Image Credit: Ernesto Ruscio/Getty Images
Greek mythology was tailor-made to be endlessly reinterpreted on the big screen, but it’s probably safe to say that a modern day, blue collar Zeus played by Christopher Walken will be a welcome new take on the genre. Walken joins an impressive gaggle of stars in the film adaptation of Marie Phillips’ novel, set in a New York City brownstone where the fallen and downtrodden gods are being forced to live and work like the rest of us.
Big Beach Films confirmed its full list of stars-as-gods via release on Tuesday, with shooting slated to begin mid-July. The Marc Turtletaub directed film will also star Sharon Stone as Aphrodite, Oliver Platt as Apollo, Edie Falco as Artemis, Phylicia Rashad as Demeter, Gideon Glick as Eros, John Turturro as Hades, Henry Zebrowski as Hermes, Rosie Perez as Persephone, and True Blood‘s flamboyant fry cook Nelsan Ellis as Dionysus.
Think this cast couldn’t get more randomly awesome? As if! 90′s queen Alicia Silverstone will also star as a true mortal whose life becomes intertwined with the dysfunctional deities.
This book is hilarious! I kind of wish they’d kept it set in London and with a British cast, but this cast sounds amazing. Well, all except for Oliver Platt. I like him, but he just does not match my idea of the Apollo from the book.
Agree: and if EW ever does a list of actors who we just do not “get” the appeal of, Oliver Platt tops my list.
Not good looking, not charismatic, no funnier than hundreds of other actors, yet he works constantly.
Could Matt Bomer play Adonis, please?
Sharon stone as aphrodite?! Yuck!! CW should be Hades!!! no eye-candy in this Mythology pic! tee-hee!!
I loved this book when I read it several years ago … it was so ridiculous and plain silly. It will make a great summer movie. With the cast named, even better!
I loved the book and was happy to see that they are making a movie out of it–until I saw who has been cast. I pictured a much younger group of people playing the gods. Perhaps I need to read it again.
I did, too (except for Zeus). These gods are still immortal and hot. Sharon Stone? Rosie Perez? Oliver Platt? Seriously?
Me too. This casting seems a bit random… or perfect if they were making the movie in 1992.
Except for Nelsan Ellis. That’s pretty cool. I can see that.
Oliver Platt as Apollo? Do these guys know who Apollo is?
As much as I like Sharon Stone and Edie Falco…shouldn’t the goddesses be played by younger actresses? Especially since Artemis was to remain a maiden (I assume that meant forever young, and not just virginal) forever and whatnot?
And oh gods, Oliver Platt for Apollo. I just…I’m not so sure of some of the casting here. How much is it going to deviate from the book?
I agree. I read the book awhile back, but I seem to recall him being a buff airhead, not a stocky middle aged guy.
Charlize Theron would make a more believable Aphrodite.
I love this cast, but ‘Gods Behaving Badly” is redundant since most greek gods did nothing but behave badly.
vniaijeknca on September 4, 2011 I loved reading her story of how her business developed. Her products look absolutely amazing and I love that they are eco-friendly and hand-sewn.
Yay for Nelsan Ellis!
Also, I can’t look at an article that even mentions Christopher Walken without reading it in his voice.
In the book the Gods are seedy, disreputable, out of shape, down on their luck, etc. – far from their perfect godly selves. I think the casting reflects that.
They be down on their luck but I’m pretty sure they are all described as still being very attractive…
I don’t recall them ever being described as out-of-shape (except for Zeus). In fact, they still have a lot of their seductive power, which is why Apollo is able to be such a successful TV psychic.
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I agree with the “wait, aren’t they supposed to be younger?” sentiment.
I didn’t read the book so perhaps I am out of touch, but I would think that if the gods are living as humans they wouldn’t retain some of their so-called divine qualities, such as being ageless. Besides, this cast is amazing. These are all excellent actors and I am looking forward to seeing this. Heck I might even get the book to prepare for the movie.
Fun concept, like an ancient Greek version of The Young Ones. But awful casting other than Walken.
I live right next to the filming caos on Shonnard Terrace in Yonkers–extras needed????????
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