Genre: Thriller/Drama/True Crime.
Studio:
Warner Bros.
Production Company:
Castle Rock Entertainment.
Project Phase: Greenlighted.
Who's In It:
Tom Hanks (Paul Edgecombe); Bonnie Hunt (Janice Edgecombe); James Cromwell (Hal Moores); Michael Clarke Duncan (John Coffey);
Graham Greene (Bitterbuck); Patricia Clarkson (Melinda Moores); Doug Hutchison (Percy Wetmore); David Morse (Brutus 'Brutal' Howell);
Barry Pepper (Dean Stanton); Sam Rockwell (William 'Wild Bill' Wharton); Michael Jeter (Delacroix); Jeffrey DeMunn (Henry Terwilliger);
Harry Dean Stanton (Toot Toot).
Who's Making It:
Frank Darabont (Director, Screenwriter); David ValdΦs (Producer); David Tattersall (Director of Photography); Richard Francis-Bruce (Editor);
Terence Marsh (Production Designer); Karyn Wagner (Costume Designer); Thomas Newman (Musical Score); based upon the novella series
The Green Mile by Stephen King.
Premise: The people who live on Death Row call it the Green Mile -- the stretch of green linolium between the rows of cells and the electric chair. Inside the walls of the prison, the murderers, guards, warden, a mouse and one innocent man await their fates.
Release Date: Fall 1999.
Comments: Unknown.
Rumors: Unknown.
Scoop Feedback:
November 10, 1996... Frank Darabont has signed to write and direct the big-screen film adaptation of Stephen King's novella series, The Green Mile. No word on how this would effect his chances for directing Episode II of the Star Wars saga, but as long as he could get to post-production on TGM before the start of Episode II, it could still work out. Lots of directors, thanks to the satellite linkups pioneered by Lucas and Spielberg, are now doing post-production while in active production of another film. [Scoop and project annoucement furnished by 'Burgerflipper'.]
June 29, 1997... The Green Mile just won the 1996 Bram Stoker Award for Best Novel Published that year. What does it mean in regards to the film's development? Probably nothing. But, as 'Widgett' says, it's a neat little factoid. [Sent in by 'widgett'.]
November 22, 1997... Two-time Oscar-winning actor Tom Hanks is in neogtiations to play the convict in the film. [Reported by 'xponent', 'Woodrowgus' and anonymously.]
November 25, 1997... Many others who heard about the Hanks casting decision have written to us to set the record straight. They believe the actor would most likely play the part of Paul Edgecombe, the fellow who was the head guard for the convicts slated to eventually take their individual walks down the final stretch of carpeted floor before arriving at the electric chair -- the 'Green Mile'. Note that this is just the most likely role for Hanks, since the other main character, a con named John Coffey, is both large and black. Tom may be great for portraying roles that allow him to reach as an actor, but somehow we think you guys are right on this call. [Thanks to our own cellblock -- Justin, 'docgordo', 'ryono', 'Popol', 'Josh the Sandman', Dan, anonymous.]
But at least one scooper out there thinks differently. We're told Hanks is considering playing the role of Edward Delacroix, a convicted murderer, who is awaiting execution at the Cold Mountain Correctional Facility. He keeps a pet mouse in his cell, whom he calls Mr. Jingles. Although not the main character (convicted though innocent man John Coffey), "he will probably have most of the dialogue," our scooper told us. Ahmed Best, who's playing a secretive character who might be named 'Jar Jar' in the upcoming Star Wars Prequels, is the frontrunner for Coffey. Other roles that have not been cast include that of the Warden, Paul Edgecombe, and the two villains, Percy the Guard and convict William "Wild Bill" Wharton. [Sent anonymously.]
March 4, 1998... On the March 2nd Late Late Show With Tom Snyder, guest Bonnie Hunt confirmed she'll be starring with Tom Hanks in this picture. [Sent in by 'onedones', 'Danflave' and anonymous.]
April 12, 1998... This scooper tells us Hanks does indeed play prison guard Paul Edgecombe, and that this character will be the central one in the film adaptation. They also report the majority of the casting has already been completed. [Sent in by 'Lurker'.]
April 16, 1998... An anonymous scooper tells us Bonnie Hunt's character is named Janice Edgecombe, the wife of Tom Hanks' character. [Anonymous.]
And another scooper (perhaps the same one as above?) sent us this:
"Stephen King sees this as 'his baby' and is making sure the script stays true to the novella. As such, Edgecombe narrates the story from his nursing home...and the combination of flashbacks retell the story set at Cold Mountain Penitentiary. Hanks will play this role...as it's easily half of the dialogue. Coffey has about 15 lines in the whole script. But, that has more to do with his characters peculiar silence, and less to do with screen time." [Anonymous.]
May 18, 1998... "The Green Mile is in preproduction on the Warner's Hollywood lot," our scooper tells us. "They're currently searching for a six foot six, three to four hundred pound Black man to play one of the convicts. I heard that they've pushed back principal photography a week. I think they're starting in June or early July." [Coolness from Don.]
June 2, 1998... We're told by our scooper that the film is being produced by David ValdΦs (Unforgiven, A Perfect World), and that the majority of filming to take place in Los Angeles and Nashville, Tennessee. Filming begins in late July, for a possible theatrical release next summer. We're also told a likely cast member will be Graham Greene, but that an unknown will play hulking deathrow inmate John Coffey. [Scooped by 'Cicero'.]
July 28, 1998... [Our thanks to Brendon for supplying us with a complete (well, for now) list of actors and their characters!]
August 9, 1998... [Complete cast and character names provided by 'Deadpool'.]
