A Frank Sinatra biopic feels like an impossible errand. After A Complete Unknown blew me out of the water, I should probably stop doubting how these actors can transform into these roles. But I find Frank to be truly inimitable. It's hard to imagine anyone trying to emulate his suave, elegant voice without dipping into parody territory. Moreover, it's not just enough to imitate the voice, you have to capture his essence and how he performs as well. I may be skeptical but it seems like one actor feels incredibly confident in tackling that era of music.
Videos by Wide Open Country
Recently, James Marsden of X-Men, Westworld, and Sonic the Hedgehog fame spoke with The New York Post to promote his latest Hulu show Paradise. There, he contemplates some of his dream roles, one of which sees him performing hits like "My Way." "I've always loved emulating some of the old crooners, like Bobby Darin and Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin. I always thought there were so many interesting stories of Frank Sinatra's life that could be played. And for whatever reason, you've never really seen a movie about him," Marsden says. "To do a biopic like what Jamie Foxx did with Ray Charles would be a lot of fun. I would love to. And you're actually using your singing voice, as well."
James Marsden Wants to Tackle a Frank Sinatra Biopic
Marsden really wants to tackle a biopic in general, to capture the essence and fullness of someone's life on screen. However, it's Frank Sinatra in particular that fascinates him, to tackle both the good and the bad in his life. "I just think there's so many stories that could be told about that man - some of the really tortured and darker stories, and some uplifting ones as well. What he did, what he accomplished. I've never really done a biopic about somebody," James adds.
If you know Marsden's resume, he has the capability to dip into his singing bag. Films like Hairspray and Enchanted saw him flex his vocal chops. I don't know if he can necessarily pull off Sinatra but he's eager to give it a swing anyway. After those two films, he recalls feeling like ""I really had a hunger and a desire to go find some other kind of musical. I realized, 'I need to do this more.'"
