Margot Robbie To Play Tonya Harding In New Harding-Kerrigan Film

[KCC]

When I read the title very quickly, I thought it said something about Marco Rubio and Tonya Harding. I really need to slow down.

 

[NinjaTurtles]

Wow, Tonya wasn't ugly. Certainly not Monster-like ugly

I don't mean to say that Tonya is ugly; it's more of a popular term in Hollywood for a conventionally very beautiful actress to diminish her looks in some manner (Theron being a very extreme example), for the sake of being taken more seriously.

Interesting article on the phenomenon: http://www.dailydot.com/opinion/cake-jennifer-aniston-ugly-going-theron/http://www.dailydot.com/opinion/cake-jennifer-aniston-ugly-going-theron/

 

[Yazmeen]

Anne Hathaway would be the perfect Nancy, but I don't think there's a shot in hell she'd do this movie.

 

[orbitz]

Jessica Lange for Tonya's mom. If Shelley Winters was alive she could play Tonya's mom.

Tobey Macguire as Jeff Giloogy.

Sally Fields and Tom Hanks as Nancy's parents.

Channing Tatum and Jonah Hills for two of the goons involved in the attack.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Jessica Lange for Tonya's mom. If Shelley Winters was alive she could play Tonya's mom.

Tobey Macguire as Jeff Giloogy.

Sally Fields and Tom Hanks as Nancy's parents.

Channing Tatum and Jonah Hills for two of the goons involved in the attack.

OMGGG your casting is amaze balls.

Love Lange or Winters for the mom. Funny, Winters shared an apartment with Marilyn Monroe in the late 40s just across the street from me. I walk past it every day and I think of Winters fondly (especially because she played Nana Mary on Roseanne.)

 

[Minou]

I think Robbie's too glamorous and girly to be Tonya. Maybe Ronda Rousey is a better fit.

A couple of months ago, I saw a billboard on 294 (Chitown tristate tollway) and thought, "why is there a billboard of Tonya Harding?" Next time I went by, I looked more closely...some one named Rousey.

 

[Fancypancy]

Give it a brake already. The last thing the world needs is another movie about this that happened yrs ago yuk

 

[skatingfan5]

I hope they don't demonize Harding

From the article linked in the OP:

Rogers wrote his script after doing extensive interviews with both Harding and Gillooly, capturing the absurdity of what happened but also the tragic part of the Harding saga, and trying to come from nothing to prominence in a sport where most of the competitors are the children of wealthy families that can afford all the ice time and trainers needed to get to that high a level.

From that, I would think it would not "demonize" Tonya. I do wonder how they will portray Nancy, since it seems that the screen writer interview Tonya and Jeff, but there is no mention of anyone else. Nancy was certainly not among the "most competitors who are children of wealthy families," though her family situation was much, much better than Tonya's. But since the title is "I, Tonya" I wouldn't expect Kerrigan to be more than a peripheral character in it.

 

[princeton123]

There's a pretty fascinating larger story beyond the 'whack' - elitism and classism in figure skating, stereotypical gender roles and feminism in the 90s, the expectations of women in sport, etc. I think it could be pretty interesting if they did it right.

 

[Jot the Dot Dot]

You know where all the skaters are practicing in the rink before the actual programs? Be fun for them to slip in a cameo of Dan Hollander in drag, and see how many skating aficionados notice!

 

[Xela M]

If the film is a success it could raise skating popularity in NA again

 

[just wondering]

Courtney Hicks for the on ice skating work. Who else can jump like Harding?

 

[danibellerika]

If the film is a success it could raise skating popularity in NA again

This movie will single handedly make figure skating in America Great Again.

 

[Xela M]

This movie will single handedly make figure skating in America Great Again.

Donald Trump, is that you?

 

[danibellerika]

Donald Trump, is that you?

I couldn't resist lol. Let's just be glad he's not a force in the sport. He can keep Miss Universe.

 

[aftershocks]

Some of these actresses are fairly tall and would not fit the part in that case, especially if Courtney Hicks does the actual on-ice skating for the Tonya character. Height difference makes a difference in figure skating.

It is kinda weird to keep playing this story and making such a friggin' big deal (mythic proportions) of something that is not really indicative of what figure skating is truly about, nor indicative of the actual real problems that exist in the sport. Yet, of course a huge scandal involving a supposed cat-fight between female skaters complete with goons, child abuse wrought by a stage Mom from Hell, and an abusive manipulative husband turned thug, is the kind of thing that gets ratings and attention in our culture. A lot of cultural and psychological tropes/ triggers are involved.