September 22, 1998... We've received a nice gift from this scooper:
"There was an open casting call for extras in Nashville over the weekend. They were looking for clean-shaven men that were willing to get their hair styled in a 1930's kind of way, and they were looking for women with short hair. Extra bonus if you had tatoos from the period, were a senior citizen, or had a skill they were looking for (ex-prison guard, janitor, that sort of thing). They said that production is currently slated to start in mid-Oct., but may be pushed back." [Scoop provided by 'Santa'.]
September 24, 1998... According to Doug Hutchison's on location journal, that can be found at http://www.vaxxine.com/nfrc/gmile.htm, the release date is the third week in July 99, promos and trailers should start to be aired around christmas. [Scoop provided by 'Sloth_666' and 'Torifan']
Attention Middle Tennessee CA readers!! This is your chance to be a part of this movie.
"My wife who works at the Chamber of Commerce here in Huntsville,
AL passed me a fax containing these tidbits:
The Green Mile
A FEATURE FILM starring Tom Hanks will be shooting in the middle
Tennessee area:
We are looking for paid extras.......
We are especially looking for:
-Men of all ages to portray prisoners, criminals, convicts,
guards,
trustees etc. in 1935
-Women to portray wives and families of prisoners in 1935
-Men who have interesting scars on their face or hands
The film takes place primarily in the 1930's, so we are looking
for men who are willing to have authentic haircuts and be clean
shaven.
VERY IMPORTANT!!!
YOU MUST BRING A SNAPSHOT (no larger than 4"x6")
(Snapshot can not be returned)
Shelbyville Central High School
401 Eagle Blvd
Shelbyville, TN
***PLEASE DO NOT CONTACT THE SCHOOL FOR INFO***
Saturday, September 26 12:00 - 2:00 p.m.
No experience necessary.
This was a press release dated Sept 21, but the Chamber got it on the 22nd." [Scoop provided by 'Postwood']
September 27, 1998... Some reaction to our past scoops: "I read the scoop for September 22 and it makes no sense. They've been filming The Green Mile for awhile now, and as far as I know they are even running over schedule. Plus they're filming the movie in L.A. Maybe they're filming some of the establishing shots and smaller scenes in Nashville?" [Scoop provided by 'Ninja']
October 19, 1998.. Some more shooting news: "Your scoop sent in by 'Ninja' was off-base. Much of the principal photography will be done at the old Tennessee State Prison, on Centennial Avenue in Nashville. I know because I've interviewed a local man in my small Tennessee town who's taking his mule team up to be in the film. According to him, he'll be playing the very, very small part (translation: 2 minutes screen time, tops, probably no dialogue) as head of a prison mule team. His team will turn over ground for the shoot on Sun., Oct. 11 and Monday the 12th, rehearse on Tuesday the 13th and shoot the scene on the 14th. In his scene, he says he'll play the mule team leader of a six mule hitch plowing the ground; other mule teams will be hauling stumps and logs. He thinks his scenes are strictly pastoral, but he's been assured Tom Hanks and the rest of the cast are in Tennessee filming, and the whole crew eats together Tuesday the 13th and Wednesday the 14th, so he hopes to meet him then. One other thing: The men in the scene have been instructed not to cut their hair or shave for two weeks." [Scoop sent in by 'TNNews.'] And this just in -- a on-location report from one of the extras in the show! "I was an extra Wednesday Oct. 14th at the old state prison in Nashville, TN. The scene we shot was depicting the prison farm outside the Cold Mountain Penetentiary in Louisiana when John Coffey was arriving in the paddy wagon. There were approximately 400 extras working in the field including 300 black prisoners in stripes and wearing shackles. They were digging with picks while armed guards rode around on mules. A big steam-powered tractor drove a rock crushing machine and a team of 6 mules were struggling to pull a huge stump out of the ground. The trees around the scene had been enhanced with extra foliage and spanish moss. We shot different variations of this scene for around 9 hours. It will probably be about 20 seconds in the film. Look for me, I'm unloading bags from the back of an old truck (I guess it was a new truck in the '30's) as the paddy wagon drives by. The sacks only had styrofoam peanuts in them, so I actually had to act! This was the first time that I had been around any kind of filming. I was very impressed with how friendly everyone on the crew was including Frank Durabont, the director. He seemed to be just one of the guys. He kept his still camera with him at all times and must have taken 10 rolls of film during the day. Tom Hanks had been there the day before when they were filming inside the jail. Friday the 16th, they were filming just outside of Shelbyville, TN in an old farm house that they had given a facelift to for the shoot. They had added Spanish moss to the trees surrounding it as well. I could have gone back Monday the 19th as an extra, but I thought I had better not miss any more time from my regular job. Tom Hanks is scheduled to be there then...I would have really enjoyed seeing him. Oh yes, the old prison has great architectural design. It should add alot to the picture. I think this will be a great film." [Mail call from 'craigs'.]
Another one of our readers was also on hand for some scenes. "They are filming outdoor scenes, prisoners working in fields farming circa 1935, outdoor shots of the front of the Cold Mountain Penitentiary at night with lightning flashing and what not, stuff like that," they said. Shooting in Nashville should wrap up by the first week of November. [Call him 'Santa'. All the other inmates do.]
November 24, 1998... Castle Rock Entertainment has hired former Castle Rock Newsletter contributing editor and King expert Tyson Blue to write "The Making Of The Green Mile" book for The Green Mile production. No publisher has been chosen for the project as yet, but the book is expected to be released when the film opens next fall. "Director Frank Darabont and myself are hoping for a largfe-format book with lots of color, lots of photos and lots of behind-the-scenes info, sketches, production designs, etc," Blue tells CA. After reading the script to this film and knowing the legion of King and Darabont fans out there, we know this'll be a tough one to find in-stock at your local library come this time next year. [Thanks to Tyson Blue for the literary heads up.]
Related Sites:
Doug Hutchison's on location journal
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