Taylor Swift confirmed for Joni Mitchell role in ‘Girls Like Us’: awful choice?

At first I thought this was another beautifully poignant photo op from Taylor Swift, like the time she invited the paparazzi to take her sad-faced photos as she walked along the Princess Diana Memorial and gave her soul to the swans. These photos from Paris just looked so posed! And they were – she was filming a music video, according to Fame/Flynet. Except I don’t see any cameras which would indicate a music video being shot? So confusing. I will say this – I kind of like her outfit, minus the cat shoes. The skirt and blouse combo is very pretty and girly and Swifty. It suits her.

So, what song will be Swifty’s next single after the success of “We’re Never Ever Getting Back Together”? It’s probably “Red” (which is also the name of her album). I’m guessing that’s the video she’s shooting in Paris? Maybe, maybe not. Swifty is going to release “Red” on iTunes tomorrow, and she already released a snippet of the song:

Ugh, she’s so tedious. That’s all.

I kind of blew my proverbial wad earlier on Swifty when I covered her two magazine covers this month – Glamour and Marie Claire UK. I understand now why Swifty stuck with the 1970s-boho-styling for the Marie Claire shoot – Swifty was still in the running to play Joni Mitchell in Girls Like Us. Swifty’s casting had been rumored since April, and the casting was just confirmed last week. Taylor Swift will be playing Joni Mitchell in a movie, a movie which will also feature actresses playing the roles of Carole King and Carly Simon. Jessica Pare (Mad Men) might get the Carly Simon role. I’m hoping for the best… but I think we should pare down our expectations, don’t you?

Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet.

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126 Responses to “Taylor Swift confirmed for Joni Mitchell role in ‘Girls Like Us’: awful choice?”

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  1. Pamspam says:

    blech.

    • Lizzie says:

      “Blech” followed by a very loud….NOOOOOOOOOO.
      Step away from Joni, Swift. STEP AWAY.

      • Pamspam says:

        Adding to the list of things from which she needs to step away…

        1. The red lipstick
        2. Conor
        3. Ponies
        4. Rainbows
        5. The microphone

      • gg says:

        This is even worse than Lohan as Elizabeth Taylor! There is no way she can channel Joni. Fiona Apple could, but not Swift. Joni has such depth that Taylor cannot fathom where she comes from in a million years. Good grief. I hope they don’t use her real voice at least.

        I used to defend her, but over it now. She’s trying to be a Kennedy in every single way, it’s embarrassing, and I hate retro 60s clothes. blecch.

      • Izzy says:

        Pamspam – add to the list those fugly kitten shoes. I mean really?! Kitten shoes?! COME ON.

      • Liv says:

        + Swimwear from the 50’s

      • Pamspam says:

        And no more polka dots..particularly in the form of head scarves.

  2. Jilly Bean says:

    she better learn how to smoke

    • Emma - the JP Lover says:

      She’d better learn how to sing, too. Joni Mitchell has an incredible voice and vocal range. Taylor Swift has neither.

      • Lauren says:

        This is so bloody offensive! Joni and Swifty are from different worlds. As a Canadian, i am baffled as to why a blond, whiny, calculating, manufactured young woman would be chosen for this role. Taylor is the very antithesis of Joni.

    • EscapedConvent says:

      HA! So true. It’s one thing to have long blonde hair with bangs & hold a guitar, but can she chainsmoke unfiltered Camels for 50 years?

    • moo says:

      AND sing! are they serious??? what, only straight blonde haired women need apply???? God, I hope this gets dumped before too much money is wasted!!!

  3. someone says:

    so tired of these singers becoming actors/actresses..i’m sorry i watched her for 5 seconds on that awful valentine’s movie and i know she didn’t have much to work with in that awful role, but she still managed to SUCK. not to mention, if her music videos are any indication of her acting abilities, i don’t think she has much of a future. or maybe not. i’m just sick of her lol

    • Amelia says:

      Totally agree. Her character was a perky, falls-in-love-in-a-second airhead (which is her in a nutshell) and she even managed to mess that up. What morons are casting her?! She has no screen presence whatsoever.
      I’m boycotting this.

