Movie roles and projects Paul was offered over the years
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Since the latest Pirates of the Caribbean sequel will be released in a few months... with Paul rumored to have a cameo role... thought it would be fun to share info about other movie projects he was offered, or rumored to be involved with over the years. ROMEO in "ROMEO AND JULIET" (196
Paul was offered the role of Romeo, in "Romeo and Juliet," but turned it down, and the part went to Leonard Whiting.Paul Du Noyer Conversations with McCartney, chapter 13 "...[In 1967] Franco Zeffirelli [the distinguished Italian film director] came over to London and offered me the lead in Romeo and Juliet. I said, 'I can't do it, man, you're kidding. I'm just a musician.' The one with Olivia Hussey. Leonard Whiting played it. He said, 'No, I really know you could do this. You look absolutely how I see Romeo. It would be perfect. Come to Rome and we make a film, it will be beautiful.' I bottled out. I took her out, Olivia Hussey - this was before I met Linda - took her out to a nightclub. I quite fancied her, she was gorgeous with long dark hair. I sent her a telegram, 'You're a beautiful Juliet.' She sent one back: 'You'd make a great Romeo.' It was all very... [romantic swoon]. You'd vomit now, I suppose. My kids wouldn't believe it: 'Oh Dad! You didn't do that, did you?'"
I can see where Paul would make a good Romeo, and he could have sung the title song to the film as well, and done it beautifully. The scene could have been re-written in the movie to allow him to sing it. Oh well, even if he wasn't in the film, he'll always be our handsome Romeo anyway, right?
Actors Leonard Whiting and Olivia Hussey in a publicity photo for Romeo and Juliet (196 -
BROTHER SUN, SISTER MOON (released 1973) This film, directed by Franco Zeffirelli, was a musical version of the story of St. Francis of Assisi. According to the quote below, the Italian director originally wanted Paul to play the lead, as well as having the other three Beatles in the film. Somehow, this wouldn't have seemed a good fit for any of them at the time... especially in light of the band's breakup in the early 1970s, and legal difficulties, etc...
Patricia Applebaum St. Francis of America: How a Thirteenth-Century Friar Became America's Most Popular Saint, (Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 2015) page 126 "The ultimate popular-culture expression of [St.] Francis as hippie was the 1973 movie Brother Sun, Sister Moon. The director, Franco Zeffirelli, intended it that way. 'Francis had everything from the Establishment... [but he] didn't want any part of all this,' he explained...he [Zeffirelli] and several early collaborators had initially wanted to engage the Beatles for the film, with Paul McCartney starring as St. Francis. Although that plan fell through-- perhaps fortunately-- they claimed that the Beatles 'were fascinated with the figure of St. Francis, whose philosophies struck a deep chord with them.' In the end, Zeffirelli chose young, little-known actors for the leading roles..."
Here's a clip from "Brother Sun, Sister Moon"...
... I can see why the director/ producers were thinking of Paul for the lead. This scene is reminiscent of his "Fool on a Hill" sequence from Magical Mystery Tour, too... but I just don't think Paul would ever be able to play a monk convincingly, lol
Graham Faulkner as St. Francis of Assisi in "Brother Sun, Sister Moon"
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THE BEATLES IN "LORD OF THE RINGS" (scrapped film project, 1966)
http://www.businessinsider.com/beatles-the-lord-of-the-rings-2014-12 ....[The Beatles] reportedly wanted to make a LOTR film in the 1960s with legendary director Stanley Kubrick, according to an interview ["Lord of the Rings" director Peter] Jackson did with Deadline this past summer [2014]. "I actually spoke about this with Paul McCartney. He confirmed it," said Jackson. "I'd heard rumors that it was going to be their next film after Help." Jackson detailed which roles each of the Beatles wanted to play. John Lennon would have been Gollum.... Paul McCartney wanted to play Frodo Baggins while Ringo Starr wanted to be his sidekick Sam. Those roles were [later] played by Elijah Wood and Sean Astin, respectively. George Harrison wanted to be the wizard Gandalf, who was eventually played by Sir Ian McKellen.... Why didn't it ever happen? For one thing, Jackson told Deadline Kubrick turned the Beatles down. However, the final nail in the coffin came from LOTR author J.R.R. Tolkien himself who wasn't a fan of the collaboration. In 2002, People reported Jackson previously discussed the long-rumored Beatles LOTR movie with Wellington's Evening Post newspaper. "It was something John was driving and J.R.R. Tolkien still had the film rights at that stage, but he didn't like the idea of the Beatles doing it. So he killed it," said Jackson. While we can imagine how much different that movie would have been, Jackson told Deadline this summer McCartney rather enjoys his adaptations of the series. "Paul was very gracious; he said, 'It was a good job we never made ours because then you wouldn't have made yours and it was great to see yours,'" Jackson recalled. Still, Jackson thinks we probably missed out on a few good Beatles' tunes.
