Caffeinated Clint
While not considered a classic by, well, anyone, “Endless Love” has a special spot in my crimson thumper. Maybe it was young Brooke Shields, maybe that AM Radio-staple theme song, or maybe I’m just a soft, gooey romantic-at-heart that went for it’s story? Whatever the case, I like it. Deal with it.
Universal has decided it’s time to remake the film – and naturally, the original film’s star-crossed lovers, Brooke Shields and Martin Hewitt won’t be invited back.
Studio Exec #1 : “They’re like, er, old!”
Studio Exec #2 : “Who wants to watch forgotten fogies bumping uglies on the big screen, right!?”
So, who is being oiled down in preparation for the 2013 version?
On the male side, Aussie Brenton Thwaites, who recently starred in a remake of another Brooke Shields flick “Blue Lagoon”, is playing the Martin Hewitt part.
The Hollywood Reporter says four girls have been short-listed for the Shields role, they include Aussie Sophie Lowe (“Beautiful Kate”), Sarah Bolger (TV’s “Once Upon A Time”), Gabriella Wilde (“The Three Musketeers”), and Olivia Cooke (“Bates Motel”). I’m only personally familiar with Lowe’s work, since she’s done a lot of Oz TV and film the last few years, but all four girls, with their absence of acne and pretty lashes, look suitable for the gig. (Lily Collins was of interest but she’s not available)
The plan for the Shane Feste-directed remake is to cast two unknowns in the main roles and surround them with known actors. Those are ‘main’ roles are that of the parents of both kids; in the original, Shirley Knight and Don Murray memorably played Shield’s parents, while Richard Kiley and Beatrice Straight played Hewitt’s folks.
While there’s no word on who might fill the parent roles yet, might I suggest Tom Cruise? Cruise – then an unknown – had a small role in the original as a football player friend of Hewitt’s. Maybe he could be reprising the character? Maybe he has a lovestruck teenage son now? Just an idea.
Even if nobody from the original returns to help pass the torch, as such, there’s one element Universal can’t leave out : The song.
