02/14/2006
Heath Ledger as Rock Hudson?
Unverified rumors are circulating that Heath Ledger is being sought out for the role of Rock Hudson in a new film about the closeted actor who died of AIDS in 1985. Several news outlets report that "sources" say, "After playing a straight man who has a gay relationship, Heath Ledger will do a 180 and play a gay man who has a straight relationship."
Ledger has reportedly signed on to the new thriller Nautica, and may be teaming up with Jake Gyllenhaal once again if casting directors have their way.
Posted 9:56 AM EST by Andy Towle in Film & TV | Permalink
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Aside from the fact that Ledger's facial features are extremely different from Hudson's, and we prefer at least some resemblance in dramatizations, I wish him success in every part he chooses to take. BUT, whether the rumor of his being sought for the role is true or untrue, the characterizations in the piece are willfully ignorant to the point of retardation. "Hudson... reportedly had gay relationships throughout his career. He died of an AIDS- related illness in 1985." No shit, Sherlock, and I hear he was actually straight and Haitian. "After playing a straight man who has a gay relationship, Heath Ledger ...." Fuck me, Rhonda, what movie did that "source" see? Or is he, too, a graduate of the Jake Gyllenhaal School of Cluelessness? Ennis was no more straight than the curve in the road his parents missed and ended up dying near.
Posted by: Leland | Feb 14, 2006 10:30:18 AM
Heath playing Rock would be like that crummy TV thing with Andrea MacArdle as Judy Garland.
Posted by: Jacko | Feb 14, 2006 11:10:46 AM
Heath as Rock Hudson? Cant be. Why? Just because he can kiss another guy and not worry? I dont think he'd look the part. Brad Pitt's looking for a plum gay role. How about this one then? If you want someone who'd look a little like Ms.Hudson, how about a clean shaven Chris Evans? Dontcha think? Maybe my eyes are a bit blurry.
Posted by: FENDIE | Feb 14, 2006 11:43:02 AM
whoa big nipples...
Posted by: matt | Feb 14, 2006 12:09:07 PM
NO!!!! for so many reasons.
Heath looks nothing like rock hudson
With the supposed slue of gay themed movies going to be produced by hollywood now....maybe they should utilize gay actors
Posted by: Jimmyboyo | Feb 14, 2006 1:25:02 PM
One word: Tom Cruise as Rock.
Posted by: max | Feb 14, 2006 1:26:02 PM
Oh, enough with the crap about the demand to cast gay actors to play gay characters! Let's see, whom do we have? Alex Mapa? Hmmm, even if he weren't a nelly queen he's too short, in more ways than one probably. Ian McKellen? Maybe Rock on his death bed. Nathan Lane? No, too butch. Alan Cumming? Ditto. Sean Hayes? Ooops, not out. Rupert? Not aging well, and wrong kind of charm. Richard Chamberlain? Only 30-years too late. Tab Hunter? Ditto. George Takei? Something tells me No. Dirk Bogarde. Ooops, dead. Gee, there must be dozens I'm forgetting. But, in the meantime, how about just casting GOOD actors to play whomever and remove this nonsense from The Party Line?
Posted by: Leland | Feb 14, 2006 1:53:28 PM
leland agrre with yur 4th post not 1st....heath was indeed str8 guy that was involved a gay relationship
Posted by: yur nightmare | Feb 14, 2006 2:29:54 PM
Thanks, Yur, but, with all due respect, yer wrong. "Bi" maybe but no way straight. He was free never to hook up with Jack the first or fiftieth time. He was in Wyoming not prison. Similar, but not quite the same.
Posted by: Leland | Feb 14, 2006 3:16:12 PM
funny how all (towle)roads seem to lead to brokeback at this site.
funnier still how panties get bunched for the oddest posts. such excitement over casting of hudson... i'm just as interested in who the director will be. could be the difference bewteen ang lee & spike lee.
and tom cruise? please. that's the difference between 'as' and 'is' rock hudson.
guess we're between a rock and a hard place.
Posted by: basis4insanity | Feb 14, 2006 3:43:52 PM
Ooodles and ooodles of bunched panties, typically fights over issues of opinion rather than fact. Basis, good point on director. s/he will likely have much more impact on how RH's story is presented. In any event, I'm not certain I really care about seeing a movie version of his life. I suspect it will only distort and cheapen.
Posted by: jon | Feb 14, 2006 6:10:38 PM
Do you guys believe for one moment that Rock Hudson's character will be shown/revealed as "gay" in the movie?
Gimme a break.
Posted by: Gilli | Feb 14, 2006 11:37:04 PM
>>the role of Rock Hudson
Charlie O'Connell would be an interesting choice. Jared Padalecki could do it. So could Matthew Fox, Jared Leto or Dean Cain. Josh Hartnett would be my choice.
