If You Think Dawn Wells Was Excited About a Gilligan's Remake...You'd Be Wrong - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 03-12-2010, 07:34 PM

Development is underway for the big-screen remake of the 1960s sitcom classic ‘Gilligan’s Island.’ But Dawn Wells, aka Mary Ann, tells us she's concerned about what the Tinseltowners of today might do to the American cultural icon of yesteryear.

“(A remake) has been a long time coming ... and I have a little apprehension,” Wells told Fox411. “Hopefully the integrity of the characters and the legacy that we have enjoyed for 47 years will stay. We were the surrogate family to an awful lot of folks. It is very important we don't destroy that.”

And while casting details haven't been announced, Sherwood Schwartz, the show’s original producer, has said he would like to see Michael Cera play Gilligan, and there has been some speculation that William Shatner would make the perfect Skipper.

Wells, however, has her own ideas.

“William Shatner as the Skipper is totally wrong. The Skipper was a genuine, sweet and warm character, and he was larger than life.William Shatner doesn’t fulfill that at all," she said. "But I think Michael Cera would be a very good Gilligan.”

Climb aboard the S.S. Minnow and find out who'd be perfect to portray the castaways in 2010.

Indeed Wells has a lot of emotional investment not just in Mary Ann, but in all of the show's characters.

“The core of the characters, the person they are inside, is much more important than their physical (resemblance) if you’re going to be true to these people. We were caricatures, but we were loved by so many nationalities,” she said.

So if Wells had her way, who would she choose?

“We need to be racially diverse in this film so I think Tyler Perry would be fabulous as the Skipper," she told Fox411. "I would cast Melanie Griffith and Kelsey Grammer as Mr. and Mrs. Howell, and I would cast Eric McCormack as the Professor."

And her best TV buddy Ginger?

“I think the essence of Ginger is really Paris Hilton. But if you are going to be ethnically diverse I would say Beyonce or Jennifer Lopez."

Now to the hardest recast of all - her own.

"Mary Ann is a real tough one, but I think Drew Barrymore could do it beautifully – she has that sweet face. But Mary Ann was strong, she made you clean, she made you cook, she made sure you were fair.”

According to Wells, the most challenging aspect of the casting process will be trying to capture that essence of innocence which she said made the original CBS series a family-friendly staple in the American home.

“I was very much Mary Ann. I was raised with all the principals and ethics, work ethic and study habits that Mary Ann was raised with. That’s my generation. It’s going to be difficult to cast that now,” she said. “Mary Ann was a wonderful role model and there hasn’t been a Mary Ann on television until Miley Cyrus [in 'Hannah Montana'].

"Mary Ann is a good girl. She was a virgin, so casting now is going to be difficult. I don’t know where they are going to go with it, are they going to make it current or retroactive to what we were like? I don’t know what their vision is, I am very anxious to meet the new producers and the writers.”

Wells has a strong vision of her own for the film and would like to see it combine elements of the 1960s and today.

“It should give the morality and the fairness that we had, seven different people with seven different outlooks on life trying to survive together but it is more complex today,” she said. “The characters have to be fuller because they are more experienced, but the naivete of not being able to get off is part of the plan.”

The 71-year-old actress isn’t ruling out a cameo appearance.

“Should they ask and there was something good to do it would be fun, but I’m not counting on it,” Wells said.

Regardless of whether or not the upcoming "Gilligan’s Island" remake is a success or not, Wells will always keep the original memories close to her heart.

“It was a learning experience for me because I was theater trained. I learned about how to look pretty on the camera from Ginger, I learned about comedy timing from the Howells and Gilligan,” she reminisced. “But it is the camaraderie of the cast, the bonding experience. Natalie (Schafer, Mrs. Howell) and Gilligan (Bob Denver) and the Professor (Russell Johnson) and the Skipper (Alan Hale, Jr.), the four of us were all really close. That’s what my fondest memory is.”

