Casting Buzz That We Hope Won’t Happen: Lindsay Lohan as Liz Taylor

We hear a lot about ‘casting buzz’ going on in Hollywood. ‘This actress is rumored to be in the running for something-or-other, etcetera.’ Sometimes it happens, other (and often) times it fizzles out. In the case of the latest news – that Lindsay Lohan might portray Elizabeth Taylor, it seems like a stretch that would be best not to happen.

Entertainment Weekly has confirmed that Lohan is in talks to play the actress in the upcoming Lifetime original movie, “Elizabeth & Richard: A Love Story,” centering on the relationship between Elizabeth Taylor and two-time husband Richard Burton.

Any film that portrays a Hollywood Icon can be a hot button among viewers and fans, so casting is crucial. Mind you, a a Lifetime movie, compared to an Oscar contender film like “My Week With Marilyn” are quite different animals, especially when you consider the budget, and the potential shelf life of each.

The Lifetime movie will be smaller in scale, and can make more radical casting decisions based on building buzz and media attention alone – even if they’re off-base – if they result in a phenomenal rating on one night.

That said, Lindsay Lohan has yet to tackle a truly transformational role, and there is a chance that viewers will be quick to dismiss it. While her appeareance doesn’t immediately harken back to Liz, this could be addressed to some degree. (As evidenced by the photo likeness here, first seen in Interview Magazine.) Her voice, however, cannot. While she is a talented actress, it would be a formidable challenge to ditch the raspy quality of Lohan’s delivery in favor of Taylor’s.

The project has been in development for almost a year already, and it is entirely possible that bringing Lindsay Lohan into the discussion, (and letting the word get out) could be a way of ‘taking the pulse’ of the idea, or simply for getting publicity alone, with no intention of casting her.

I’m eager for Lindsay Lohan to make her comeback, and I think she’s entirely capable of wowing moviegoers with a redemption role. But I truly believe these shoes are too big for Lohan to fill. Her best bet would be to take a small role as part of a strong ensemble of actors, with a truly solid, even if brief performance. (Her rumored participation in the film Gotti: In the Shadow of My Father would have been a great example, but to prove my earlier point about buzz not panning out, we first read that she would portray Victoria Gotti, then Kim Gotti, and now, the film’s IMDB page makes no mention of her at all.)

As a fan of both Liz Taylor, and the potential of Lindsay Lohan, I hope that this pairing doesn’t happen, and the Lohan finds a role that is better suited for her talents.

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