Aww... Paul would have made such a cute Frodo, lol... or perhaps later with his mullet hairstyle, he could also have played Aragorn to Linda's Arwen
Anyway, here's another article about this project: http://whatculture.com/film/best-films-never-made-1-the-beatles-lord-of-the-rings 
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LadyLeslie:
Since the latest Pirates of the Caribbean sequel will be released in a few months... with Paul rumored to have a cameo role... thought it would be fun to share info about other movie projects he was offered, or rumored to be involved with over the years. ROMEO in "ROMEO AND JULIET" (196
Paul was offered the role of Romeo, in "Romeo and Juliet," but turned it down, and the part went to Leonard Whiting.Paul Du Noyer Conversations with McCartney, chapter 13 "...[In 1967] Franco Zeffirelli [the distinguished Italian film director] came over to London and offered me the lead in Romeo and Juliet. I said, 'I can't do it, man, you're kidding. I'm just a musician.' The one with Olivia Hussey. Leonard Whiting played it. He said, 'No, I really know you could do this. You look absolutely how I see Romeo. It would be perfect. Come to Rome and we make a film, it will be beautiful.' I bottled out. I took her out, Olivia Hussey - this was before I met Linda - took her out to a nightclub. I quite fancied her, she was gorgeous with long dark hair. I sent her a telegram, 'You're a beautiful Juliet.' She sent one back: 'You'd make a great Romeo.' It was all very... [romantic swoon]. You'd vomit now, I suppose. My kids wouldn't believe it: 'Oh Dad! You didn't do that, did you?'"
I can see where Paul would make a good Romeo, and he could have sung the title song to the film as well, and done it beautifully. The scene could have been re-written in the movie to allow him to sing it. Oh well, even if he wasn't in the film, he'll always be our handsome Romeo anyway, right?
Actors Leonard Whiting and Olivia Hussey in a publicity photo for Romeo and Juliet (196I am SO glad he didn't do this! I absolutely loved Leonard Whiting as Romeo! Saw the film first with friends (I was 13) and we stayed to watch it again! Later I saw it with my entire 9th grade class in 1969. They had a special showing as we were studying the play in English class. Also got the vinyl LP soundtrack. Memorized all the lines in the movie. Now of course I have the DVD!
Still one of my all-time favorite movies! Love Juliet's line, "What satisfaction canst thou have tonight?!" Romeo: "The exchange of thy love's faithful vow for mine." Paul could never have pulled it off, as much as I loved him back then. Plus, he was too old at 26! Olivia was 15 and Len was 17. Perfect ages. -
Not a movie but still a project. He was asked to play Emily's dad in Friends when they all went to London. But Paul was busy & it was about the time when Linda was ill. It would've been great if he was able to star in Friends but we'll never see it
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Nancy R wrote: I am SO glad he didn't do this! I absolutely loved Leonard Whiting as Romeo! Saw the film first with friends (I was 13) and we stayed to watch it again! Later I saw it with my entire 9th grade class in 1969. They had a special showing as we were studying the play in English class. Also got the vinyl LP soundtrack. Memorized all the lines in the movie. Now of course I have the DVD! Laughing Still one of my all-time favorite movies! Love Juliet's line, "What satisfaction canst thou have tonight?!" Romeo: "The exchange of thy love's faithful vow for mine." Paul could never have pulled it off, as much as I loved him back then. Plus, he was too old at 26! Olivia was 15 and Len was 17. Perfect ages.
Thanks, Nancy! I remember watching a highly edited "school version" of Romeo & Juliet, too, when we were studying the play.
