JULIUS CAESAR Movie Pitch

By John VallonePd. 4

Time Period/Location: Modern-day Rome

Introduction

This version of Julius Caesar takes place in modern-day Rome. Instead of being senators, the characters are Mafiosos (members of the Mafia) under the command of Don Caesar. Some of Don Caesar’s henchman conspire to murder Caesar and take control of the mob, but some of the Mafiosos loyal to Caesar turn against them in a civil war that will endanger all of Rome.

Sam Worthington as BrutusSam Worthington as Brutus

““That every like is not the That every like is not the same, O Caesar, the heart same, O Caesar, the heart of Brutus earns to think of Brutus earns to think upon.” -Brutusupon.” -Brutus

(II, ii, lines 128-129) (II, ii, lines 128-129)

Sam Worthington could play Sam Worthington could play the role of Brutus in the role of Brutus in Julius Julius Caesar Caesar because he because he commonly plays noble commonly plays noble “everyman” characters in “everyman” characters in the films he stars in, such as the films he stars in, such as Marcus Wright in Marcus Wright in Terminator: Salvation Terminator: Salvation and and Jake Sully in Jake Sully in Avatar.Avatar.

Christopher Walken as Christopher Walken as CaesarCaesar

““To tell thee thou shalt see To tell thee thou shalt see me at Philippi.” -The ghost of me at Philippi.” -The ghost of Julius Caesar Julius Caesar (IV, iii, line 283) (IV, iii, line 283)

Christopher Walken would Christopher Walken would make an excellent Julius make an excellent Julius Caesar because he has Caesar because he has played numerous played numerous intimidating roles throughout intimidating roles throughout his career, such as the Grim his career, such as the Grim Reaper in Reaper in Click Click and Clem in and Clem in Joe DirtJoe Dirt. Also, Walken played . Also, Walken played Cato in a 2002 TV series of Cato in a 2002 TV series of Julius CaesarJulius Caesar, so he has some , so he has some experience with the play experience with the play already.already.

Neil Patrick Harris as CassiusNeil Patrick Harris as Cassius

““Hath Cassius lived to be but Hath Cassius lived to be but mirth and laughter to his mirth and laughter to his Brutus when grief and blood Brutus when grief and blood ill-tempered vexed him?” -ill-tempered vexed him?” -CassiusCassius(IV, iii, line 113-115) (IV, iii, line 113-115)

Neil Patrick Harris would be a Neil Patrick Harris would be a good choice for the role of good choice for the role of Cassius, as he has some Cassius, as he has some experience playing corrupt experience playing corrupt characters like Cassius; for characters like Cassius; for example, Dr. Horrible from example, Dr. Horrible from Dr. Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog. His experience with Broadway His experience with Broadway shows gives him a flair for the shows gives him a flair for the dramatic that would make dramatic that would make him an excellent addition to him an excellent addition to the cast of any Shakespeare the cast of any Shakespeare play. play.

Jason Statham as AntonyJason Statham as Antony

““Friends, Romans, Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your countrymen, lend me your ears; I come to bury ears; I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him.” Caesar, not to praise him.” -Antony -Antony

(III, ii, lines 74-75)(III, ii, lines 74-75)

Jason Statham would be a Jason Statham would be a good choice for the role of good choice for the role of Marc Antony because he Marc Antony because he plays a lot of roles where plays a lot of roles where he is a risk-taker, such as he is a risk-taker, such as in the in the Crank Crank and and Transporter Transporter series.series.

Sheri Moon Zombie as PortiaSheri Moon Zombie as Portia ““Brutus is wise and, were Brutus is wise and, were

he not in health, he would he not in health, he would embrace the means to embrace the means to come by it.” -come by it.” -PortiaPortia(II, i, lines 258-259)(II, i, lines 258-259)

Sheri Moon Zombie could Sheri Moon Zombie could play the role of Portia play the role of Portia because she has played because she has played similar “desperate” similar “desperate” female characters in the female characters in the past, such as in Michael past, such as in Michael Myer’s mother in Myer’s mother in Halloween.Halloween.

Halle Berry as CalpurniaHalle Berry as Calpurnia

““When beggars die, there When beggars die, there are no comets seen; the are no comets seen; the heavens themselves blaze heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes.” forth the death of princes.” –Calpurnia–Calpurnia

(II, ii, lines 30-31)(II, ii, lines 30-31)

Halle Berry would be a good Halle Berry would be a good choice for the role of choice for the role of Calpurnia because she has Calpurnia because she has played many powerful played many powerful women in her movies, such women in her movies, such as Catwoman in the movie as Catwoman in the movie of the same nameof the same name and and Storm in the Storm in the X-Men X-Men films.films.

Michael Cera as LuciusMichael Cera as Lucius ““The taper burneth in your The taper burneth in your

closet, sir. Searching the closet, sir. Searching the window for a flint, I found window for a flint, I found this paper thus sealed up, this paper thus sealed up, and I am sure it did not lie and I am sure it did not lie there when I went to bed.” there when I went to bed.” -Lucius-Lucius(Act II, scene I, lines 35-39)(Act II, scene I, lines 35-39)

Michael Cera could play Michael Cera could play

the part of Lucius because the part of Lucius because he has a history of playing he has a history of playing more innocent characters, more innocent characters, such as Evan in such as Evan in Superbad Superbad and Oh in and Oh in Year One.Year One.

