Beyonce lands Clint Eastwood as 'A Star Is Born' director

Beyonce Knowles just got a major break in her longtime bid for an Oscar: Clint Eastwood has signed on to direct her in the Warner Bros. update of "A Star Is Born."

Eastwood's announcement more than solidifies the flick, which has seen several incarnations over the past year (or years) with various directors and male talent attached (Beyonce has long been the female lead in mind).

Last February a short list of names including Russell Crowe, Sean Penn and Robert Downey Jr. were circulating to play opposite the pop sensation, as an alcoholic superstar in love with Knowles' budding singer. 

A current short list includes varied types like Will Smith, Eddie Murphy and Jon Hamm, according to Deadline Hollywood.

Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson brought the tale to life in 1976, earning permanent spots in pop culture for their efforts. Streisand won a Golden Globe for her acting performance and best original song but saw Oscar love only in the original song category.

Knowles, wife of rap mogul Jay-Z, has always been open about her Academy Award aspirations. In 2009, she told Self magazine that the thought of snatching that trophy motivated everything down to her fitness.

Referring to a painting of the Oscar that hangs above her treadmill, she said, "I look at it, and I'm like 'OK, I have to stay in shape.'"

It was 2006's "Dreamgirls" that gave Knowles her best critically received performance, yet her awards campaign stalled in the presence of Jennifer Hudson's breakout effort in the same film (Hudson won the Oscar for supporting actress).

But now Beyonce has another chance at bat — and under the direction of Eastwood, she could transcend her previous high-camp fare ("Obsessed") and pop-culture cakewalks ("Austin Powers in Goldmember"). Eastwood won directing Oscars for "Million Dollar Baby" and "Unforgiven" and was nominated in that category for "Mystic River" and "Letters From Iwo Jima."

Beyonce has certainly got the chops to play an ingenue and now has a master to help her create a memorable performance. Is this Beyonce's moment? Tell us in the comments section below.

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— Matt Donnelly
Twitter.com/MattDonnelly

Photos, from top:  Beyonce Knowles in New York City on Nov. 22, 2010; a portrait of Clint Eastwood on Oct. 11, 2010. Credits, from top:  Michael Loccisano / Getty Images; Victoria Will / Associated Press.

Comments

[fatu sankoh]

yes this is a dream come true as a fan bey is born to play this roll i hope it happen i wish her all the blessing well deserve

[Santana]

I think this is a truly inspired recreation. In the tradition of all the "A Star Is Born" films....Beyoncé is the perfect casting for this generation and since Barbra gives great respect to Beyoncé and Beyoncé idolizes her, I see this as a truly serendiptous occasion. I have high hopes for this film, especially with Eastwood at the helm.

[Mitchell]

Beyonce, need a lot more work than being directed by Clint Eastwood. Not everyone can act and whenever you have a singer such as Beyonce who is not a natural like Queen Latifah, Janet Jackson, Christina Aguilara, Cher or Reba McIntire it may take longer or more movies. Beyonce may be taken as a more serious actress when she isn't doing movies that deal with singing.If she stars in movies and show case her acting skills than it may be more a oscar but the academy have to be blown over with your talent to consider giving you an oscar. Janet Jackson is a good example of a singer who did great acting in "why did I get married two" even if she was a actress turned singer; the difference is she didn't sing or dance in the movie and the academy give kudos to that; just ask Cher.

[David]

Good luck to her.This is one of those remakes where you say to yourself, "this is either gonna be really good, or really bad." NOTHING can ever compare to Garland and Mason.

[Glenn]

I don't know about Beyonce's motivation for making the movie so she can win an Oscar. Seems a little self-serving to me. How about making a movie with the intention of telling a great story?

[Alex]

I am sorry, what is the LA Times smoking? Beyonce Knowles is not a credible actress in Hollywood and has the chops of a gnat. She is marketable because of her celebrity and because of a large fan-base. To consider her an acting prodigy and then create this false hype around a performance that doesn't even exist yet is beneath the LA Times. This is jus laughable.