Marvo301 · 03-12-2010, 07:48 PM

I don't blame Dawn for being wary about the Remake. The original G.I. is very much her legacy and that of her friends. So in fighting to keep the remake true to the original she is fighting to protect her legacy. She is also fighting that fight on behalf of Natalie Schafer, Jim Backus, Alan Hale Jr., and Bob Denver who are no longer with us. Fight the good fight Dawn!!

Retro4Life · 03-12-2010, 09:15 PM

I don't want to see any more remakes. Period. Let the classics remain pristine in our memories, uncluttered and muddied by these 'make a quick buck' modern versions.

These shows are of a certain time and for the most part, wouldn't work today. The characters are iconic and we associate certain actors/actresses with those roles; no modern thespian can hope to equal their power.

Leave memories as memories. Let's challenge Hollywood to create some NEW iconic characters that will be revisited by today's children when they are older.

And in the name of all that's holy, WRITE SOMETHING ORIGINAL.

Sterling Holobyte · 03-12-2010, 09:45 PM

After seeing the promos for that awful "Gilligan's Island reality show"(I never watched it, the commercials for it were bad enough) they did a few years back, I don't blame her for being concerned.

Sterling Holobyte · 03-12-2010, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Retro4Life

I don't want to see any more remakes. Period.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Retro4Life

And in the name of all that's holy, WRITE SOMETHING ORIGINAL.

treky · 03-13-2010, 01:18 AM

I must say, while I think a movie remake is a bad idea, and guaranteed to end up as awful as they all are ("THE HONEYMOONERS" & "THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES" come PAINFULLY to mind) I agree with her casting choices exept for 1-WILLIAM SHATNER as the skipper????

Oh pleezeee!!!!

catlover79 · 03-13-2010, 01:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by treky

I must say, while I think a movie remake is a bad idea, and guaranteed to end up as awful as they all are ("THE HONEYMOONERS" & "THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES" come PAINFULLY to mind) I agree with her casting choices exept for 1-WILLIAM SHATNER as the skipper????

Oh pleezeee!!!!

WILLIAM SHATNER as the Skipper? Are they kidding??

Marvo301 · 03-13-2010, 01:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

WILLIAM SHATNER as the Skipper? Are they kidding??

If William Shatner plays the Skipper who will play Gilligan? Leonard Nimoy?!?

catlover79 · 03-13-2010, 02:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marvo301

If William Shatner plays the Skipper who will play Gilligan? Leonard Nimoy?!?

Now there's a scary thought! Can you just see Shatner smacking Nimoy upside the head with his hat??

Marvo301 · 03-13-2010, 03:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

Now there's a scary thought! Can you just see Shatner smacking Nimoy upside the head with his hat??

Yes I can! And then Nimoy would turn to Shatner and say "That's highly illogical Skipper".

catlover79 · 03-13-2010, 03:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marvo301

Yes I can! And then Nimoy would turn to Shatner and say "That's highly illogical Skipper".

TV_on_the_Porch · 03-13-2010, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by treky

I agree with her casting choices exept for 1-WILLIAM SHATNER as the skipper????

Oh pleezeee!!!!

That's pretty much what she said. She didn't suggest his name (a pox on the idjit that did), she was just reacting to it.

MickeyMac · 03-13-2010, 02:02 PM

No more remakes

Instead why dont these idioits who run Hollywood actually learn how to make a movie for starters. A movie that is worth watching, and not this garbage they keep dumping on us.

Then again maybe thats why they are doing remakes because no one out there no longer knows how to make a movie anymore.

catlover79 · 03-13-2010, 02:44 PM

^ Not arguing!!

Steve Carras · 03-14-2010, 01:42 AM

To all..

Miley Cyrus early in hanna Montana was a Mary Ann...

Also, to the others, before anyone makes this important correction..DAWS WELLS did NOT say that she tohught of Bill Shanter. of Star trek was her good idea of a skipper..

