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Irish Magnificent Seven? + Rotten Tomatoes U.K. interview

19 April 2007 at 11:46 PM | by Melty_Girl

These Irish actors keep talking about saddling up

One funny bit of news that's been floating around in the past week (including in The Belfast Telegraph) is Gabriel Byrne talking up the concept of remaking the 1960 Hollywood classic The Magnificent Seven with an all-Irish cast.

The Belfast Telegraph's graphic

This may just have been Byrne dreaming out loud while talking up Brendan Gleeson's adaptation of Flann O'Brien's novel At Swim-Two-Birds, a fledgling project in which Cillian has been participating, and which features some cowboy characters. Either way, who knows if this all-Irish Western is anything more than wishful thinking? It's fun to imagine it anyway—only, hey, what about Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Gabriel? Magnificent Eight?

Exuberant new interview... Cillian in a musical?

Cillian spoke with Rotten Tomatoes U.K. about Sunshine, and it reads like he had a lot of fun with the conversation. In answer to whether he based his character Capa on science advisor Dr. Brian Cox, he answered,

"As an actor you're constantly observing people and I love looking at people's little idiosyncrasies and mannerisms. ...You can always steal bits and pieces for characters. Because I was spending so much time with Brian, and because he's a young physicist, I probably borrowed a bit from him.

"You know he used to play in D:Ream! It's bonkers! It's quite a segue from 'Things Can Only Get Better' to particle physics!

"He's a very good reference, I think, because cinema has portrayed physicists or scientists in the past as fuddy-duddy grey-haired eccentric individuals and it was nice to explore that."

He also enthused about director Danny Boyle's collaborative filmmaking process, and discussed how Boyle had the actors room together in student dorms to foster a feeling of familiarity, noting,

"It wasn't like we were locked in the house—we went out for dinner and stuff—but it was just about being together. ...Actors are sort of insulated, particularly film actors, and you get treated like you're so fragile. It's rubbish. I come from a theatre background and so does Danny and I think that again informs how we approach things."

Speaking of Westerns... When asked what as yet unexplored territory he'd like to try in film, the would-be cowboy revealed that he would love the chance to do more singing onscreen:

"I'd love to do a Western. I'd love to do a musical. I hate musicals, but I'd love to do a good one. But you never know, it's all about the quality of the script. ...I don't know if there are any [good musicals]. I love singing, you see, and I'm a frustrated rock star so if there was any vehicle..."

Interviewer Joe Utichi joked, "The D:Ream life story maybe, you as keyboard player extraordinaire Brian Cox?" and Cillian punned,

"The D:Ream Comes True! It'd be brilliant!"

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• read more: feature stories, project rumours, at swim two birds, sunshine

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jqjbfk
Posts: 12

JTSBCflLJGeheBJ
Reply #13 on : Tue November 22, 2011, 07:14:13

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YplRoH <a href="http://dbcshhhdackl.com/">dbcshhhdackl</a>

Eel
Posts: 12

PHxENlmQEezQTyohqN
Reply #12 on : Mon November 21, 2011, 23:12:06

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Appartenly this is what the esteemed Willis was talkin' 'bout.

robbie
Posts: 12

no
Reply #11 on : Tue January 13, 2009, 15:10:01

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no no no no no no no, i dont care who is in it i dont care if they are good, hollywood needs to stop remaking great classics, its bull. next theyll remake bullitt

brooklyn
Posts: 12

what the hell?
Reply #10 on : Wed August 13, 2008, 17:54:38

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why the hell isn't jonathan rhys meyers in this cast, they should take out pierce brosnan he's too old
jonathan rhys meyers shall dominate!!!

Kerry
Posts: 12

Re:
Reply #9 on : Sun April 22, 2007, 05:53:08

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Reply to Melty_Girl:"I think that as a long distance runner". He's a long distance runner?I agree with the fact that he wouldnt need to work out. Mainly because Jonathan Rhys Meyers played Pitt in Ride with the Devil and he looked so thin he was almost ill, so Cillian's thin but strong look would be fine for a cowboy. I think people have the idea of Brokeback Mountain type muscles as cowboys now but I'd love to see a normal Cillian doing that:)
I'm excited about August Rush too, sounds very good!

Melty_Girl
Posts: 1

cowboy muscles and musicals
Reply #8 on : Sat April 21, 2007, 17:02:13

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I think that as a long distance runner, Cillian wouldn't have to get in shape to play a cowboy. Some filmmakers might want him to try and bulk up in the gym before playing a cowboy, since there are such macho archetypes connected to cowboys, but I wonder if he'd be interested in doing that.

As for musicals, I find it really hard to picture him doing a traditional old school Broadway-style musical, especially since he says he hates musicals. I could picture him doing something rock-based like "Velvet Goldmine," or like the new indie "Once," or the forthcoming "August Rush".

"Once" was almost his part, as Lilith blogged here:
http://www.cilliansite.com/news/blog/2007/03/16-detectives-once

And "August Rush," which was directed by "Disco Pigs" director Kirsten Sheridan, stars Jonathan Rhys Meyers. Would have loved to see Cillian in that! I'll be excited to see it anyway.

Last Edit: April 21, 2007, 17:03:24 by Melty_Girl  

Kerry
Posts: 12

Re:
Reply #7 on : Sat April 21, 2007, 09:15:27

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I know it may seem a bit weird but what about something strange like Phantom of the Opera? He'd h ave to have a very powerful voice to deliver it and we've only heard him singing quite sofly. But i think he probably wants to be in one that hasnt already been made at all or performed so its something totally fresh since he doenst like any musicals yet!

Sharon
Posts: 12

Musical Cillian?
Reply #6 on : Sat April 21, 2007, 08:03:50

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Well, we already know he can sing... Any suggestions as to decent roles for him? Most young male musical leads seem to be cheesy heart-throb types, not really what I can see Cillian seeing as a challenge... My favourite musical ever is Man of La Mancha, but he's a bit young to play Don Quixote!

Kerry
Posts: 12

Re:
Reply #5 on : Sat April 21, 2007, 05:07:42

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Reply to Bonnie:
"Cilly may have to do some heavy lifting in the gym to prep for this one."
I think he actually builds up strength and muscle really easily as Danny Boyle once said: he's skinny but has a body of steel. Its true from 28 days later and even in Sunshine when you see him with Mace in a few scenes:)

Bella
Posts: 12

Re:
Reply #4 on : Fri April 20, 2007, 23:10:40

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I would like to see Brendan Gleeson's adaptation of Flann O'Brien's At Swim-Two Birds. Those Irish actors are keen to bring it out. At Swim-Two Birds is a great novel, representing parts of Irish culture, especially in language .And I'm looking forward to seeing him in a musical.

His "one film a year" makes me a little worried. I want to see him more, and Best Time of Ours Lives will cast another actrss, perhaps it will takes time.(Who is the lucky girl? The role Lindsay dropped out of would be a good chance for young actresses ) I expect to see him as a husdand.That's truly a fresh thing.