GENERAL DISCUSSIONS

First Inara?

POSTED BY: GRACEOM
UPDATED: Tuesday, June 1, 2004 05:41
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Friday, May 28, 2004 1:29 PM

GRACEOM


Please excuse me if this has been discussed to death, but I managed to miss it...

On the DVD commentary it's mentioned that a different actress was orginally cast as Inara. Something didn't work out, and they recast with Morena Baccarin, and started shooting with her the next day.

Anyone know the story...who the actress was? If she was unhappy? Or Joss decided it just wasn't clicking?

Just curious. I find it hard to imagine anyone else in that role, but you know, that just shows how well they cast it.

Thanks

Grace


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Friday, May 28, 2004 1:34 PM

SHADESIREN


Rebecca Gayheart (of Noxema commercial and Earth 2 fame) was originally supposed to be Inara, but appaerntly her chemistry with the rest of the cast was either non-existent or terrible.

Morena, on the other hand, was perfect, both in audition and filming.

Thank goodness, too - nothing against Rebecca (i liked her on Earth 2) but I LOVE Morena as Inara - everything about her is just so perfectly Inara, I can't imagine anyone else in the role.

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Friday, May 28, 2004 2:05 PM

MALICIOUS


Rebecca was also Mrs. Dylan MacKay on Beverly Hills 90210705030! But I don't think I would have liked her as Inara, it's just too weird. Morena is too perfect.

Mal-licious

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Friday, May 28, 2004 3:26 PM

GRACEOM


Thanks for the replies!

Lovely woman; her face looks familiar, but I can't place where all I've seen her.

Anyway, I agree, I'm so glad they recast with Morena. She's beautiful and exotic and warm and aloof at the same time... I'm sure it's a gazillion times more difficult to play Inara than she makes it look.

Grace

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Friday, May 28, 2004 7:55 PM

ZOID


GraceOM:

I'm not really sure about the timing -- it would've been pretty close -- but Ms. Gayheart was involved in a pedestrian homocide, when her vehicle struck and killed a young boy. Look it up on the Internet for the straight scoop, if you want; but I remember that the date was very close to when Firefly began production, so...

Rebecca rapidly lost all her endorsements and modelling contracts, and if the timing was indeed right (accident occurred on June 18th, 2001), it may in fact have cost her the role.

On the whole, a tragic turn of events for Ms. Gayheart and the grieving parents and surviving family of the child. The only silver lining to the story is the break it provided Morena's career...

Okay, here's some fact in the case:
Quote:

Instead of a year in the county jail, Rebecca Gayheart was handed three-years probation, one-year license suspension, 750 hours of community service and a $2800 fine. The judge also ordered Ms. Gayheart to record a public-service announcement.

Very distraught and regretful, the Noxema girl plead guilty to a misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter charge from the accident on June 13th that claimed the life of 9-year-old Jorge Cruz, Jr. The district attorney is finished with Rebecca but the Cruz family has filed a wrongful suit death against the actress as well. Both parties hope to settle without going to trial. The Urban Legend star paid for the the boy's hospital and funeral expenses and has offered to pay for family grief counseling too.

She made her way out of the courtroom away from the media as her attorney made a brief statement. "It was the worst thing that could have happened to her, killing a child. She feels terrible. She will make a video that highlights the dangers of jaywalking, of drivers who don't stop when other cars have stopped, and parents who don't properly educate their children.



Of course we all know that Firefly first aired in September of 2002, but I can't seem to find any information on when they first went into casting and rehearsals. Had to be pretty close to that Nov 2001 plea bargain hearing, though, and with a wrongful death suit pending...


Respectfully,

zoid
_________________________________________________

"I'm telling you right now. When all's said and done, that little girl's gonna change the world. Not just this little bit she's done here, neither; big things. I couldn't be prouder if she was my own daughter."

