Chris Pine In Talks To Star With Scarlett Johansson In ‘Cat on a Hot Tin Roof’ on Broadway

Star Trek’s Chris Pine could be headed to Broadway. The actor is reportedly in talks to star alongside Scarlett Johansson in a revival of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Apparently Pine is now the leading contender for the part, with The Avengers’ Jeremy Renner also in the running. More details below. 

 

Pine in talks for Broadway revival of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

Today’s New York Times is citing anonymous sources for a report that Chris Pine is the leading contender to play the lead in a new revival of Tennessee Williams’ Pulitzer prize wining play “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.” Tony-winner Scarlett Johansson is in talks for the role of Maggie, with Pine said to be in talks and currently beating out Johansson’s Avenger’s co-star Jeremy Renner for the role of Brick, Maggie’s alcoholic husband. 

"Cat on A Hot Tin Roof" premiered in New York in 1955 and has been revived many times over the years, including twice in the last decade. Set in the bed-sitting room of a plantation in the Mississippi Delta, the play tells the story of the disintegration of a Southern family. This new revival is scheduled for the spring of 2013. The original 1955 production starred Ben Gazzara (and later Jack Lord) as Brick with Barbara Bel Geddes as Maggie. The 1958 film version starred Paul Newman and Elizabeth Taylor.


Posters for original Broadway premiere and film version of "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof"

If he lands the role, this would be Pine’s first time appearing on Broadway. However, Pine has starred in several major stage productions in Los Angeles, including “The Lieutenant of Inishmore,” “Farragut North” and “Fat Pig.” The actor won the L.A. Drama Critics Circle Award for Lead Performance for his role in “The Lieutenant of Inishmore."

And for those keeping score, by the time William Shatner (Star Trek’s original Kirk) was Chris’ age, he had appeared in three plays on Broadway, including starring in "The World of Suzie Wong" for a 15-month run from October 1958 to January 1960.

Not mentioned in the New York Times article, but of concern to us here at TrekMovie.com, is how Pine would be able to actively promote the Star Trek sequel (with possible media appearances around the world like he did in 2009) if he was performing in a play in New York. Hopefully these issues are all part of the talks that are reportedly ongoing.


Scarlett Johansson in 2010 play "A View from the Bridge" & Chris Pine in 2010 play "The Lieutenant of Inishmore" – both in talks for Broadway revival of "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof"

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first! hey this IS a first.

good luck c-pine.

Hope Pine can pull it off.

Best wishes to you, Christopher Pine!

I will be there!

I’d buy Pine as Brick…..not so sure about Johansson playing Maggie the Cat, though. Time will tell.

This is wonderful. I hope Chris gets the part and will also manage to promote Star Trek and “my captain”.

When and how long does the Broadway theatrical season run? Of course, rehearsal time has to be allowed, but perhaps he could start working on the play “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” once Star Trek has been released on 17 May 2013, in time for a mid/late July start performance dates….Hmmm?

Pretty neat, he is a very talented actor! Good Luck Chris Pine! LLAP!

Good luck chris…..but there is so much stunt casti g on broadway these days that the Avengers reteam might be irresistable to producers.

It saddens me to hear this and here’s why:

Chris Pine is a gifted actor, on stage and in film. Scarlett Johansson, on the other hand, is a shit actor, no acting chops whatsoever!

Pine would be great in this stage production, but why does he have to saddle himself with this talentless hack? Scarlett, with her big chest, is simply window-dressing in every film she’s in.

It’ll be like watching a great tennis player in a match with a crappy player!

As a fan of the play (and the movie) “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof”, I could very much see that. Good casting for both parts.

I liked Scarlett Johansson much more in “The Avengers” than I did in “Iron Man 2.” I thought her role was expanded nicely and she rose to the challenge. This time her character felt more organic to the story than just tacked-on eye candy (as she was in IM2).

Pine will excel in the role; in fact, he reminds me very much of a young Paul Newman. I could imagine him (in about 5-10 years or so) doing a remake of “Cool Hand Luke.”

I hope it happens … CP has said he would love to do something on Broadway … I saw the movie on TV, with Elizabeth Taylor and Paul Newman … I loved … gods

;-) :-)

Both roles have to be done by some very good actors. I would love to see him do this, it is a very well respected role in a classic play. Great for his career!

Brilliant – I’ll see that. I’m all for Pine playing a hunky closeted gay man.

Scarlett = red hot

Sorry, that was a spoiler.

Jack – Are you saying that the character Brick is gay because that is how the character was originally written?

# 16 Keachick~

It’s implicit, both in the play and the movie. Tennessee Williams was a master of subtext in an era where things like homosexuality could not be openly discussed. Maggie taunts Brick on his masculinity throughout the play.

Cool. Looks like I’ll be heading to Broadway again.

If Pine does this, he is going to playing the ZZ Top Song, “Woke up with Wood” ever day he is involved with working with Scarlet J. But then he is “pine.”

:-)

@17. I think it was meant to be ambiguous. That family is so damn dysfunctional, that who really knows.

Brick’s sexuality is written much more different in the play than the movie version. They pretty much axed it in the movie due to the times, but yes, Brick is a closeted gay man. As for Pine playing Brick? I’d go with Renner. He’s a much better actor.

Sorry but JJ’s Star Trek films won’t make Pine a star.

It just won’t happen. The films are garbage.

Big shoes to fill, there.

Love the Newman/Taylor film version.

That would definetly be a challange for both actors. They’ll prove if they’re just two pretty faces, or if they’re meaningful professionals. I hope somebody tapes the play and posts it somewhere (he, he).

Yeah, Brick’s homosexuality is not vague or ambiguous in the play. It’s pretty blatant. Williams and Newman were both annoyed that it had to be cut out of the film version.

# 21

Renner’s a fine actor, true (saw him in “Hurt Locker” and “The Town” before “Avengers), but personally? I’d be curious to see Chris Pine stretch beyond his comfort zone as an actor.

Sometimes watching an actor take risks and accepting new challenges is more exciting than watching an ‘in-the-bag’ guaranteed performance….

Harry… c’mon. Scarlett isn’t the greatest… but would you rather have Erika Durance in the role? Scarlett was great in Lost in Translation with Bill Murray back some years ago. And she did win a Tony in 2010. I’d just say she’s uneven without good direction. To say what you did about her though just being added for bosom… is edging towards misogyny.

27.

Misogyny? No. I’ve seen most of her work and it’s pretty hopeless.

Just because a woman has a nice figure doesn’t mean she can act.

The other name you recommended is really bad. Why not cast someone with talent? It’s so much easier!

#27.

Harry didn’t say anything remotely misogynistic. A lot of actresses in Hollywood get hired strictly on the basis of their looks and “assets”.

9. Harry, Scarlett Johansson won a Tony award for her performance in A View From The Bridge a couple of years ago, I believe. Perhaps when she is required to be more than just a vamp, she’s actually quite good at her craft.

My wife and I had tickets to see Ashley Judd on Broadway do this play,….oh about 10 years ago. Ashley broke her ankle and the show was canceled. We ate Italian instead.

@21 “As for Pine playing Brick? I’d go with Renner. He’s a much better actor.”

Have you seen Renner in MI3 and Avengers? He’s boring and lackluster.

@26. I din’t really find Scarlet’s character in the Avengers all that compelling. In fact, in what I thought was a very good movie (I saw it twice), the only unnecessary baggage were Scarlet and Renner….they were both pretty boring and forgettable. I would have preferred to see a lot more of Cobie Smulders/Agent Hill instead — she was awesome!

@25. I disagree. The play is ambiguous. His dysfunctional family has pretty much emasculated him.