03-12-2010, 07:34 PM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	If You Think Dawn Wells Was Excited About a Gilligan's Remake...You'd Be Wrong Development is underway for the big-screen remake of the 1960s sitcom classic ‘Gilligan’s Island.’ But Dawn Wells, aka Mary Ann, tells us she's concerned about what the Tinseltowners of today might do to the American cultural icon of yesteryear. “(A remake) has been a long time coming ... and I have a little apprehension,” Wells told Fox411. “Hopefully the integrity of the characters and the legacy that we have enjoyed for 47 years will stay. We were the surrogate family to an awful lot of folks. It is very important we don't destroy that.” And while casting details haven't been announced, Sherwood Schwartz, the show’s original producer, has said he would like to see Michael Cera play Gilligan, and there has been some speculation that William Shatner would make the perfect Skipper. Wells, however, has her own ideas. “William Shatner as the Skipper is totally wrong. The Skipper was a genuine, sweet and warm character, and he was larger than life.William Shatner doesn’t fulfill that at all," she said. "But I think Michael Cera would be a very good Gilligan.” Climb aboard the S.S. Minnow and find out who'd be perfect to portray the castaways in 2010. Indeed Wells has a lot of emotional investment not just in Mary Ann, but in all of the show's characters. “The core of the characters, the person they are inside, is much more important than their physical (resemblance) if you’re going to be true to these people. We were caricatures, but we were loved by so many nationalities,” she said. So if Wells had her way, who would she choose? “We need to be racially diverse in this film so I think Tyler Perry would be fabulous as the Skipper," she told Fox411. "I would cast Melanie Griffith and Kelsey Grammer as Mr. and Mrs. Howell, and I would cast Eric McCormack as the Professor." And her best TV buddy Ginger? “I think the essence of Ginger is really Paris Hilton. But if you are going to be ethnically diverse I would say Beyonce or Jennifer Lopez." Now to the hardest recast of all - her own. "Mary Ann is a real tough one, but I think Drew Barrymore could do it beautifully – she has that sweet face. But Mary Ann was strong, she made you clean, she made you cook, she made sure you were fair.” According to Wells, the most challenging aspect of the casting process will be trying to capture that essence of innocence which she said made the original CBS series a family-friendly staple in the American home. “I was very much Mary Ann. I was raised with all the principals and ethics, work ethic and study habits that Mary Ann was raised with. That’s my generation. It’s going to be difficult to cast that now,” she said. “Mary Ann was a wonderful role model and there hasn’t been a Mary Ann on television until Miley Cyrus [in 'Hannah Montana']. "Mary Ann is a good girl. She was a virgin, so casting now is going to be difficult. I don’t know where they are going to go with it, are they going to make it current or retroactive to what we were like? I don’t know what their vision is, I am very anxious to meet the new producers and the writers.” Wells has a strong vision of her own for the film and would like to see it combine elements of the 1960s and today. “It should give the morality and the fairness that we had, seven different people with seven different outlooks on life trying to survive together but it is more complex today,” she said. “The characters have to be fuller because they are more experienced, but the naivete of not being able to get off is part of the plan.” The 71-year-old actress isn’t ruling out a cameo appearance. “Should they ask and there was something good to do it would be fun, but I’m not counting on it,” Wells said. Regardless of whether or not the upcoming "Gilligan’s Island" remake is a success or not, Wells will always keep the original memories close to her heart. “It was a learning experience for me because I was theater trained. I learned about how to look pretty on the camera from Ginger, I learned about comedy timing from the Howells and Gilligan,” she reminisced. “But it is the camaraderie of the cast, the bonding experience. Natalie (Schafer, Mrs. Howell) and Gilligan (Bob Denver) and the Professor (Russell Johnson) and the Skipper (Alan Hale, Jr.), the four of us were all really close. That’s what my fondest memory is.” Attached Images
	__________________ The Key to the Kingdom of Heaven: John 3:3 *Money Doesn't Buy Happiness...But I'd Rather Cry in My Private Jet*

