Clint Eastwood Felt Beyoncé Could Be the Next Ella Fitzgerald After ‘A Star Is Born’
Although Beyoncé never officially worked with Clint Eastwood in ‘A Star Is Born’, Eastwood was very much looking forward to collaborating with the singer.
Beyoncé almost teamed up with prolific filmmaker Clint Eastwood for his own take on A Star Is Born. The veteran actor had a lot of praise for the Grammy-winner, so much so that he compared her to another well-known musician.
Beyoncé was initially cast in Lady Gaga’s role for ‘A Star Is Born’
Hollywood had been trying to develop another A Star Is Born remake for years before Cooper’s version. Several actors hoped to attach themselves to the project, but for the longest time plans kept fizzling out. Some of those stars included Jennifer Lopez and Will Smith, who only went as far as discussing the script, before plans changed.
A modern Star Is Born seemed to finally be on the verge of happening after Eastwood was tapped to direct. The veteran filmmaker confirmed that Beyoncé would lead the movie, which he was more than excited about given the singer’s ability. He even compared her to another famous singer who made headlines during a bygone era.
“She asked if she could write stuff for the movie, I said yes, great. But I also told her I would make one or two things very classical. Still classicism. But I don’t want Beyoncé to be too classic! She has a superb voice,” Eastwood once said according to The Grape Juice. “She could become a new Sarah Vaughan or the next Ella Fitzgerald. She has the same class. I don’t know if she knows their music, but I intend to do a good education for the movie!”
Fitzgerald was a fellow Grammy winner who took over the genre of Jazz in the 30s and 40s. So putting Beyoncé in the same company as Fitzgerald meant that Eastwood held the Dreamgirls star in high regard.