Blonds tells fewer blog jokes, it’s a fact, so maybe director Sam Raimi is onto something by casting actress Alison Lohman (Beowulf, Flicka) in the lead role formerly occupied by Ellen Page (Juno) in his upcoming horror thriller Drag Me to Hell.
Oscar nominee Page aborted the project days ago amid rumors that she was unhappy with the script by Raimi and his brother Ivan Raimi. There was also the trusty rumor that Page forever hisses at her agent anytime she hears the words “how about a horror movie, Ellen” post-Academy Awards. As our pub brothers at FirstShowing have pointed out, Variety reported on Sunday that the real reason might have been, yep, “scheduling differences” after all…
“We were racing to start production so that we could accommodate Ellen’s schedule,” Ghost House and Mandate said in a joint statement. “But like so many other productions trying to start before the potential SAG strike date, this one needed more time, and we had to push back the start of production.”
Indeed, the SAG strike is fast becoming the new “forgot my homework,” or, sure, WGA strike. Lohman, who is almost 30 but looks teenish, is of Irish descent, an environmentalist and I’m sure she can belt out a scream with the best of them. But I dunno, does she have the spark, that hamburger phone aura, that Page has?
Discuss: Page versus Loh(m)an. What difference does this play in your anticipation of Drag Me to Hell?
March 4th, 2008 at 3:10 pm
It was more about Raimi doing another horror movie then if Page was in it. Both are going to be capable, and Lohman needs more exposure at this point.
March 4th, 2008 at 3:46 pm
derrek nailed it. plus lohman is better & hotter - imo.
March 4th, 2008 at 3:53 pm
Yeah. I get it. Raimi doing horror again. [confetti] Still, the lead actress in this film is still a big factor. While Lohman adds hottness, Page added intelligence and she can do the “something’s bothering me” thing fairly well.
I might catch flack for this, but personally, I’d like to see Anna Farris do a real deal horror movie for a change. Oh well.
March 4th, 2008 at 4:31 pm
I can’t imagine to see Ellen Page in a horror movie, so I’m kind of glad she pulled out. Of course Sam Raimi is a veteran in that field, so maybe the script was good, but I’m not so sure about that. I guess I just wait for the finished product. I’m not familiar with Alison Lohman, so I don’t know whether she’s a good choice or not.
March 4th, 2008 at 5:07 pm
Man that’s all about Raimi. Wrekonize.
March 4th, 2008 at 5:12 pm
the beginning of a long typecasted career for the monotone page in mediocre and uninspired dramedies
March 4th, 2008 at 5:26 pm
I hadn’t thought of her when this news was originally announced, but I think Lohman is a fine choice. She was very good in Matchstick Men.
Ellen Page was rather endearing in Juno, but also somewhat cloying. Her SNL performance, disappointing acceptance speeches and interviews with the likes of Barbara Walters et al, and her resume which really only includes Juno and a competent performance in a good, but gimmicky small thriller don’t make me think that Page backing out is as big of a loss as people are making it out to be. I think Drag Me To Hell is in good shape. And we all have Whip It! to look forward to.
March 4th, 2008 at 5:29 pm
@D: You’re wrong. In fact Page dropped out of “Drag Me to Hell” to join on “Peacock”, which is a psychological thriller. I agree that typecasting is a real danger for her, but I’m sure she knows how to avoid that.
March 4th, 2008 at 6:00 pm
in peacock she plays a teen mother
and lohman kind of looks like ellen page a little
March 4th, 2008 at 6:54 pm
I think Evan Rachel-Wood would’ve been a good choice. Lohman does look a lot like Ellen Page, though.
March 4th, 2008 at 7:22 pm
Page is young and has people guiding her career, she’s lucky in that she actually listens to them. The only reason this is news is because she’s the new IT girl… for the next 30 seconds. I like her performances, but it didn’t matter to me if she did this role or not, she’s got 3 other films on the way (Smart People, Whip It, and Jack and Diane).
I second Anna Farris doing some real movies for a change, she’s funnier then Malin Akerman and hotter to boot. In fact, she never hosted SNL, but I bet she’d be a great cast member.
March 4th, 2008 at 8:22 pm
Haven’t seen her work but she looks good.
March 4th, 2008 at 9:16 pm
Matchstick Men helloooo. That awesome awesome movie is proof Alison Lohman can act.
Also she was in this movie with Kevin Bacon and Colin Firth but I can’t remember the name of it. It was quite entertaining. Where the Truth Lies! That’s what it’s called.
March 4th, 2008 at 11:08 pm
I didn’t even think of her. Lohman is a great choice. Regardless, as stated, this movie is much more about Raimi’s return to horror than any actress. The real question is …does Bruce have a part?
March 5th, 2008 at 5:27 pm
Ellen Page is incredible! Shes really establishing herself as an actress and she needs the opportunity to work with a horror master like Raimi and try to avoid typecasting as much as possible. Nuts to that, let’s keep Page in this project