03-12-2010, 07:48 PM	#2
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,456	I don't blame Dawn for being wary about the Remake. The original G.I. is very much her legacy and that of her friends. So in fighting to keep the remake true to the original she is fighting to protect her legacy. She is also fighting that fight on behalf of Natalie Schafer, Jim Backus, Alan Hale Jr., and Bob Denver who are no longer with us. Fight the good fight Dawn!!
	__________________ Only a life lived for others is worth living. Albert Einstein A life isn't worth living unless it has impact on other lives. Jackie Robinson Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man. Benjamin Franklin

03-12-2010, 09:15 PM	#3
Retro4Life Accept No Substitutes Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 04, 2009 Location: IL Posts: 6,708	I don't want to see any more remakes. Period. Let the classics remain pristine in our memories, uncluttered and muddied by these 'make a quick buck' modern versions. These shows are of a certain time and for the most part, wouldn't work today. The characters are iconic and we associate certain actors/actresses with those roles; no modern thespian can hope to equal their power. Leave memories as memories. Let's challenge Hollywood to create some NEW iconic characters that will be revisited by today's children when they are older. And in the name of all that's holy, WRITE SOMETHING ORIGINAL.
	__________________ Alex Reiger :[Trying to convince Louie not to antagonize Bobby] "It's not hard to make people feel bad about their lives. What's hard is making people feel good about their lives."

03-12-2010, 09:45 PM	#4
Sterling Holobyte Harper House Senior Member Join Date: Nov 07, 2002 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 2,896	After seeing the promos for that awful "Gilligan's Island reality show"(I never watched it, the commercials for it were bad enough) they did a few years back, I don't blame her for being concerned.
	__________________ "Let it go. Forget about it. Try smiling." -Michael Harris WPIV studio producer/shoe salesman/grocery store employee/Ex-sanitarium patient/Stephanie's boyfriend-then husband --------------------------------------------------- My 2nd First Blog:http://saturdaymorningfunnies.wordpress.com/

03-13-2010, 01:18 AM	#6
treky star trek fan Eternal Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 25, 2002 Location: Conshohocken, pennsylvania Posts: 14,490	I must say, while I think a movie remake is a bad idea, and guaranteed to end up as awful as they all are ("THE HONEYMOONERS" & "THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES" come PAINFULLY to mind) I agree with her casting choices exept for 1-*WILLIAM SHATNER* as the skipper???? Oh pleezeee!!!!
	__________________ the Clampetts are in a fancy Beverly Hills jewelry store. Granny points to a tray of rubies. Granny: "How much fer one o' them red diamonds?" clerk: "Madam, those are rubies." Granny: "OK ask her kin we buy one offa her." clerk: " The ruby I am talking about is not a lady." Granny: "Lissen, how she got them diamonds is her business. I'm just sayin' ask her kin we buy one from her."

03-13-2010, 02:02 PM	#13
MickeyMac Member Forum Star Join Date: Jun 18, 2008 Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan Posts: 19,006	No more remakes Instead why dont these idioits who run Hollywood actually learn how to make a movie for starters. A movie that is worth watching, and not this garbage they keep dumping on us. Then again maybe thats why they are doing remakes because no one out there no longer knows how to make a movie anymore.

03-13-2010, 02:44 PM	#14
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	^ Not arguing!!

03-14-2010, 01:42 AM	#15
Steve Carras Sandra Bullock RULES! Forum Regular Join Date: Jun 30, 2002 Location: Riverside County, CA Posts: 807	To all.. Miley Cyrus early in hanna Montana was a Mary Ann... Also, to the others, before anyone makes this important correction..DAWS WELLS did NOT say that she tohught of Bill Shanter. of Star trek was her good idea of a skipper..
	__________________ "And that's showbiz......kid" -Roxie Hart (Renee Zellweger, Chicago, 2002)