Raise your hand if you read On the Road when you were a teenager, and it was, like, your favorite book of all time (right after you got over The Catcher in the Rye). Yeah, me too. I read Jack Kerouac‘s Beat Generation classic on my bunk bed at summer camp, and I’m pretty sure I listed the “burn, burn, burn like fabulous yellow roman candles” quote as my favorite in more than one yearbook.
I suspect that die-hard Kerouac fans will have mixed feelings about the following news:
On the Road adaptations have been rumored for years, but now it’s really going to happen. Walter Salles, best known for The Motorcycle Diaries, will direct the film. Garrett Hedlund (Four Brothers, Eragon) will play Dean Moriarty, the free spirited friend of narrator Sal Paradise. Kristen Stewart of Twilight fame will play Mary Lou. The movie should be out in 2011.
What do you think—are you excited about this news, or is On the Road one of those untouchable books that shouldn’t be adapted at all? Who do you see as Sal? I’ll admit that I’m skeptical. . . although I’m eager to learn more about the casting and the direction of the screenplay.
NAY!!! This is one of those books that should NOT be adapted. I do not think its even possible to truly relate it on film. It is far more than just a road trip novel. In my opinion, Kerouac would have been opposed. And, no, sorry, but Bella as Mary Lou? good grief.
Bella won’t playing her…Kristen Stewart will. Don’t be such a f-ing snob.
Love Kerouac, even though On the Road may be my least favorite work of his if I’m being honest. Prefer his poems actually.
And Kristen Stewart was tapped to play Mary Lou over two years ago-Salles handed her the part outright after seeing her turn in INto the Wild. This happened before Twilight even had it’s premiere.
Coppola is still involved as a producer, Salles is a good choice( a GREAT choice given the fact the previous director was joel schumacher of Batman 4 infamy). Garrett is an interesting choice for Dean, he has a swagger to back of up that pretty face of his. Sam Riley is harder to judge-he was great in Control but that’s all I’ve seen of his work.
And as for “Bella”-please, if you’ve read the book you know the part isn’t that substantial anyways. Saw Kristen in Welcome to the Riley’s at Sundance–the girl can act. maybe not in twilight…lol…but trust, the girl can act.