would be an acting stretch so maybe just maybe.... ;D

[Lauryn]

admin said:

yuliya said:

Yeah, it's hard to get all warmed up about this. Do we know whom Pierce is going to play - a ruthless poacher, determined CNN reporter, or one very concerned parent? Of course, there's the little New York girl and the albino gorilla, but I hope they're out of the question. ;D

But the last two would be an acting stretch so maybe just maybe.... ;D

OK, you two! Stop it! I have you to thank for the fact I just spewed coffee out of my nose. <snort>

[Lauryn]

Hmmm. Do you think PB was always jealous of Roger Moore in that gorilla suit in Octopussy?

[Ace]

Nah... wearing a Gorilla suit would be a cheap prop not required by a true proponent of The Method.

Ace

[Lauryn]

admin said:

Nah... wearing a Gorilla suit would be a cheap prop not required by a true proponent of The Method.

Ace

So true, LOL!!!!

If he concentrates really, really hard Keely's going to be cleaning out a lot of hair from the bathtub drain.

[Yuliya]

admin said:

Nah... wearing a Gorilla suit would be a cheap prop not required by a true proponent of The Method.

;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

If PB plays the gorilla, do you suppose he'll request a more mature actress to play the part of the girl?

[Ace]

yuliya said:

admin said:

Nah... wearing a Gorilla suit would be a cheap prop not required by a true proponent of The Method.

;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

If PB plays the gorilla, do you suppose he'll request a more mature actress to play the part of the girl?

Doubtful. Any romantic plot would invoke the specter of beastiality and definitely up the film to NC-17.

Ace

[Yuliya]

Ah so. And with a younger woman the rating will be lower?

I thought PB was looking for maturity, not romance, in the acting partner. Any girl who can not only figure a gorilla wants to go home to Africa just using sign language, but also take her there, has to be very mature. It just won't believable without the kind of maturity only an older, more experienced actress can bring to the part.

[Ace]

No possibility of romance = more PG.

I looked up on Variety for some info on this project and the only thing there about it was an article from 2000 giving the casting of a then 13 year old actress with the film to shoot in a few months. Obviously it didn't happen. This movie has simultaneously been around for almost a decade and yet materialized overnight.

[Yuliya]

See? She's 20 now. That's exactly what happened with Grey Owl.

[Ace]

Interestingly HSX and Box Office Mojo are under the impression the film is animated and Pierce is only giving his voice. If so, has no one told Pierce that he'll be off to South Africa to just record vocal tracks?

My guess is the film was thought to once be coming in animated form (maybe so they could afford it) and has changed back to live action. Or maybe not.