Posted by: Jay Croce | Feb 15, 2006 12:06:10 AM
>>Do you guys believe for one moment...
Gilli, are you kidding? More people remember him for being Gay, than can name one of his films.
He's the poster boy for Gay Hollywood.
Posted by: Jay Croce | Feb 15, 2006 12:08:46 AM
Yes.
That's true, that's how he'll be reMEMbered.
But as a movie? The whole ol' Hollywood establishment = a movie letting on about The Rock's gay side?
Compared to ol' Annie Proulx writing a story from her head about a couple of nobodys in the middle of outback Wyoming?
It's not impossible, Jay, but I'll believe it when I see it. Same goes for that Psycho guy Tony Perkins. I'd like to see a movie about him, but I'll believe the exposé when I see it.
Posted by: Gilli | Feb 15, 2006 2:50:37 AM
>>I'll believe the exposé when I see it.
Been there, done that darlin'. Several times already.
Rock Hudson's Home Movies (1992) Documentary about the career and eventual death from AIDS of actor Rock Hudson. Film clips from more than 30 Hudson films illustrate ways in which his sexual orientation played out on screen.
Rock Hudson: Acting the Part (1999)"A&E Biography: Rock Hudson - Acting the Part"
Rock Hudson (1990) (TV) Plot Summary: Biography of actor Rock Hudson focuses on his struggle with his homosexuality. Based on the book by his ex-wife.
Posted by: Jay Croce | Feb 15, 2006 3:28:58 AM
After playing a straight man who has a gay relationship"
Like there's any such thing, outside of a prison circumstance. How ridiculous to even print such a thing on a gay site. Not to mention Annie Proulx and the screen-writers both confirm that the characters were closeted GAYS.
I'd like to see Heath do another gay role, but not this. Not another 60s closet-case. And Hudson was self-hating right up to the end, he doesn't need to be glorified. Like he ever would've been so famous without that face and body. And as far as that goes, his beauty far exceeded Heath's, i don't see how he'd make a convincing Rock anyway. The next big gay movie needs to have just as strong of a pro-gay message, but this time with a happy ending.
And what's this about trying to get Jake and Heath back together, for the Hudson movie, as Rock's lover? That's never going to happen, Jake can't even handle Brokeback being thought of as a gay movie. Jake will never do another gay role in his life, especially one co-starring with Heath. Jake is not that gay-friendly, he only did the movie to enhance his acting reputation. Sorry Gyllenhaalics, might as well grow up and start dealing with the truth.
Posted by: Me | Feb 15, 2006 1:30:34 PM
Please, ME, how do you know Jake is not pro gay or that he wouldn't do another gay movie? Have you actually talked to him about it? My guess is no.
I think his comments have been very unfairly maligned. He made some excellent points on Oprah about not labeling people. And he has made many other supportive comments about the beauty of the film and how proud he is of it. Of course people aren't paying attention to that. No, they would rather say he is anti gay or whatever negative twist they can give to his words.
I am so annoyed with it already. And I am even more annoyed that the press keep asking the same bullshit questions about Jake's sexuality and what the sex scenes were like, etc.
He was one of the few actors willing to do this movie so I do give him credit for that. He is on our side and shouldn't be made out to be some enemy just because he doesn't say the exact things you want him to. There are real enemies out there that do need to be taken to task, like the current administration in the White House.
Btw, I am an adult and not a Gyllenhaalic. I am dealing in the truth, not trying to find some anti gay motives in Jake's comments.
Also, you may want to read more carefully because the movie that Jake and Heath would be collaborating on is not the Rock Hudson flick, but another movie Nautica.
However, I do agree that Heath is not right to play Rock Hudson. He looks nothing like him and just because he played in BBM does not mean he should or could play RH.
Posted by: NYCer | Feb 15, 2006 9:55:26 PM
NYCER makes such a good point. Nobody is hounding Jake to know when he'll play a Marine again. Nobody thinks he still sees that rabbit from Donnie Darko. I haven't heard a single person ask about his immune system, or if he still lives in that damn bubble.
For Mohammed's sake people, it's acting. Stop confusing the actor with the character he plays.
Posted by: Jay Croce | Feb 16, 2006 6:21:49 AM
I couldn't agree more with Jay. And LOL by the way. Maybe he does still see the rabbit... Anyway, Jake seems completely open and honest to me in the interviews I've seen. He is so supportive of the movie and the gay theme of the movie - heck he made the movie when there were many naysayers didn't he?! Seems ridiculous to say he is anti-gay.
And PULEASE. Ennis is gay as gay is gay. I believe your sexuality ultimately lies in your heart at the end of the day. He fell head over heels in love with Jack - and was barely interested in women at all. However, I don't think he would have acted on his sexuality if he hadn't met Jack. It poses an interesting question...
Posted by: Tina | Feb 16, 2006 1:07:44 PM