https://ew.com/movies/2019/11/19/julia-roberts-harriet-tubman-studio-exec-suggestion/amp/?__twitter_impression=true
If you were to think of the most out-of-left-field actress to play Harriet Tubman in a movie, you still wouldn't stumble upon the person one executive allegedly suggested.
Harriet, the historical drama based on Tubman's life released earlier this month, stars Cynthia Erivo. But the film's screenwriter and producer, Gregory Allen Howard, says when he first started working on the movie in 1994 that one studio executive suggested Julia Roberts to portray the legendary slave turned abolitionist. Yes, that Julia Roberts.
In a Q&A with Allen published earlier this month by Harriet studio Focus Features (and reiterated in an L.A. Times essay published Tuesday), Allen recalled how "the climate in Hollywood ... was very different" some 25 years ago.
"I was told how one studio head said in a meeting, 'This script is fantastic. Let's get Julia Roberts to play Harriet Tubman,'" Allen explained. "When someone pointed out that Roberts couldn't be Harriet, the executive responded, 'It was so long ago. No one is going to know the difference.'"
Thankfully, for everyone involved, Roberts was not cast as Tubman. Decades later, the film has become a reality, which Allen said is thanks to two groundbreaking films that changed the game for representation.
"When 12 Years a Slave became a hit and did a couple hundred million dollars worldwide, I told my agent, 'You can't say this kind of story won't make money now.' Then Black Panther really blew the doors open," Allen said.
The writer, who's also behind acclaimed movies Remember the Titans and Ali, also discussed why he chose Erivo, an African British actress, to play an African American activist.
"I first saw her when the other producers flew me to New York to see her in The Color Purple," Allen said. "As soon as she opened her mouth, I thought, 'Yes, that's Harriet.' Afterwards I emailed the other producers, 'That's Harriet. She's a little stick of dynamite.'"
Tubman's story has long been in various stages of development in Hollywood; Viola Davis was set to produce and star in such a biopic at one point. The new movie, directed by Kasi Lemmons, also stars Leslie Odom Jr., Joe Alwyn, and Janelle Monae.
OMG that's how bad Hollywood was 25 years ago
:plzstop:
you have got to be fucking kidding me
not Meryl slaying a Frederick Douglass mess
DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDJWSTNWF
the fact that this LEVEL of ignorance exists in hollywood
:dead: :uhh:
Quote from: oophliyah on November 19, 2019, 11:28:20 PM
the fact that this LEVEL of ignorance exists in hollywood
:dead: :uhh:
:plzstop:
My mind is blown. Just when you thought you've heard it ALL
It would have slayed
Ion like yt ppl
Quote from: 1RIG on November 19, 2019, 11:26:32 PM
not Meryl slaying a Frederick Douglass mess
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Would have been less insulting
That would've ended her career
You know what's crazy? 25 years ago was around the time of OJ and Rodney King. The response would've been a mess and much worse. We didn't have keyboard activists. The girls were out in the streets fucking shit up.
Quote from: Kalifornia. on November 20, 2019, 12:16:12 AM
That would've ended her career
I honestly don't believe it would've done anything to her especially not during that period but once the woke Era arrived it would've been the end.
Julia ain't that crazy for a check I see
https://twitter.com/CultureCrave/status/1197005146242211841
eek
Quote from: 1996. on November 20, 2019, 12:18:16 AM
Quote from: Kalifornia. on November 20, 2019, 12:16:12 AM
That would've ended her career
I honestly don't believe it would've done anything to her especially not during that period but once the woke Era arrived it would've been the end.
!!!! :plzstop:
Hollywood execs are still this tone deaf, unfortunately. Smh
JajahHhshdhgddsdrrrrrr
:plzstop: :plzstop:
I guess they thought if since can slay Erin why not try a nigger mess next
Quote from: 1RIG on November 19, 2019, 11:26:32 PM
not Meryl slaying a Frederick Douglass mess
:plzstop: :plzstop: :plzstop:
(https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2019/11/640/320/Roberts-Tubman-Reuters-Library-of-Congress.jpg)
I'm in tears
(https://pmcvariety.files.wordpress.com/2019/11/julia-roberts-harriet-tubman.jpg)
She needs to expose this Hollywood exec
He's probably still working today
shit shall we get ellen degeneres to play rosa parks? i jus
Not the person saying no one will know the difference because it's been so long since Harriet was alive
do ppl go blind over time? :kii:
Quote from: 89 on November 20, 2019, 07:57:18 AM
Not the person saying no one will know the difference because it's been so long since Harriet was alive
do ppl go blind over time? :kii:
i can just imagine the beckys in the movie theaters
"wow.. harriet was just STUNNING!"
The fuck is wrong with these people? The devil really controlling this world huh.. He loves this shit
It is too bad people are attacking Julia, did she even know about this crazy idea?
:plzstop:
Oh, she'd be perfect for it
Quote from: First Class on November 20, 2019, 09:16:50 AM
Oh, she'd be perfect for it
:plzstop: :plzstop: :plzstop: :kii:
lol didn't Paul Mooney call this in one of his standups
Quote from: afromoondiac on November 20, 2019, 07:58:21 AM
Quote from: 89 on November 20, 2019, 07:57:18 AM
Not the person saying no one will know the difference because it's been so long since Harriet was alive
do ppl go blind over time? :kii:
i can just imagine the beckys in the movie theaters
"wow.. harriet was just STUNNING!"
hxjcjcjjcjcjcjckgkfk
Her SKIN
jndddddddd
This sounds like it was meant to be taken as a joke
theres no way.