But the actual talent of Tonya, Kristi, Nancy, Midori, et al, at that time is the real story. Unheard of for 3 American ladies to sweep Worlds in 1991. Never happened before and is unlikely to ever happen again. It happened that time mainly due to Midori falling into the boards during the sp, which made it harder for her to come back and medal with her fp (she came in 4th that year I believe). It was amazing that Midori came back at all. But she was a tough lady. She even bounded up and completed her sp, after falling against the boards and out of the rink. Now that's amazing!

Anyway Shizuka Arawaka winning the Olympics in 2006 to me felt like Midori's Revenge, as does all the amazing Japanese ladies' talent which shows no signs of diminishing. Wowza Marin Honda and Wakaba Higuchi who look to be even greater (especially technically) than Satoko Miyahara.

 

[casken]

There's a pretty fascinating larger story beyond the 'whack' - elitism and classism in figure skating, stereotypical gender roles and feminism in the 90s, the expectations of women in sport, etc. I think it could be pretty interesting if they did it right.

I'm kind of thinking (HOPING?) it will be the Figure Skating version of "Black Swan."

 

[MR-FAN]

Courtney Hicks for the on ice skating work. Who else can jump like Harding?

Osmond

She's even got the air tilt

 

[gkelly]

Unheard of for 3 American ladies to sweep Worlds in 1991. Never happened before and is unlikely to ever happen again. It happened that time mainly due to Midori falling into the boards during the sp, which made it harder for her to come back and medal with her fp (she came in 4th that year I believe).

Actually Ito was 3rd in the short program (despite falling out of the rink) and 4th in the freeskate.

So it wasn't a question of "coming back" for a medal -- more that injuries/soreness from that fall and/or the collision with Hubert in the SP warmup made it harder for her to hold on for a medal in the freeskate.

 

[IceAlisa]

This movie will single handedly make figure skating in America Great Again.

I will to that!

 

[aftershocks]

I'm kind of thinking (HOPING?) it will be the Figure Skating version of "Black Swan."

OMG, no! Black Swan the movie sucked big time! The whole story line and concept of the movie was off, not to mention the effort to sell the sloppy special effects overwrought Hollywood horror melodrama by giving the deceptive impression that Natalie Portman did all of the ballet work. Portman did work with a former ballerina turned exercise fitness expert, and so Portman was in great shape and she had a ballerina's body, but it was not Portman doing most of the dancing (only closeups above the waist), but not lower body closeups or long shots. The climactic end of the movie was particularly ridiculous. The Turning Point was cheesy, but that was a better movie about ballet, as was Center Stage (which Ilia Kulik had a role in; and appearing in a starring role was the great danseur noble, Ethan Stiefel).

What I'd like to see is a movie entitled, Almost Girl, about Ashley Wagner being the third wheel in juniors to Zhang and Nagasu, missing out on the 2010 Olympics and then storming back through her own self-assessment, grit, determination, and help from Nicks and Mills, to rise to top of U.S. ladies figure skating! Most especially featuring Ashley's breakthrough Black Swan program! Ashley's unexpected unpredictable rise happened at a time when U.S. ladies stars were needed. Also, the subsequent roller coaster battle with Gracie Gold for top diva (each of them pushing the other to become their best and both trying with heartbreaking ups-and-downs to prevail over the Russian and Japanese skaters who now dominate ladies figure skating). Well, that's what I call a whopping realistic story line that if done right could be truthful, dramatic, informative, moving, and sell tickets.

 

[screech]

Margot can handle drama. I mean, her big break was on an Aussie soap opera called Neighbours (which I used to watch religiously). Plus she also did the show Pan Am.

I think this is a way to stretch her acting chops. Makeup can do a lot for a person, and whether it turns out Lifetime-y or really freaking amazing, I think it's pretty great that she's going for it. Plus, there have already been a few articles about it on Entertainment Weekly's website, even speculation over who could play Nancy, so there's definitely interest.

Will Ferrell and Jon Heder should make cameos.

What's too bad is that most of the actresses, like Hathaway, who would be amazing for the part are a bit too old and/or tall.