When I was 10 (1970) we moved to a house that was owned by a British family who were returning to England, and the oldest daughter left her Romeo and Juliet poster on the wall for me in the room she was leaving. Leonard Whiting did really well in the role. I remember he was in a mini-series on NBC in the 1970s called The True Story of Frankenstein, where he played Dr. Frankenstein, and Michael Sarrazin was the monster, and Jane Seymour was also in it..... loved watching him in that.... will have to find that on DVD. Other than that, I don't remember seeing Leonard Whiting in too many other things, although he probably was in several films/tv projects in Britain that might not have been shown in the US. According to the IMDB Olivia Hussey was born in 1951, with Paul 9 years older... I think he could have done the role, but he just wasn't interested at the time, he was more into working on the musical projects he was involved with. If he had played Romeo, he probably would have added a more humorous and flirtatious side to the character, with the title song thrown in.... whereas Leonard Whiting's performance was more serious and tragic, which is probably how Shakespeare intended it, and he was closer in age to the character as well.Gordy JS wrote: Not a movie but still a project. He was asked to play Emily's dad in Friends when they all went to London. But Paul was busy & it was about the time when Linda was ill. It would've been great if he was able to star in Friends but we'll never see it
Thanks, Gordy JS, Paul would have been great in that! Except for Saturday Night Live, and cameos on a few British sitcoms, he hasn't done a lot of television, where he wasn't performing his music.
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Leonard Whiting I remember had his 17th birthday while they were filming the movie. He was born June 30, 1050. http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0926013/?ref_=nv_sr_1 It says Olivia was 15 during that time, but that can't be right since she was born April 17, 1951 so would have turned 16 as they were filming it in 1967. http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001377/?ref_=nv_sr_3 Her first marriage was to Dean Martin's son, Dean Paul (Dino, Desi and Billy), who tragically died flying a military jet. Oh, and when our class saw the movie, it was not edited. Saw his bare butt and everything!
P.S. Would have loved to have seen Paul on Friends! -
Paul was never a "natural" actor. He's probably be the first to tell someone that. He comes off as either wooden or uncomfortable when he tries to play it straight. He's good & can be funny in small bits like SNL though. I'm surprised he hasnt tried to co-direct or bankroll movies. I see him more as an ideas guy or visionary, rather than playing the part himself.
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Didn't Issac Asimov write a script for a Wings film? I read somewhere Paul still has it in his archives.
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Nancy R wrote: When our class saw the movie, it was not edited. Saw his bare butt and everything!
You must have had a very open-minded and progressive teacher, lol... mine was about 80 years old, and very strict... 
we were lucky she even allowed us to see the edited version, lolJoey Smith wrote: Paul was never a "natural" actor. He's probably be the first to tell someone that. He comes off as either wooden or uncomfortable when he tries to play it straight. He's good & can be funny in small bits like SNL though. I'm surprised he hasnt tried to co-direct or bankroll movies. I see him more as an ideas guy or visionary, rather than playing the part himself.
Yes, I see him as visionary too... he can picture something creatively in his mind that he'd like to put on paper, as part of a story. He would make a good producer or director. I think he does have a natural talent for comedy, and a wonderful sense of humor, and think his best acting could be when he plays another version of himself.
Squid wrote: Didn't Issac Asimov write a script for a Wings film? I read somewhere Paul still has it in his archives.
Just did a google search, and found this at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaac_Asimov
In December 1974, former Beatle Paul McCartney approached Asimov and asked him if he could write the screenplay for a science-fiction movie musical. McCartney had a vague idea for the plot and a small scrap of dialogue; he wished to make a film about a rock band whose members discover they are being impersonated by a group of extraterrestrials. The band and their impostors would likely be played by McCartney's group Wings, then at the height of their career. Intrigued by the idea, although he was not generally a fan of rock music, Asimov quickly produced a "treatment" or brief outline of the story. He adhered to McCartney's overall idea, producing a story he felt to be moving and dramatic. However, he did not make use of McCartney's brief scrap of dialogue, and probably as a consequence, McCartney rejected the story. The treatment now exists only in the Boston University archives.
Interesting, since Paul also presented a similar idea to Gene Roddenberry, of Star Trek fame...