SoundtrackSoundtrack Bullet with Butterfly WingsBullet with Butterfly Wings, by Smashing Pumpkins, by Smashing Pumpkins

““The world is a vampire/Sent to drain/Secret destroyers/Hold you up to the The world is a vampire/Sent to drain/Secret destroyers/Hold you up to the flames/And what do I get/For my pain?”flames/And what do I get/For my pain?”This song is about jealousy toward others because of things the singer This song is about jealousy toward others because of things the singer feels he deserves, and so would work well as Cassius’ theme music.feels he deserves, and so would work well as Cassius’ theme music.

Do You Realize??Do You Realize??, by the Flaming Lips, by the Flaming Lips““Do you realize that everyone you know one day will die?/And instead of Do you realize that everyone you know one day will die?/And instead of saying all of your goodbyes/let them know you realize that life goes saying all of your goodbyes/let them know you realize that life goes fast/It’s hard to make the good things last…”fast/It’s hard to make the good things last…”This song is about saying goodbye to people who die, and would be a good This song is about saying goodbye to people who die, and would be a good choice for the end when Octavius and Antony prepare Brutus’ funeral.choice for the end when Octavius and Antony prepare Brutus’ funeral.

Goodbye Mr. AGoodbye Mr. A, by the Hoosiers, by the Hoosiers““Goodbye Mr. A, you promised you would love us but you knew too Goodbye Mr. A, you promised you would love us but you knew too much/Goodbye Mr. A, you had all the answers but no human touch/If life is much/Goodbye Mr. A, you had all the answers but no human touch/If life is subtraction, your number is up/Your love is a fraction and it’s not adding subtraction, your number is up/Your love is a fraction and it’s not adding up.” up.” This song could be about Caesar and the conspirators killing him. Caesar This song could be about Caesar and the conspirators killing him. Caesar is the Mr. A mentioned in the song who seems as though he would solve all is the Mr. A mentioned in the song who seems as though he would solve all of Rome’s problems, but is actually a tyrant.of Rome’s problems, but is actually a tyrant.

Soundtrack, Part 2Soundtrack, Part 2 I’m ImpressedI’m Impressed, by They Might Be Giants, by They Might Be Giants

““On the one hand he’ll give you five good reasons to follow him/On the On the one hand he’ll give you five good reasons to follow him/On the other hand you see nobody leaving the stadium.”other hand you see nobody leaving the stadium.”

This song could be applied to the conspirators and their plan to kill Caesar, This song could be applied to the conspirators and their plan to kill Caesar, since the lyrics sound like the conspirators weighing the benefits of killing since the lyrics sound like the conspirators weighing the benefits of killing Caesar.Caesar.

King RatKing Rat, by Modest Mouse, by Modest Mouse

““And you know, you know, you know it all went wrong/And you know, you And you know, you know, you know it all went wrong/And you know, you know, you know it was all wrong.”know, you know it was all wrong.”

This song is about plans going astray, and would work for the conspirators This song is about plans going astray, and would work for the conspirators since their plan to kill Caesar goes wrong and sends Rome into a civil war.since their plan to kill Caesar goes wrong and sends Rome into a civil war.

Tiny Little RobotsTiny Little Robots, by Cage the Elephant, by Cage the Elephant

““And I know that you’re tired of this/’Cause you’re a robot, they designed And I know that you’re tired of this/’Cause you’re a robot, they designed your life/True souls said you know what’s right/You can join us on the other your life/True souls said you know what’s right/You can join us on the other side.”side.”

This song is about corruption in government and revolution against it, and This song is about corruption in government and revolution against it, and would fit for the conspirators and their plans.would fit for the conspirators and their plans.

SourcesSources http://www.imdb.com/ http://www.utexas.edu/courses/ancientfilmCC304/lecture22

/images/3caesar.jpg http://img2.allposters.com/images/MMPH/255147.jpg http://www.terminatorchronicles.com/stills/2008/07/sam-wo

rthington.jpg http://www.pdngallery.com/legends3/neleman/art/photos_la

rge/christopher_walken.jpg http://images.starpulse.com/Photos/Previews/Neil-Patrick-http://images.starpulse.com/Photos/Previews/Neil-Patrick-

Harris-hm01.jpgHarris-hm01.jpg http://actors.pick2web.com/pics/991119/jasonstatham.jpghttp://actors.pick2web.com/pics/991119/jasonstatham.jpg http://www.starglimpse.com/images/celebs/bio/http://www.starglimpse.com/images/celebs/bio/

sn_sherimoonzombie.jpgsn_sherimoonzombie.jpg http://www.coutureinthecity.com/wp-content/uploads/http://www.coutureinthecity.com/wp-content/uploads/

2008/02/halle-berry.jpg2008/02/halle-berry.jpg http://bluemoviereviews.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/cera-http://bluemoviereviews.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/cera-

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