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Zemeckis Chooses a Cast of Unknowns for Yellow Submarine

by Alex Billington
January 11, 2010
Source: Heat Vision

Yep, Robert Zemeckis is not giving up on motion capture yet, even though he damn well should. Did this guy even see Avatar? Anyway, Heat Vision announced the primary cast for his upcoming remake of The Beatles' Yellow Submarine for Disney. Cary Elwes (Saw, A Christmas Carol) will play George Harrison, Dean Lennox Kelly (BBC's "Robin Hood", ITV's "Collision") will play John Lennon, Peter Serafinowicz (Shaun of the Dead, Couples Retreat) will play Paul McCartney, and Adam Campbell (Date Movie, Epic Movie, "Harper's Island") will play Ringo Starr. An odd cast of unknowns, but maybe that's for the better.

Despite casting these four actors to play the Beatles, they will not be singing or performing in the movie at all (just running around). Beatles tribute band Fab Four will instead be motion captured "as the ensemble for the musical performance sequences" (although I'm not exactly sure what that means). Even though real Beatles music will be used, "they won't actually be performing the 16 songs used in the movie." The original Yellow Submarine film from 1968 features a story where a soldier called Old Fred meets up with the Beatles and travels in a yellow submersible to Pepperland, encountering people like the music-hating Blue Meanies.

After being bored by A Christmas Carol, and being blown away by the visuals in Avatar, I think Zemeckis' motion capture movies are quickly become obsolete. I'm only excited because the original Yellow Submarine is super trippy and has a cool animation style, but I don't know if Zemeckis is planning to contemporize that style or try something new entirely. Either way, I am curious to see what he comes up with, but that's about it. He needs to give up on these mo-cap movies and move on to something else. As for the cast, I don't have much to say, but I'm glad he chose actors that fit the role rather than names from Hollywood. Thoughts?

Filed under Casting, Movie News

From around the web:

Paul

Peter Serafinowicz is awesome. He does a great Paul impression (a lot of good impressions, really). Watch Look Around You!
Quanah

My God I wish Zemeckis would give up on motion capture. Get back to making real films.
OhAlexBillingtion

Unknown to you....so they're unknowns now?
http://www.firstshowing.net Alex Billington

^ Uh yes, versus big NAME actors from Hollywood, yes they're unknowns.
Dan W

This is blasphemous
Black Guy

Uh, Alex, these guys aren't unknowns. Based on your logic Jon Hamm is an unknown because his name isn't Will Smith. You're such a goofball.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:DOH Alex Gibson

I understand why you would consider Serafiowicz and Lennox Kelly unknowns, even though I don't, but Cary Elwes? Never seen The Princess Bride?
http://www.firstshowing.net Alex Billington

Yes, you're right, Cary Elwes is the ONE I'd give an exception too... But come on man! Unknowns is a term used to describe actors often. For example, Chris Hemsworth was an unknown joining Star Trek, even though he co-starred in A Perfect Getaway and been on some TV shows before that. It's just a word...!
Zach

Didn't you say some good things about A Christmas Carol when it came out? All of a sudden James Cameron put's out a new movie and the visuals in A Christmas Carol are dull?
beavis

i found the original YS to be nothing but a vehicle for more beatles nonsense ( kind of like elvis movies). i never cared much for the bands music and thought YS to be a waste of time. i guess they're counting on aging beatles fans to go and see this?
- Ron F.
  
  Mr. Beavis, huh huhuh huhuhuhuh Hey Beavis! The Beatles themselves were not even in the movie as characters and had almost that much to do with the project. Except for a couple of left-over songs that didn't make other Beatles albums. They had about 90 seconds of actual screen time. They could've given a big crap whether YS got made. It was people inside their organization that wanted to profit from this Project. Not to mention the fact it was ground breaking for 1968.. Everything was not instant in that world like it is now.. They were our best! You'll have them too when you reach 14... They will still know who the Beatles were a 100 years from now. Who from your musical generation will they remember by the time the new version of Windows or IPhone is released.. There will be a few because there are still people like the Beatles who truly invented their own music and style. But, they are getting harder to find as record companies get you to settle for less rather than anything with art or substance.. Huh huhuhhh huh huh huhuhuhhh uhLater Beavis
  - Ron F.
    
    But, why remake a movie that The Beatles didn't even care that much about. It's not like he's gonna create the video music channel or anything like what was inspired by the first Yellow Submarine.. That's right Beavis huhuh huh huhuh huh! You might remember (probably not) that The Beaqtles camp started music video's in the 60's from movie's like Yellow Submarine: Elenore Rigby.... Magical mystery Tour: I am The Walrus, Blue Jay Way, Your Mother Should Know.. The Beatles were not just music, they were multi - talented... Their record sales are proof of their popularity and influence on society even now when half of them are gone....
napoleonblownapart

Serafinowicz was the voice of Darth Maul.
http://criticinema.blogspot.com/ djw1138

Your definition of "unknown" is fucked up, Billington.
Blackstar

Alex, read and learn: Cary Elwes - http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000144/ Dean Lennox Kelly - http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0446319/ Peter Serafinowicz - http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0784818/ Adam Campbell - http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1623511/ You might be able to argue Adam Campbell is perhaps an unknown. A better description would be a "relative newcomer". But the rest on the cast list, not even close Alex. Not even close. Christ, Cary Elwes has been acting long before you were even sperm. And I can guarantee they all are a hell of a lot more 'known', than you are. Think before you type.
Jonah

Wow not only are you ok with relegating a well known Hollywood mainstay like Elwes (memorable roles in Days of Thunder, Hot Shots!, Robin Hood: Men in Tights, Twister, Kiss the Girls, not to mention The Princess Bride and Glory which won an Oscar) as an unkown. But you are also willing to boil down everything that goes into acting in a motion capture film as "just running around". Oh by the way if you listen closely enough you can hear John Lennon and George Harrison rolling over in their graves.
Voice of Reason

man, the other day i was watching "Romancing the Stone" and totally forgot that Zemeckis used to make solid movies....I think his flicks as of late (mo-cap) have been sub par in almost every definable way, it's just too bad. Personally I love the original Yellow Submarine and this is where the man has finally crossed the line, virtually written off forever.
guh

WTF?? Cary Elwes isn't an unknown actor in the slightest..but yeah i think this could turn out to be an okay movie in the end.
theotherbluth

Come on People!! I swear some of you just come to this site to give Alex shit. Just because cinephiles like us know these actors doesn't make them household names. If you asked most people who these guys are they would have no idea. Elwes would get a few "the guy from..." but thats it. the point of the article is casting and Zemekis' movie. Oh and I too wish Bobby Z would get over it and make a regular film again.
giraffic

agreed with #17. I'm a big fan of the Beatles, so I'm excited for what's in store.