32 replies to this topic

[Kathryn2]

Hmm, mixed feelings about this. I won't be taking my tickets back, as I still want to see it, but I was looking forward to a Ken Branagh-directed play, as I've never seen one before!

As for the whole people inconvenienced/not thing - it's very hard to judge without knowing what is going on behind the scenes. Production on the film might have been brought forward unexpectedly - so although he just signed for it recently, he might not have expected it to affect Hamlet at the time. Film scheduling is notorious for changing at a moment's notice, and there are many film projects that actors have to pull out of when schedules change and they clash. It literally happens all the time.

If he signed for it knowing that it'd mean not doing Hamlet, that's a different thing!

[DuddersMonster]

Little sidenote, 'Thor' is quite possibly the worst of the Marvel Comics. Personally I'd much rather see/be in/be involved with a decent production of Hamlet. Seems like a odd decision by Branagh, I can only presume Marvel are paying him a LOT more than Donmar

[Weez]

How could Marvel NOT be paying more than Donmar? Film and theatre generally work on two very different scales.

I find it quite... refreshing how a change of director has drawn such attention. I mean, it's not a 'Rain Man' "someone's sneaking off under the cloak of night and no one will ever know the true reason why..." happenstance, it's much more straight-forward. But to be offered refunds and exchanges because the *director* has changed, when some companies won't even offer refunds or exchanges when the *star* changes? I think that's brilliant!

I know it'd probably be completely different if, say, Michael Grandage couldn't do 'Madame De Sade' so *casts about* Peter Hall took over; there'd be a short news story on here, some "ooh, wonder why that is?" speculation and that'd be it. So while it could be a little disheartening that it's mostly because it's *Kenneth Branagh* backing out, I can't help but find it pleasing that people care who the director is.

[Annamaria]

Little sidenote, 'Thor' is quite possibly the worst of the Marvel Comics.

That's what I fear . Personally I think this was not a very wise decision, and at least a bit unfair against many people, but then - I am not Mr. Branagh's nanny, and I also agree with Kathryn2 that we can't really know what's going on behind the scenes.

[Annamaria]

I know it'd probably be completely different if, say, Michael Grandage couldn't do 'Madame De Sade' so *casts about* Peter Hall took over; there'd be a short news story on here, some "ooh, wonder why that is?" speculation and that'd be it. So while it could be a little disheartening that it's mostly because it's *Kenneth Branagh* backing out, I can't help but find it pleasing that people care who the director is.

Your are right - but Branagh always polarizes... And he is a brilliant director.

[Jan Brock]

Bottom line is that this reinforces the point that films are seen as being more important than theatre work - there is a little twist of irony here in that the Donmar has profited from this in the past by casting film stars and benefitting from the resulting audience interest - this time it has worked against them.

I'd rather see the Michael Grandage "Hamlet" too, but I feel he has now been forced into using Jude Law when he might have preferred to use someone else (Michael Sheen ?)

[DuddersMonster]

Well it's certainly more money but if Branagh manages to make Thor more important than Hamlet then I will take my hat off to him, then eat it and then do some other hat based metaphor just to really hammer home my surprise.

[Kathryn2]

More important or more $$$ ?

I'm afraid in terms of scheduling more $$$ = more important! There's such absolutely huge amounts of money
involved in making a movie - especially an effects heavy one like a comic book movie - that the producers can't afford to hire an actor if they're not prepared to be available as necessary. It simply costs too much
to hold up or alter filming. It gets written into the actor's contract, so once it's been signed for there's not a lot they can do - even if it means giving up another project that they'd rather work on.

I really can't imagine that Branagh would rather make Thor the movie than direct Hamlet - I'm guessing there's a tax bill behind his reason for doing it in the first place!