Christopher Walken has been signed on to star in Clint Eastwood's film adaptation of the hit Broadway musical "Jersey Boys."
The 70-year-old actor has been cast as the mobster Angelo 'Gyp' DeCarlo, who's character mentors four young singers as they try to make it in music while avoiding the organized crime scene. The play, and film, center around the boys tale as they pursue the dream of being musicians with their 1960s group The Four Seasons.
According to Daily Mail, Walken is best known for his more menacing roles in movies like "The Deer Hunter" and "Annie Hall." However, he is actually a trained dancer and has previously starred in "West Side Story" and the film adaptation of "Hairspray." If you don't believe Walken has dancing chops, even in his old age, check out the video below.
Walken will join the cast for Eastwood's film alongside actors who are currently performing in the play. Eastwood revealed he would not seek out a cadre of A-List actors to fill in the roles, like with the disastrous film adaptation of "Rock of Ages." Instead, Eastwood wanted to pull from the crop of various actors already performing in the show. Already on board are Broadway stars Vincent Piazza, John Lloyd Young, Erich Bergen and Michael Lommenda in the lead roles.
The film will be scripted by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice and produced by Graham King and Rob Lorenz and executive produced by Four Seasons members Valli and Bob Gaudio.
The Tony-winning stage musical has grossed more than $1 billion for all its incarnations so it makes sense for someone to capitalize on the play's success and bring it over onto the big screen to reach all audiences. Walken will be working alongside Eastwood who picked up the film after a 2010 attempt to direct by Jon Favreau fell apart. Casting Walken is Eastwood's first major move as director.
Below is the famous video that showed Walken's dancing skills to the world in a music video for Fatboy Slim's hit song "Weapon of Choice." Watch it and tell us what you think, is Walken the menacing type, the broadway dancing type or somehow both?
