Samuel Jackson: Voice of God
How I love these random news items about projects said to be in the works. So often, the casting announcment, when it emerges from someplace other than a major industry trade paper, turns out to be wishful thinking on the part of fans or some wheeler dealer with a big idea and no money.
Here's a big idea that actually sounds promising: an audio version of the New Testament read by popular black actors and musicians. To play the Man Upstairs, the producers -- unnamed -- say they've called upon Samuel L. Jackson.
But don't you hear Jackson as more of an Old Testament God, all smiting and vengeancing? In Pulp Fiction, he put the eek back into the Book of Ezekiel. ("And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who would attempt to poison and destroy my brothers. And you will know my name is the Lord when I lay my vengeance upon thee.")
The New Testament God?
More of a Morgan Freeman role.