Good Times coming to the big screen! Movie has yet to be cast.

That should be interesting. Any word on who is the cast?

:dance: I'm SOOOO Excited

I would love to see that movie when it comes out.

Looks like the greenlight is on for the Tim Story-directed big-screen movie adaptation of the 1970's sitcom "Good Times". (Tim Story directed Barbershop) And every African-American actor seems to be salivating to work on this film that is looking to be a real hoot. As I type this, Cedric The Entertainer is inking to play Bookman. Every Wayans brother and sister wants a part of this. Angela Bassett (believe it or not) is in talk for the Esther Rolle role ("DAMN! DAMN! DAMN!"). And who has expressed fervent interest in playing the part of sexy, nosey, single neighbor Willona? None other than.. Janet Jackson (the former Penny)! The film is also supposed to have tons of cameos from A-list Black actors playing colorful hoodrats from the projects... Halle Berry, Sam Jackson, etc. And speaking of ghetto hoodrats, Whitney Houston is being courted to sing the theme song ("just looking out of the window / Watching my Afro grow")... how serendipitous is that?

where did you hear this fantastic news!!!
i can't believe this! who will play james evans - that's the character that is going to make or break this endeavor.

i personally think they should cast nobodies and rely on the a-list cameos. let's bring some new African-American talent to Hollywood and since no one knows them, people won't be bogged down with comparing their favorite celebrities to the characters. Like if Taye Diggs or someone else horrible gets the part of JJ. I won't be able to watch it b/c I know it's him and I hate him.

CAN"T WAIT for this to be finalized!

Thanks for the update. :D

"Good Times" TV Series to Become "Good Times" the Movie
From Rebecca Murray,

Oct 20 2004

Classic 70s Comedy Gets Ready for the Big Screen
It seems every other TV series from the 1970s that might even remotely be suitable fodder for a movie has already been done, or there's a project currently in the works. Now one more series has been snatched up - "Good Times."
Creative Production Group won a battle for the film rights to "Good Times," a Norman Lear sitcom that ran from 1974 through 1979. The series starred Esther Rolle, John Amos, Ja'net DuBois, and made a star of the ultra-skinny Jimmie Walker.

There's no word yet on the cast or when production may start. CPG's Rodney Omanoff and Graham Kaye will produce the film.

SOURCE: Variety

I just hope they do it justice and plan it well. There's nothing worse than a badly rehashed classic show.

I also agree that casting big names in Hollywood should be kept to a minimum, to keep it more real.

I think Lorretta Devine or Anne Marie Horsford should be Florida

I think Jennifer Lewis (Strong Medicine) would be better as Willona than Janet Jackson.

I hate how unoriginal Hollywood is and how they're making all of these friggin sitcoms into movies...

They better not mess this movie up!

Janet Jackson as Willona...:rolleyes:

without the right cast it will flop. let's put our own cast list of who we want.

I think that Kenan Thompson would kinda be better suited for Bookman but Kenan is already playing Fat Albert in the Fat Albert Movie (judging from the trailer it looks terrible!) so if Kenan were to play Bookman I think it would be repetitive him playing two fat 70s sitcom people roles. :crazy:

Janet Jackson is the last woman I'd choose to play Willona!!!

:rolleyes: I think it would be a bit annoying if the Wayans family got into this...

If they do it'll probably just be Shawn & Marlon again. :rolleyes:

I really hope that they don't screw this up....

Is it going to be an updated version, or will it be a 70's style movie?

I agree that Kenan Thompson would be great as Bookman.

Loretta Devine or Anna Marie Horsford, would be great as Florida, not Angela Bassett. If Angela was in the movie I would think Tina Turner was Florida.

The biggest casting I think will be the parts of James and J.J.

Sorry but Janet Jackson cannot act, and for crying out loud NO WAYANS PLEASE! Also no Beyonce as Thelma, because you know who that is going to be.

I aree.

I think that Loretta Devine would be perfect for Florida! :)

And isn't Angela Bassett skinny? How could she play Florida?! :mad:

I think its great and with the right people

I think it could be really good

I think Janet Du bois can repraise her part :p

no one else can do it but her

its hard to say who is going to fill out the rest of this cast

your talking about following in the steps of some great actors

(excluding Jimmy Walker I read his website and though he talks bad about the show I find it funny that he is using the catch phrase that made him who is today on the website, he has many issues. I don't know maybe he can get help before the movie starts filming and be a part of it, even though i don't see that happening)

I think Marlon wayons is the only one that can really do a good job with playing JJ

so I will wait and see who they have in the running and say yes or no if the actors they pick are good for the part.

if they put Beyonce in the Movie I will protest and not see the film. she needs not to be a part of this, she knows nothing about being poor

Trishalla, I agree with you regarding Beyonce, but I can almost bet anything that this is who they are going to get to play Thelma, either her or her sister.

