Hi everyone! Damianista here. Fan Fun ‘Dream Role for Damian Lewis’ series continues today with a true fan and a good friend. Joyce and I randomly met at Damian’s NY Times Talks in New York back in 2016. Well, it was not really random, was it – given that I was the first and Joyce was the second fan in the line? 😀 It goes without saying that we hit it off immediately and have been in touch since. Joyce wrote about how her first binge brought her Damian Lewis in our earlier “How did you become a fan of Damian Lewis?” project, too! And now she is giving us her dream role(s) for Damian: A Couple of Classics and a Rocker! Huge thanks go to Joyce for her brilliant imagination and story. ENJOY!
I’ll never give up on Damian playing Steve McQueen. Dreaming of a reimagine of two classics.
“The Great Escape” is a fictionalized version of the mass escape by British prisoners of war from a German POW camp. This film has everything going for it: production, direction, screenwriting, cinematography, set decoration and even the music. The cast was full of extraordinary talent. I’m, of course, dreaming of Damian in Steve McQueen’s role. He’ll get the chance to flex his motorcycle skills.
I understand McQueen did all of the chase scenes except for the barbed wire jump. Throughout the entire film you were just on the edge of your seat. Great writing and editing. Not a small task taking on a film that is considered one of the greatest of all time. A reimagining could show mapping out the escape more chilling, the action scenes more intense, and the opportunity for a mind blowing cast. Continuing on a Steve McQueen vibe is the classic disaster movie “The Towering Inferno.”
Fire chief McQueen is calm, cool and courageous working alongside architect Paul Newman’s sophisticated good guy. I can see Damian in the McQueen or Newman role. The story involves a San Francisco skyscraper’s generator that shorts out and small fires begin in the equipment room which spreads to electrical equipment malfunctions, then gas leak explosions and in no time the tower is in a mass of flames. McQueen enters as the chief on duty as a series of daring rescues punctuate the terror of the burning building. This continues to be a thrilling film, mainly because the effects are so realistic, no CGI back then. Image what we could do now! As I’m writing this I’m thinking, should we remake with updated CGI and special effects? Maybe not.
Next comes the rocker in me. Scott Weiland was a musician, singer and songwriter for most notably The Stone Temple Pilots and Velvet Revolver. Sadly, Scott passed away at the young age of 48 due to an accidental overdose. Scott had battled substance abuse compounded by underlying health conditions. Scott is considered to have one of the greatest vocals of all time; versatile, passionate and evolving constantly throughout his career. From glam rock to a crooner. Gifted beyond words. Equally an epic force on stage. You couldn’t take your eyes off of him. Sexy, sinewy and unique dance moves.
I can see Damian nail Scott’s physicality. Envision a film similar to Rami Malik’s perfect portrayal of Freddie Mercury of Queen. A tribute to Scott’s passion for life, a musical genius and a tortured soul. I would guess Damian would need some vocal assistance, as did Rami, for a range that thrived on both hi and low registers.