Gene Roddenberry attends a Wings concert and meets Paul McCartney backstage, circa 1974 http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/features/star-trek-oral-history-captain-906075"JON POVILL (associate producer, Star Trek: The Motion Picture): Gene was not enthusiastic about Star Trek at the time [after it was cancelled]. He really wanted to do something else. It was the idea of trying to prove himself, not that he was aware he was proving himself. He was sort of desperate to show he could do something besides Star Trek. That came out as, "I don't care about Star Trek, I want to move on." SUSAN SACKETT (executive assistant to Gene Roddenberry): This was a time when he was sort of a writer for hire. GENE RODDENBERRY (creator of Star Trek): I had been through harsh times. My dreams were going downhill, because I could not get work after the original series was canceled. ... I was stereotyped as a science-fiction writer, and sometimes it was tough to pay the mortgage. There were several aborted film projects he was involved with, including one that would have seen Roddenberry collaborating with Paul McCartney, at the time soaring (no pun intended) with his Beatles follow-up band, Wings. SACKETT: I have no idea whatever happened to that. It's probably stuck in a file, like the end of Raiders of the Lost Ark. Paul contacted him and was a Star Trek fan. He invited us to a concert, which was great, and we met backstage. Paul hired Gene to write a story about the band and it was a crazy story. Paul gave him an outline and Gene was supposed to do something with it. It was bands from outer space and they were having a competition. Gene was open to things at this point; Star Trek wasn't happening and he wasn't getting his scripts produced, but he had a family to feed. Gene began working on it and it was about the time they started talking about bringing back Trek, so he never got to complete anything for Paul."
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LadyLeslie:
Nancy R wrote: When our class saw the movie, it was not edited. Saw his bare butt and everything!
You must have had a very open-minded and progressive teacher, lol... mine was about 80 years old, and very strict... we were lucky she even allowed us to see the edited version, lol It was the entire 9th grade class - over 500 of us - yes, the school was very progressive. We were even allowed to smoke in the courtyard! (with parents' permission) 
Joey Smith wrote: Paul was never a "natural" actor. He's probably be the first to tell someone that. He comes off as either wooden or uncomfortable when he tries to play it straight. He's good & can be funny in small bits like SNL though. I'm surprised he hasnt tried to co-direct or bankroll movies. I see him more as an ideas guy or visionary, rather than playing the part himself.
Yes, I see him as visionary too... he can picture something creatively in his mind that he'd like to put on paper, as part of a story. He would make a good producer or director. I think he does have a natural talent for comedy, and a wonderful sense of humor, and think his best acting could be when he plays another version of himself.
Squid wrote: Didn't Issac Asimov write a script for a Wings film? I read somewhere Paul still has it in his archives.
Just did a google search, and found this at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaac_Asimov
In December 1974, former Beatle Paul McCartney approached Asimov and asked him if he could write the screenplay for a science-fiction movie musical. McCartney had a vague idea for the plot and a small scrap of dialogue; he wished to make a film about a rock band whose members discover they are being impersonated by a group of extraterrestrials. The band and their impostors would likely be played by McCartney's group Wings, then at the height of their career. Intrigued by the idea, although he was not generally a fan of rock music, Asimov quickly produced a "treatment" or brief outline of the story. He adhered to McCartney's overall idea, producing a story he felt to be moving and dramatic. However, he did not make use of McCartney's brief scrap of dialogue, and probably as a consequence, McCartney rejected the story. The treatment now exists only in the Boston University archives.
Interesting, since Paul also presented a similar idea to Gene Roddenberry, of Star Trek fame... http://www.startrek.com/uploads/assets/articles/Rodd-6.jpg Gene Roddenberry attends a Wings concert and meets Paul McCartney backstage, circa 1974 http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/features/star-trek-oral-history-captain-906075
"JON POVILL (associate producer, Star Trek: The Motion Picture): Gene was not enthusiastic about Star Trek at the time [after it was cancelled]. He really wanted to do something else. It was the idea of trying to prove himself, not that he was aware he was proving himself. He was sort of desperate to show he could do something besides Star Trek. That came out as, "I don't care about Star Trek, I want to move on." SUSAN SACKETT (executive assistant to Gene Roddenberry): This was a time when he was sort of a writer for hire. GENE RODDENBERRY (creator of Star Trek): I had been through harsh times. My dreams were going downhill, because I could not get work after the original series was canceled. ... I was stereotyped as a science-fiction writer, and sometimes it was tough to pay the mortgage. There were several aborted film projects he was involved with, including one that would have seen Roddenberry collaborating with Paul McCartney, at the time soaring (no pun intended) with his Beatles follow-up band, Wings. SACKETT: I have no idea whatever happened to that. It's probably stuck in a file, like the end of Raiders of the Lost Ark. Paul contacted him and was a Star Trek fan. He invited us to a concert, which was great, and we met backstage. Paul hired Gene to write a story about the band and it was a crazy story. Paul gave him an outline and Gene was supposed to do something with it. It was bands from outer space and they were having a competition. Gene was open to things at this point; Star Trek wasn't happening and he wasn't getting his scripts produced, but he had a family to feed. Gene began working on it and it was about the time they started talking about bringing back Trek, so he never got to complete anything for Paul."