    • Havik says:

      I agree about singers become actors. I think Gary Oldman’s mock PSA about basketball players staying the hell out of movies applies to singers, models, dancers, whatever as well. Leave acting to the actors!!

      • Amelia says:

        Havik, thank you so much for mentioning Gary Oldman’s PSA! I’ve never seen it before as we don’t get Jimmy Kimmel, that absolutely made my evening!

  4. Garvels says:

    Ugh!

  5. La Calabaza says:

    She’s becoming the Stepford wife barbie doll. Creepy.

    • gg says:

      That’s exactly it. I almost wish she’d stayed with Mayer. She’d be dressing like a beatnik at least, which is better.

    • Lauren says:

      Taylor looks like Retro Barbie cruising for her latest teenage Ken doll..on a bike. This is all so contrived and sickening.

  6. Anne says:

    I find myself liking that outfit but then I think about it and realize in reality its kind of obnoxious. If I saw her walking around like that normally I would have to roll my eyes.

  7. Mimi says:

    NoOoOoOo! Is nothing sacred anymore? What and Shia LaDouche is going to play Neil Young next? #justkillmenow

  8. EmmaStoneWannabe says:

    Well she kind of has the Joni “look,” like face shape and hair…if she can improve upon her ‘Valentine’s Day’ acting chops, she may not be half bad. Cant be any more of an epic fail than the upcoming Cracken/E. Taylor montrocity.

    • Raven says:

      She does have the look of Joni and is getting involved with the people she’s attracted to, regardless of fallout, like Joni did. Maybe this will inspire her to learn to play multiple instruments.

      • EmmaStoneWannabe says:

        She does already play several…piano and guitar included. And very well I might add!

    • anonimouse8319 says:

      I actually think that Lohan was spot on choice for Taylor…both have/had substance abuse problems and loved to rub their love lives in the faces of ‘their’ public…

  9. Aagje says:

    Well, that confirms it. It’s the end of the world for all of us…

    Seriously, the girl can’t sing, can’t act and yet she is set to portray a great musician? Damn it all to hell.

    • Mimi says:

      My thoughts exactly. The.End.Of.The.World. Maybe Joni & Swifty will have a massive throwdown a la Faye Dunaway & Hilary Duff over the Bonnie role. Joni can be a right bitch when she wants to, please please Joni don’t fail me now.

    • the original bellaluna says:

      *tunes guitar; warms up voice* It’s the end of the world as we know it! It’s the end of the world as we know it! I-it’s the end of the world as we know it, and I-I-I feeeeeeeel sick!

  10. bns says:

    This movie just lost any credibility it may have had. What an insult to Joni.

    • TrustMeOnThis says:

      I totally agree. I adore Joni and I WAS looking forward to the movie. 🙁

      I wonder how much they will make her smoke. Is that evil of me?

      • Hakura says:

        I was wondering the same thing… They may just end up spiffing up one of those ‘vapor’ cigarettes, if Taylor isn’t much of a ‘method actor’…Perhaps she’d want to protect that precious voice of hers?

      • EscapedConvent says:

        Not at all! I hope she chainsmokes until she gets dizzy, loses consciousness & has to drop out of the movie. It will be a cold day in Hades when this blond bit of kitteny fluff is up to playing a badass smoker like Joni!

      • bns says:

        Not evil at all. I was wondering, too. They’ll figure it out, but there’s no way in hell the virginal and pure Taylor Swift will smoke a real cig.

  11. Apsutter says:

    If they let her “sing” any of Joni’s songs I will freak out!

  12. dorothy says:

    Won’t be tuning in to that movie, simply because of the casting.

    • Cazzie says:

      Agreed. I am now trying to think of casting choices that wouldn’t make me snarl with anger…any suggestions?

      – Jennifer Lawrence

      That’s all I can think of. Who else would have been plausible?

  13. mzthirtyeight says:

    I think she can end up looking quite a lot like Joni, but it’s not like that should be the only requisite for a role.

    • Mimi says:

      ^^This. Being able to sing might help, let alone being able to play numerous instruments. Gah, I have to get off this thread because I’m just spewing volcanic bile right now. 😛

  14. Christian says:

    What a slap in the face to Joni Mitchell. Ugh.

