Summer Glau turns down role in 'Trophy Kids' - Cast&Crew

That's a nice picture atop a kind of brief story. It is nice to know that Summer's in a position where she's being offered "the lead" in a film, though.

LKW | June 15, 19:48 CET

I do wonder how "risqué" as sequence has to be to get Summer to walk away from a lead role.

wiesengrund | June 15, 19:51 CET

I'm a bit put off by how the article implies that she's making a mistake by turning down the role. I say good on her for not being pressured into anything she's not comfortable with.

geekiskhan | June 15, 19:57 CET

Aw. I wonder if this was the big film she had lined up for after SCC.

sumogrip | June 15, 19:57 CET

I think "pressured" might be too strong a word, unless you know something none of the rest of us do. While she has the right to turn down a role over one scene or another, I also back the production for not wanting to change their script just because one actor didn't want to do it as written.

The One True b!X | June 15, 20:01 CET

No, Bix, I don't have any inside info and now that you mention it "pressured" is probably too strong. I guess I intended it in the sense of "I really need this role and they won't change this scene so I guess I'll have to do it." I'm just glad she feels her career is in a place where she can turn down a lead role over one scene if it's not to her liking. And of course I believe the writers have every right not to change their script if they don't want to. I never meant to imply otherwise.

geekiskhan | June 15, 20:13 CET

She also could have passed because she just didn't think it was that good and the producers made up and leaked this rumour to get publicity.

zz9 | June 15, 20:14 CET

I'm with zz9... If Summer passed on it, I'm automatically assuming it stinks. I have no proof, no knowledge about it, save for my adoration of Summer, which is enough for now. If she didn't want to do it, good, it will probably allow her to do something better.

SteppeMerc | June 15, 20:16 CET

geekiskhan, I entirely concur with that angle on it, the "pressure" being general industry/career pressure, not specific pressure, and that it's good if she's able to not let that make her decisions for her.

zz9, that also is entirely possible. I was more just trying to argue a general point that there's no more reason for writers to change a script for an actor than there is for an actor to take a role they aren't comfortable with.

The One True b!X | June 15, 20:21 CET

I'm a bit put off by how the article implies that she's making a mistake by turning down the role

Well, this is the New York Post we're talking about. Now it's deciding who will be a star and who won't be. Besdies, Summer is young, and will get parts that fit the image she wants.

impalergeneral | June 15, 20:31 CET

She also could have passed because she just didn't think it was that good and the producers made up and leaked this rumour to get publicity.

*Thumbs up*

I'm with zz9... If Summer passed on it, I'm automatically assuming it stinks. I have no proof, no knowledge about it, save for my adoration of Summer, which is enough for now. If she didn't want to do it, good, it will probably allow her to do something better.

*Thumbs way up*

And further, I doubt she would have objected if she felt the incident was really necessary to advance the story. She has shown in the past that she will 'go to those kinds of places' (see her episode of Cold Case) if the story requires it.

[ edited by brinderwalt on 2009-06-15 20:37 ]

brinderwalt | June 15, 20:34 CET

We already know that Summer was willing to be naked in a cryo box for 'Firefly', so I'm guessing that if the script had been good enough then she would have been happy to do it. Like SteppeMarc I have no knowledge and no proof, but I'm willing to assume that Summer has been receiving a lot of scripts (and like zz9 I wouldn't put it past the producers of this film to try to get some publicity for their film off of the fact that she passed).

embers | June 15, 20:39 CET

Well, she was naked as in she had no clothes on but she wasn't naked as in sexualized and on display.

Ildeth | June 15, 21:01 CET

Along with what geekiskhan has already said, what really bothers me about the wording of the article can be summed up with its opening sentence.

ACTRESS Summer Glau doesn't remember what "Kids" did for Chloe Sevigny and Rosario Dawson.

How does the reporter know Summer doesn't remember? Is this a claim that "Kids" is wholly responsible for Chloe and Rosario having successful film careers? Maybe it should say "Summer Glau doesn't care what "Kids" did for..." As it reads now, it seems more of a snub against Summer for being selective against something she isn't comfortable with.

CrazyKidBen | June 15, 21:10 CET

Well, she was naked as in she had no clothes on but she wasn't naked as in sexualized and on display.

Check the character she portrayed on Cold Case that I referenced above or her character from The Unit (both of which, coincidentally, seemed to have a thing about 'going at it' pretty graphically with already-attached older men/boys in cars). Or even some of her key scenes from the Sarah Connor Chronicles. If she thought the scene was reasonable in advancing the story she would have done it, and going by my knowledge of the climate for actresses of her profile, especially in the indie film scene, it's far more likely that her alleged objection was reasonable.

ETA: Clarity.

[ edited by brinderwalt on 2009-06-15 22:23 ]

brinderwalt | June 15, 21:31 CET

Agree 100% with brinderwalt. I really wish there was a comment section where where I can attack the Post for such insulting comments against Summer.

SteppeMerc | June 15, 23:26 CET

I'd take a look at that page again, SteppeMerc, because there's a comments section right there.

Of course, I usually refrain from commenting because it's hard to not sound like a prejudiced fan who'd agree with everything the object of his fandom does, a priori. But that's just me :).

GVH | June 15, 23:43 CET

Of course, I usually refrain from commenting because it's hard to not sound like a prejudiced fan who'd agree with everything the object of his fandom does, a priori. But that's just me :).

Considering the prevailing tone of the aforementioned comments even before I whedonesqued the article, I don't think you need to worry too much about such opinions looking out of place. The opinions put forth, by and large, have been fair, balanced, and noticeably complementary of Summer based on principle, not on mindless fan worship.

[ edited by brinderwalt on 2009-06-16 00:11 ]

brinderwalt | June 16, 00:07 CET

Really, it's the New York Post, a sensationalist, gossipy rag. I wouldn't take it too seriously. They're the newspaper equivalent of an internet troll.

nasarius | June 16, 00:09 CET

GVH, I am proud of my unwavering support for certain folks, Summer amongst them. ;)

And yes, I was going to comment, then realized two things: first her fans have already turned out in force, second you have to register. No way am I registering with the freakin' Post.

nasarius, truer descriptions of the Post have never been spoken.

SteppeMerc | June 16, 00:13 CET

Maybe it should say "Summer Glau doesn't care what "Kids" did for..."

Yeah CrazyKidBen, just changing that one little word would have been an enormous change for the better. If you're not one already, I would say you should consider becoming an editor.

the Groosalugg | June 16, 00:17 CET

I only saw clips of "Kids," but it was enough to trigger the gag reflex. Summer chooses roles thoughtfully.

Pointy | June 16, 00:23 CET

June 15 2009