- Malcolm Reynolds, owner-operator of Firefly-class transport, "Serenity"; from A Child Shall Lead Them: A History of the Second War of Independence Wilkins, Richard

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Saturday, May 29, 2004 10:02 AM

GRACEOM


Quote:

Originally posted by zoid:
GraceOM:

I'm not really sure about the timing -- it would've been pretty close -- but Ms. Gayheart was involved in a pedestrian homocide, when her vehicle struck and killed a young boy. Look it up on the Internet for the straight scoop, if you want; but I remember that the date was very close to when Firefly began production, so...




That is incredibly sad :-(
I'm always relieved that there aren't *more* accidents when I see how people drive...and how they cross streets
And yes, I can see how something like that could influence a casting decision.

Thanks for the info, even if I am a bit sorry I snooped :-(


Grace

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Saturday, May 29, 2004 12:19 PM

BUDCLARE


Quote:

Originally posted by zoid:
Of course we all know that Firefly first aired in September of 2002, but I can't seem to find any information on when they first went into casting and rehearsals.



Casting was early 2002, filming started March 5th.

http://www.trektoday.com/news/270202_02.shtml

(I googled. ;)

________________________
She has had congress with the beast.

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Saturday, May 29, 2004 1:39 PM

ZENCAT


Rebecca Gayheart also played a Reaper in the first few episodes of Dead Like Me - can't remember her name. It was the first time that I recall seeing her, and personally I didn't like her - I can't imagine her as Inara!

Joss says in the commentary for Serenity (which I just watched!) that he knew from her first scene that he was going to cast someone else for the aprt, that she just didn't have the chemistry, so he shot her scenes in such a way (as "singles") that he wouldn't have to reshoot everyone else's parts, just Inara.

I love the commentaries.

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Sunday, May 30, 2004 6:33 AM

CYBERSNARK


Quote:

Originally posted by GraceOM:
I'm always relieved that there aren't *more* accidents when I see how people drive...

Don't ever visit Ottawa.

There's a bridge here that passes over a canal.

People clear that thing fast enough that I've seen tires leave the ground. Some people also use sidewalks as passing lanes. And when it rains/gets foggy, people SPEED UP!!!!

Oh, and traffic laws don't apply to taxis, busses, or cop cars.

My one consolation is that when/if anyone does hit me, I'll probably be dead before I feel anything.

-----
We applied the cortical electrodes but were unable to get a neural reaction from either patient.

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Sunday, May 30, 2004 1:28 PM

FORRESTWOLF


Wow! Bess from Earth 2... I loved that show - really annoyed when it was cancelled (wait...I've heard that line before somewhere...)

Bess wasn't exactly a favorite character, and I really can't imagine her as Inara. But Earth 2...now THAT I enjoyed.

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Monday, May 31, 2004 12:30 PM

GRACEOM


Quote:

Originally posted by Cybersnark:
Quote:

Originally posted by GraceOM:
I'm always relieved that there aren't *more* accidents when I see how people drive...


Don't ever visit Ottawa.




I'll bear that in mind, LOL! What I had in mind was how people around here (Northern California) drive through parking lots and when dropping their kids off at school. Both the drivers and the pededstrians seem to carry on as if there were no one else in the world. Scary when it's little kids and enormous SUV's with restricted visibility especially when backing up.

Grace

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Tuesday, June 1, 2004 5:41 AM

BROWNCOAT1

May have been the losing side. Still not convinced it was the wrong one.


Quote:

Originally posted by Zencat:
Rebecca Gayheart also played a Reaper in the first few episodes of Dead Like Me - can't remember her name. It was the first time that I recall seeing her, and personally I didn't like her - I can't imagine her as Inara!

Joss says in the commentary for Serenity (which I just watched!) that he knew from her first scene that he was going to cast someone else for the aprt, that she just didn't have the chemistry, so he shot her scenes in such a way (as "singles") that he wouldn't have to reshoot everyone else's parts, just Inara.

I love the commentaries.



Exactly. Joss did not like her chemistry, or she did not fit the role the way Joss had hoped. I think that the best choice possible was made when they cast Morena.

"May have been the losing side. Still not convinced it was the wrong one."


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