Christopher Walken Joins Clint Eastwood’s Jersey Boys Musical

Casting News, News, Projects

Clint Eastwood, who at one point had been developing a new adaptation of A Star is Born for Beyonce, is now turning his attention to bringing the hit Tony Award-winning musical Jersey Boys to the big screen. The Warner Bros and GK Films adaptation has lined up its first star: Christopher Walken.

According to Deadline, Walken will play the role of Angelo “Gyp” DeCarlo, the Jersey mobster who, in the show, served an unofficial consigliere role to the young singers as they tried to build their careers without falling into the grip of organized crime.

With more than $1 billion in earnings Jersey Boys will look to garner the same success and esteem as Les Miserables did for Universal last year.

It has been said that Eastwood will avoid casting major stars and will instead make his selections from the various casts that have comprised the many incarnations of the musical. So far that includes the likes of Vincent Piazza, John Lloyd Young, Erich Bergen, and Michael Lomenda.

Walken will surely be the first of a few notable names that get added in supporting roles.


The Pulse: I like the idea of Eastwood going we professionals who are well-versed with the material already, as opposed to getting big name talent. Though, I fear that Jersey Boys may encounter the same issue that plagued the big screen musical of The Producers. A very successful Broadway musical that doesn’t exude the same liveliness in film form.

We shall see.

Travis Leamons is one of the Inside Pulse Originals and currently holds the position of Managing Editor at Inside Pulse Movies. He's told that the position is his until he's dead or if "The Boss" can find somebody better. I expect the best and I give the best. Here's the beer. Here's the entertainment. Now have fun. That's an order!