Wow! I had never heard any of that before and I'm a huge Star Trek fan! Thanks for the info!
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JoeySmith:
Paul was never a "natural" actor. He's probably be the first to tell someone that. He comes off as either wooden or uncomfortable when he tries to play it straight. He's good & can be funny in small bits like SNL though. I'm surprised he hasnt tried to co-direct or bankroll movies. I see him more as an ideas guy or visionary, rather than playing the part himself.
I agree, but a cameo is usually real short so no big deal.
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LadyLeslie wrote: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaac_Asimov Quote: In December 1974, former Beatle Paul McCartney approached Asimov and asked him if he could write the screenplay for a science-fiction movie musical. McCartney had a vague idea for the plot and a small scrap of dialogue; he wished to make a film about a rock band whose members discover they are being impersonated by a group of extraterrestrials. The band and their impostors would likely be played by McCartney's group Wings, then at the height of their career. Intrigued by the idea, although he was not generally a fan of rock music, Asimov quickly produced a "treatment" or brief outline of the story. He adhered to McCartney's overall idea, producing a story he felt to be moving and dramatic. However, he did not make use of McCartney's brief scrap of dialogue, and probably as a consequence, McCartney rejected the story. The treatment now exists only in the Boston University archives. Interesting, since Paul also presented a similar idea to Gene Roddenberry, of Star Trek fame... http://www.startrek.com/uploads/assets/articles/Rodd-6.jpg Gene Roddenberry attends a Wings concert and meets Paul McCartney backstage, circa 1974 http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/features/star-trek-oral-history-captain-906075
NancyR wrote: Wow! I had never heard any of that before and I'm a huge Star Trek fan! Thanks for the info!
You're welcome, Nancy!
Edited to add: Not too crazy about the radio adaptation, lol, but it may give an idea of what the original story was supposed to be like... A fan found the treatment Asimov did for Paul (which was called "Five and Five and One") and adapted it into a radio play... the first part is on YouTube at -
Will have to watch that tomorrow- I'm crashing here! So tired!
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Found another scrapped creative project... too bad it didn't materialize like he wanted, it was a cute idea
BRUCE MCMOUSE 
Original sketch by Paul McCartney for Bruce McMouse project, sold at auction http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2000893/Sir-Paul-McCartneys-lost-sketches-Bruce-McMouse-sale--bigger-cheese-us.htmlThe former Beatle [Paul McCartney] created the characters of Bruce McMouse and his family who lived under the stage where his band Wings were playing. From his drawings in 1973 a professional animator turned them into a cartoon... The finished hour-long film shows interaction between Wings and the family of mice - but the final version was never shown and only a handful of people have ever seen it. The original sketches by Sir Paul, and others possibly drawn by his late wife Linda and her daughter Heather, emerged from the family of the animator. Eric Wylam was tasked with turning the sketches into colour drawings for the film that is the subject of a lot of myth-making by McCartney fans. Mr Wylam was disappointed that the film was never released and kept the sketches until he died in 1997 when his daughter Maggie Thornton inherited them. 'When he fell ill in about 1993 I wrote to Paul McCartney asking if there was a way that my father could see the finished film. 'And he sent the video which my father watched. I have seen it and can see why it was never released. 'The storyline doesn't really work and some of the cutting between the singing and the animation isn't very good. 'My father didn't like the music - he was into classical music and I'm not really sure what he thought of the film, although he didn't say he didn't like it.' Doing the voice-overs for the Bruce McMouse Show were Deryck Guyler, who did Bruce, Pat Coombes, the wife, with Sir Paul, Linda and Derek Nimmo doing the children.
