Joaquin Phoenix as Johnny Cash; Jennifer Lopez as Selena; Jamie Foxx as Ray Charles; Selma Hayek as Frida Kahlo. All iconic biopic performances – and more or less a sure-fire way to a best actor/actress nomination.
With this in mind, we tentatively are incredibly hyped about Renée Zellweger as Judy Garland. Here’s a picture.
#JUDY starts principal photography in London today, starring Academy Award winner, Renée Zellweger as Judy Garland!#judygarland #reneezellweger #london #thetalkofthetown #jessiebuckley #finnwittrock #michaelgambon #rupertgoold #pathe #calamityfilms #bbcfilms #ingenious pic.twitter.com/VJAnMRuzKV
— Judy (@JudyGarlandFilm) March 19, 2018
Fuck. Here’s a reference point – it’s pretty remarkable.
Renée Zellweger is playing Judy Garland in a new movie about the icon’s final concerts in London — get ready for the Renéessance!!! pic.twitter.com/EqmbCpnTRm
— Jarett Wieselman (@JarettSays) March 19, 2018
The picture is the first still that’s been released from Judy, which, would you believe it, is the first big-screen biopic about the legend. The picture of Zellweger was posted to Twitter by the film’s official account, announcing that principal photography has began.
A BBC Films production, Judy is directed Rupert Goold, a respected name in British theatre. It’s set in 1968, one year before Garland’s death, focusing on the lead-up to a sold-out show at the Talk Of The Town, a nightclub in London.
The film’s a big deal for a few reasons: Renée Zellweger is a god-damn treasure, for one, and this could mark a renaissance the likes of Laura Dern, 2017. Secondly, Judy Garland is a gay icon with a ridiculously rich history, one ripe for the melodrama of a biopic.
This is all to say that The Gays (myself included) are not coping:
https://twitter.com/prasejeebus/status/975754886687133697
Please cancel all news today that isn’t about this photo of Renée Zellweger as Judy Garland. pic.twitter.com/J57gIVyZCL
— Sam (@mcsammer) March 19, 2018
https://twitter.com/ColeEscola/status/975788317475266561
I genuinely hope that Renée Zellweger as Judy Garland grants her the comeback she deserves. pic.twitter.com/kYSsvxhTEc
— Erik Anderson (@awards_watch) March 19, 2018
Not everyone is completely sold though. Some people are citing Me and My Shadows, a four-hour TV biopic where Judy Davis played Garland, as untouchable.
I don’t dislike Renée Z. but come on, Judy Davis gave the definitive Judy Garland performance. That’s that on that. https://t.co/MljqDPjAV1
— Kat Chen | 陈燕情 (@chenyanqing) March 19, 2018
Probably the best take we found was film critic Laurence Barber’s suggestion that “literally every working actress should take a crack at playing Judy Garland” ala I’m Not There, the Bob Dylan biopic starring seven actors (including Cate Blanchett) as splintered mythologies surrounding the musician. We’re going to suggest the cast of Ocean’s Eight.
I don’t know if this is a hot take but literally every working actress should take a crack at playing Judy Garland I’M NOT THERE-style.
— Laurence Barber (@laurencesmb) March 19, 2018
Judy is slated for release over the rainbow later this year.
Source: The AV Club
Image credit: JB Lacroix/ Getty Images