[Grandpa]

It will be bad because the main motivation here is to win an award, not necessarily a good movie but an award-worthy movie. She's not that good, anyway.

[K]

Glenn said, "I don't know about Beyonce's motivation for making the movie so she can win an Oscar. Seems a little self-serving to me. How about making a movie with the intention of telling a great story?"

That was my initial reaction when I first read this article. Beyonce has always seemed a little full of herself anyway, and this is a perfect illustration. I'm not convinced she's much of an actress anyway, if her performance in Dream Girls was any indication. She was the weakest in that cast. But maybe a top-notch director can bring more out of her. I don't know if Clint Eastwood is that director.

[Gwyneth]

Anyone who thinks Beyonce has a chance in h*ll of scoring an Oscar is certifiably insane. (You know who you are.)

[john]

I never thought that Clint Eastwood would make a movie that I would have no interest in seeing. But he's done it! No thanks.

[Rick]

Glenn said, "I don't know about Beyonce's motivation for making the movie so she can win an Oscar. Seems a little self-serving to me. How about making a movie with the intention of telling a great story?"

I certainly agree with the comment however, sometimes our egos get in the way of our intentions. I know that's been her dream and so she befriended Barbara Streisand, who am sure is mentoring her for the role, to add credibility to her move to the Really Big Screen. I say let the chips fall as they may. It lifted Barbara Streisand above the stratosphere, so maybe this time it will help her. More power to Beyonce' and Clint Eastwood for making that move.

[Lizzie]

Clint will have to suggest to her to take more acting classes, clint can't bring out the emotion for her. I hope she's been practicing her acting skills before this movie. She needs to focus on proving people wrong that she can act that she has the ability and dang audacity to be an actress. To be at halle berry,denzel, sidney portier,etc. acting level. Its great she has this goal to want to win an oscar, but she really needs to focus on doing great work and proving people wrong by choosing serious roles,besides doing something you feel comfortable. We know you can sing. prove to us that you can act, be relaxed and become the character. A real actor chooses complicated & challenging roles I want to see the character not beyonce.

[Lizzie]

I also hope she's watching previous remakes of this movie and watch how the actors performed the character and take that and do her own remake and hopefully applying her own experiences. I'm not a huge fan of hers, but I really hope she does really mind blowing work that shut the negative critics up. Good luck Bey. I'm a sucker for the underdogs. :)

[Sue]

Anyone else but her - she screeches.

[John Burk]

Related to article, it's no wonder our kids don't speak or write correct English. Unless the "correctness patrol" has gotten grammar changed, the last sentence should read " Beyonce certainly has the chops to play..."
But I know your excuse will be that "has got" is now accepted; but I challenge you to get English teachers to agree.

[renece]

I wish she can read these comments cause it might motivate her to prove everybody wrong and win that Oscar. That would be great!!!!!!!!!!!
Believing that someone cannot do something is the biggest motivation.
Bey you can do it !!!!!!

[MandiP]

Clint Eastwood is a fine director. He has proven many people wrong in many instances. Beyonce is still trying to find her acting muse, that part that will propel her to super-stardom. This might be a good film for her fans, but will it reach the general movie going public? A good leading man will help but by the ones listed I haven't much hope. When Barbara did this, she cast a male singer against her (Elvis, but he died. Kris Kristofferson is too a singer-songwriter.) Skip the big named actors and cast a male singer-songwriter much like her role, in the male lead against her. Clint is forward thinking enough to get the right guy. It will either work brilliantly or become an epic fail. To me, all hinges on Beyonce's co-star and the chemistry and believability they'll have together if Beyonce ends up being cast.

[Life]

Eastwood + Beyonce = GOLD magic and a hit. Period. I hope all this pan out because we miss you Beyonce on the big screen.

[Dancingbear]

another unnecessary remake of A Star is Born....the original 1937 movie and the 1954 Judy Garland/James Mason version are by far the best of the best....young ones I recommend you watch the Garland/Mason version...it's the very BEST!