 

[Allskate]

I'll be skipping this. Blech.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

OMG, no! Black Swan the movie sucked big time! The whole story line and concept of the movie was off, not to mention the effort to sell the sloppy special effects overwrought Hollywood horror melodrama by giving the deceptive impression that Natalie Portman did all of the ballet work. Portman did work with a former ballerina turned exercise fitness expert, and so Portman was in great shape and she had a ballerina's body, but it was not Portman doing most of the dancing (only closeups above the waist), but not lower body closeups or long shots. The climactic end of the movie was particularly ridiculous. The Turning Point was cheesy, but that was a better movie about ballet, as was Center Stage (which Ilia Kulik had a role in; and appearing in a starring role was the great danseur noble, Ethan Stiefel).

What I'd like to see is a movie entitled, Almost Girl, about Ashley Wagner being the third wheel in juniors to Zhang and Nagasu, missing out on the 2010 Olympics and then storming back through her own self-assessment, grit, determination, and help from Nicks and Mills, to rise to top of U.S. ladies figure skating! Most especially featuring Ashley's breakthrough Black Swan program! Ashley's unexpected unpredictable rise happened at a time when U.S. ladies stars were needed. Also, the subsequent roller coaster battle with Gracie Gold for top diva (each of them pushing the other to become their best and both trying with heartbreaking ups-and-downs to prevail over the Russian and Japanese skaters who now dominate ladies figure skating). Well, that's what I call a whopping realistic story line that if done right could be truthful, dramatic, informative, moving, and sell tickets.

OMG, shocks, wash your mouth out. lol. I LOVE ME SOME BLACK SWAN!!! And Barbara hershey???? DELICIOUS!!!!! LOVE HER!

Id like to see a figure skating movie go the MAX AARON route and use a male finally. A hockey player who also has an artistic side and is trying to discover it through figure skating. And all the obstacles, challenges and triumphs along the way. Some we may be familiar with and some we may not. Topics could be anything from bullying, to sexuality (has a girlfriend but maybe also fancies a fellow hockey player), to self discoverence and acceptance, to breaking stereotypes to balancing both hockey and skating. Possibilities are endless when you think about it.

 

[manhn]

Anna Kendrick as Nancy. Book it.

I can certainly see a well made film about this piece of history. I am sure it'll be better than Foxcatcher. Gawd, was that movie boring.

 

[aftershocks]

^^ Good pick for Anna Kendrick as Nancy Kerrigan (especially since Kendrick seemingly is not too tall).

OMG, shocks, wash your mouth out. lol. I LOVE ME SOME BLACK SWAN!!! And Barbara hershey???? DELICIOUS!!!!! LOVE HER!

You must mean "wash my eyes out," after sitting through some of the OTT crap, especially the poorly done special effects beyond belief toward the end. I love Barbara Hershey too, a lot! But I almost forgot she was even in the film, playing Portman's mom. Thanks for the reminder. Hershey was wonderful as usual. Portman was good, but I'm not a great fan of Portman's acting. She does have a lengthy and interesting resume with some good reliable work, but she doesn't have great range. I wouldn't have voted for Portman to win the Oscar for her role in Black Swan. One of Portman's better films is Where the Heart Is (2000) with Ashley Judd and Stockard Channing. Swell for Portman winning an Oscar, a ballet body, a husband + baby -- all connected to starring in Black Swan.

I love ballet, and I think Black Swan is just an overdone, OTT, ill-conceived Hollywood contraption. Kitschy, over-dramatic, superficial nonsense. But what the hey. That kind of stuff does sell tickets and it wins some awards too. The music was pretty good, and some of the design of the film, but I thought the director (Darren Aronovsky) was off-base, and he ended up wrecking a movie that might have been middling okay to very good in better hands.

 

[IceAlisa]

Don't forget how profound awfulness that was Portman's dancing. Luckily there wasn't much of it. Should have stuck to that uncredited ballet dancer double all the way.

I can't stand that movie. I think that Oscar was for the body of work.

 

[Daena]

I thought "Attack Of The 5-ft 2 Women" totally closed this theme.
Nothing can describe this absurd situation better than absurd comedy.

 

[my little pony]

i'd be all in for a black comedy but harding's involvement makes me suspect one sided lifetime movie

i guess tonya will finally make money off the whack

 

[Nomad]

Just curious - how would Tonya profit by this? Do the producers need to pay her something in order to film this?