I also agree that Janet Du Bois, is still young enough to reprise her role as Willona.

No one has said who would play James. Now in my opinion that will be the hardest casting. I thing John Amos would be perfect to play James again. But I also think Lawrence Hilton Jacobs would do a fabulous job too.

Any casting details yet?

Maybe it's me, but I think that re-doing "Good Times" as a movie is an extremely BAD idea, if for no other reason than the other tv-to-movie adaptions that have been made in the last decade or so. Most of you have every right to fear the bone-headed casting decisions that will be made regarding this film, as this will effectively destroy the ambiance of the original show (remember the "Sgt. Bilko" movie? Or "Mc Hale's Navy"? Or "Rocky and Bullwinkle"? Me neither.)

On the real tip, "Good Times" deserves better than this. It was the first situation comedy to center around an African-American family, and the last thing a trail-blazing show such as this needs is yet another crappy film adaption staining its proud heritage. Remember, a few years back someone wanted to make a feature-film version of "Sanford and Son", starring Samuel L. Jackson as Fred and Chris Rock as Lamont, and Chris Rock flat-out refused to do it, stating that S&S was Redd Foxx's legacy to the world.

I feel the same way about "Good Times".

to chris rock.

Originally posted by W.J. Griffin
Maybe it's me, but I think that re-doing "Good Times" as a movie is an extremely BAD idea, if for no other reason than the other tv-to-movie adaptions that have been made in the last decade or so. Most of you have every right to fear the bone-headed casting decisions that will be made regarding this film, as this will effectively destroy the ambiance of the original show (remember the "Sgt. Bilko" movie? Or "Mc Hale's Navy"? Or "Rocky and Bullwinkle"? Me neither.)

On the real tip, "Good Times" deserves better than this. It was the first situation comedy to center around an African-American family, and the last thing a trail-blazing show such as this needs is yet another crappy film adaption staining its proud heritage. Remember, a few years back someone wanted to make a feature-film version of "Sanford and Son", starring Samuel L. Jackson as Fred and Chris Rock as Lamont, and Chris Rock flat-out refused to do it, stating that S&S was Redd Foxx's legacy to the world.

I feel the same way about "Good Times".




I totally agree this is a BAD IDEA. Mainly because some people is going to have a problem with it no matter who star in it.IMO Unlike the Brady Bunch movie that was riped to be made fun of. We all know that you can't do that with GT make it too slapstick like the Brady's some people will have a fit , play it straight other people will want it to be a 70's nostalgia. Hollywood just need to come up with some original ideas and stop watching TVLAND.

What about Danny Glover for James?

danny glover is an interesting choice but he's getting a little up there in age and it is definitely starting to show. in his prime (lethal weapon) he would've been perfect. he's passionate too.

he would be acceptable.

I don't think well get good cast, because the director isn't good for this movie. one more thing, who's going to sing the theme song. I heard it'll be Whitney Houston.

whitney houston is correct.

but if anyone has heard her voice lately...they would be wise to rethink this.

Who Will Play james evans sr

Sam L Jackson

in watching season two and three the other night, I thought that he would be the right choice and he can sound alot like john amos

James Evans, Sr. (THE key to the whole movie) - Dennis Haysbert
Florida Evans - Yvette Wilson (Andell from "Moesha")
James Evans, Jr. - Flex Alexander (the choices are thin)
Thelma Evans - Karimah Westbrook (did you see her in Badassss? Good guggamugga!)
Michael Evans - Marcus T. Paulk (Myles from "Moesha") or Aaron Meeks ("Ahmad from the Soul Food series)
Wilona Woods - Tyra Ferrell (Ricky and Doughboy's mother from "Boyz in the Hood"; an underrated actress, I always thought).
Nathan Bookman - Anthony Anderson or Cedric the Entertainer.

However, I agree with most of the above posters; a cast of relative unknowns would allow us to focus on the content of the movie, rather than on how well each actor/actress resembles the original characters. We cannot forget that most actors are just not convincing enough to play more than one memorable role; once we see them as "Characacter A"; we tend to see them as that character forever, partucularly if they were convincing. That's why we wouldn't see the bufoonish Wayans brothers as JJ and Michael Evans; we'd see them as the the bufoonish Wayans brothers playing yet another role.

So if the producers are reading, find the best of the unkowns and use them for the major roles, then fill cameos with your stars and celebs in order to get the mass appeal.

Or Cory Tyler ("Terrance" from A Different World) as "The Ebony Prince". He's thin enough and has that comical look for sure don't know if he's tall enough or not...

How about Will Smith as JJ? Dyno-Mite!