[K]

John Burk said, "Related to article, it's no wonder our kids don't speak or write correct English. Unless the "correctness patrol" has gotten grammar changed, the last sentence should read " Beyonce certainly has the chops to play..."
But I know your excuse will be that "has got" is now accepted; but I challenge you to get English teachers to agree."

They don't have to, John. You've probably noticed that newspapers aren't written to precise English grammar rules. They're actually written at about a sixth grade level and have almost always leaned toward the pop-culture tastes of whatever era they're written in. One exception might be the op-ed pages, but while those tend to be some of the most interesting writing, even they frequently aren't English teacher-perfect.

Point is, writing doesn't have to be "perfect" to be interesting to be published. Readable is good enough and "conversational" is even better.

[Ashley]

I think Beyonce has been really good in about everything she has done. She was a very good straight woman in Goldmember, and she didn't mind being over-the-top. She gave a very understated and nice performance in Dreamgirls. She was recognized by the Golden Globes and even came up on the short list of actresses that could've been nominated for a BAFTA for the Dreamgirls performance. Beyonce even had to not sing as forcefully as she can for the character. I even think that Obsessed was good, popcorn fun and Beyonce delivered in the role, as Liz Smith said. If anybody knew about the Dreamgirls play, it was always geared towards the Effie character and her having the most noteworthy songs. It's kind of like how some people said that the young actress in True Grit is really more a lead actress, but she's getting nominated for the Best Supporting Actress. It strengthened Jennifer Hudson's chances by being considered supporting when it was more of a lead role. Many serious actors and actresses have said that it was a childhood dream to win an Oscar. I don't know why people shouldn't aspire to do something so well they are awarded the highest accolade in the field. Beyonce was fantastic in Cadillac Records. She got a lot of glowing reviews for that performance. She keeps getting even better as an actress. She has only did a few movies. Clint Eastwood is a fantastic director, and I believe in his vision.

[Joshua]

Now, is it going to be a REMAKE, remake of the 1976 version of A Star Is Born, or is it just going to be based off the story of both Judy's and Barbra's films?

Either way, I'm dreading this. Beyonce is not an actress.

[Abbie]

I love Clint Eastwood. He's a consummate actor and director, keeps getting better and better with age. I hope he lives a very long time. I think he will because he loves what he does. He surprised everyone with Bridges of Madison County, which happens to be one of my favorite Clint Eastwood films. I also love the music he carefully selects for his films, some of which are his own personal compositions.

I'm a little disappointed to hear that he will be directing Beyonce. She may have perfect pitch as a singer, that's what she is good at. It's difficult to become great at anything without study and practice. My daughter has been studying acting for years, has a degree in Performing Arts, takes acting seriously.

I've seen some of Beyonce's film's including Dreamgirls and Obsessed. They are painful to watch because she is so off key, has difficulty hitting the write notes, painful to listen to.

Clint will have to do a lot of work in order to pull a great performance out of her. This is the first Clint Eastwood movie I'm not interested in seeing. Who needs another remake of A Star is Born. I'm sick and tired of all the remakes.

[anon Ymus]

---'Star Is Born' is even staler than Star Wars
and always given to stars hitting middle-age.
WHY's Beyonce going for this?

As for 'daring maverick' Eastwood, he's now been
caught fronting a string of skilfully demoralizing,
Globalist/RED China 'eugenics friendly' pictures
and even obediently turned his back on his own
links to the awesomely relevant 60th Anniversary
of the KOREAN WAR. FACT

---And then of course 'Star' --like Jolie's upcoming
Cleopatra both nicely program 'suicide culture' into
our ever mor clueless mainstream...

[Denise]

This is a big mistake. Beyonce Knowles is not an actress. She does not possess the qualities necessary to pull something off like this. She needs to start training NOW!!!!!!!! It is sad that because of her status she is being shoehorned into roles. So what she wants an Oscar--she isnt Oscar material!!!