I’m not particularly interested in spreading rumors here at Spout, but occasionally I’d like to address a film project, at its inception or some other point in its development, that is worth thinking about. Even if it never exists, the possibility of an adaptation by Mike Nichols of Sam Kashner and Nancy Schoenberger’s book “Furious Love: Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, and the Marriage of the Century,” sounds pretty fascinating to anyone interested in old Hollywood.
The rumors are mostly making the rounds due to claims that Angelina Jolie or Catherine Zeta-Jones are interested in playing Taylor while Russell Crowe, Colin Farrell and Clive Owen are being discussed for Burton. With the potential casting of Jolie, who is already attached to follow in Taylor’s footsteps by portraying Cleopatra in an upcoming film, Movieline thinks Brad Pitt’s name has to also be in there for the male lead (though Brangelina don’t like to work at the same time, for their children’s sake). Too bad Zeta-Jones’ husband, Michael Douglas, is too old to make a similarly appropriate recommendation.
Yet regardless of whomever fills the Taylor part, Crowe may very well be the most fitting and fear-inducing actor for the Burton role. He has experience, after all, in breaking up marriages with on-set romances (remember that “Proof of Life” mess?). Just imagine how perfectly history would repeat itself if another celebrated Hollywood romance was to be broken up via “Furious Love,” the way Taylor and Eddie Fisher’s was. Not that I can honestly see Russelina becoming a reality.
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