USA: PREMIERE OF FILM "THE FLINTSTONES- VIVA ROCK VEGAS"

Record ID: 389215

  • Title: USA: PREMIERE OF FILM "THE FLINTSTONES- VIVA ROCK VEGAS"
  • Date: 10th April 2000
  • Summary: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (APRIL 10) (REUTERS) SCU (SOUNDBITE) (ENGLISH) MARK ADDY SAYING I spent alot of time watching the old cartoons in order to try and find a way of playing Fred. I deliberately avoided watching the first "Flintstones" movie because I just thought I'd get bogged down in watching Goodman (John) and what he did and how he, I preferred to a
  • Embargoed: 25th April 2000 13:00
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  • Location: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES AND FILM LOCATIONS
  • Country: USA
  • Reuters ID: LVA47PK9E6IKKY6MYIZBZEAYTE7P
  • Story Text: Following in the footsteps of such actors as John Goodman, Rosie O'Donnell and Rick Moranis, a new cast of actors takes over the roles of the world's most famous prehistoric family in "The Flintstones: Viva Rock Vegas" which celebrated its World Premiere in Los Angeles.
    Like its predecessor, 1994's "The Flintstones," this sequel is based on the wildly popular cartoon series of the same name that premiered 40 years ago on American television and ran throughout the 1960's.
    The first live-action film, starring John Goodman as Fred, Elizabeth McGovern as Wilma, Rick Moranis as Barney and Rosie O'Donnell as Betty, grossed more than 350 million dollars at the box office worldwide and introduced a whole new legion of fans to this modern Stone Age family.
    The new film is actually a prequel, taking place before Fred and Barney meet their future wives Wilma and Betty and tells the story of their courtship and how the whole series got its start in the first place.It also features such familiar characters as the pet dinosaur Dino, Wilma's wicked mother, played by Joan Collins, and Gazoo the alien, who was featured in the original cartoon and who is played in the film by Tony winning actor Alan Cummings.
    The story takes the two couples to glamorous and exciting Rock Vegas, which has a huge place in Flintstones lore.The setting called for director Brian Levant, who also helmed the first film, to create a series of colorful and outrageous sets which mimic the world's most famous casino resort.
    It took more than 300 lights putting out one point five million watts of energy just to light up the famous strip with Stone Age signage paying its respects to the headliners of the era such as Frank Stonenatra, Stony Bennett and Mick Jagged and the Stone.
    The filmmakers chose to cast four new actors in the lead roles because the film is a prequel.For Fred, "The Full Monty" star Mark Addy was brought in from his native England and given a voice coach to work with.The youngest of the Baldwin brothers, Stephen, was chosen to play Fred's best buddy Barney.
    For the women, "3rd Rock From the Sun" star Kristen Johnston plays a pre-marriage and slightly more naive Wilma while "Ally McBeal" co-star Jane Krakowski takes on the trademark giddy laugh of Betty.
    "The Flintstones: Viva Rock Vegas" opens in theaters throughout the United States on Friday, April 28.
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