  15. ugh says:

    Even if she has the look, Joni Mitchell is a legend because of her incredible voice…despite all the smoking. It’s going to be sad having taylor destroy timeless classics like both sides now and case of you. This answers the question about whether they’re trying to make a good movie or simply a profitable movie. All the tweens will go. Good luck to those tweens understanding this music.

    • Green_Eyes says:

      Totally agree…. Why is the industry hauling arse to destroy legends & icons lately? I just don’t see the acting range in Swifty to play Joni. You don’t get classic songs like Both Sides Now (my fave song period) by “acting” like a perky bubble gum & ponies 22 yr old country singer on the verge of looking like a perpetual Stepford Wife Barbie about to become unglued. Gonna take some acting to NOT see the perky bubble gum & ponies, in love w/ love, writing about her breakups cuz it’s not her fault & she’s a victim, on the verge of looking like a psychotic step ford wife barbie 22 yr old acting country singer acting poorly as a more in depth, cool as hell chain smoking, throaty Joanie Mitchell. Swifty is going to slaughter those classics…so sad! Poor Joni! Poor Carly, and poor Carole.

    • MarySue says:

      I totally agree, also. The producers must only care about profits. I cringe when I think about the soundtrack that will come out of this movie.

  16. Melisande says:

    No. F’ing no.
    *listens to ‘A Case of You,’ proceeds to wipe out any memory of this*

  17. TheOneAndOnlyOnly says:

    Sign on with all and someone I’m tired of seeing “actresses” hawking cosmetic ads etc. give me the supermodels of the 90s; and yes this is an insult to Joni how are they going to fake her smoking give her candy cigs; this shows this girl and her team are all about MONEY nothing else – she has become such a narcissist she can’t/won’t admit she shouldn’t be doing this – what’s next Lil Wayne as Jimi Hendrix and Hayden paniettere as Janis Joplin? And i’m really tired of seeing her squinty smug face check her in that one pic. I underestimated how many tone deaf tweeners there are.

  18. KellyinSeattle says:

    Please with the clown lipstick! Enough!!! She reminds me of a Tupperware lady, no offense to Tupperware ladies…she’s trying to portray All American Sweetheart and she’s falling short.

  19. Nev says:

    Joni Mitchell is a serious deep artist. Very cerebral. No way is she right for the part. Oh geez.

  20. marie says:

    I’m sorry but I hate the outfit, it looks like something a grandma would wear. As a matter of fact I think the blue top is in my great aunt’s rotation..

  21. Nessa says:

    Probably one of the worst casting decisions ever. Legitimately horrific.

  22. Green_Eyes says:

    That outfit was so classic & I wore similar (no cat shoes thank you..but heels) to the office…but it was the80’s!! She just looks like aStepford Wife that is one volt away from short circuiting. Sorry…

  23. oliveo says:

    Looking on the bright side, Taylor Swift butchering Joni Mitchell could be career-ending!

  24. Rita says:

    Taylor looks incredibly beautiful in the pictures but,…in the genre or tradition of Joni, Carly, and Carole? I think not.

  25. ugh says:

    Imagine Joni Mitchell trying to get “in” with the Kennedy’s. ROFL.

  26. G says:

    Are there no actual actresses available?

    This says volumes about what the producer doesn’t know about Joni.

    My Joni, the great Canadian poet.

  27. j.eyre says:

    This post depresses me. I am not happy about the Pare choice either.

  28. Jaded says:

    How can they take a great biography like Girls Like Us and turn it into a movie?! That’s just total blasphemy!

    These 3 women were totally unique, they were history-changing singers and composers with more talent in their little fingers than all of Taylor Swift and whoever else they cast to play Carole King and Carly Simon.

    And if I sound like a grumpy old woman I am – I was in my teens during the heyday of King, Mitchell and Simon and it really p*sses me off to think that some pin-headed little git of a movie producer young enough to be my grandson thinks Swifty has enough talent, angst and emotion to play Joni Mitchell.

  29. lori says:

    This makes casting Lindsay Lohan as Elizabeth Taylor look like a good idea.

  30. lola says:

    She looks great.

  31. SantaLucia says:

    Nowadays you don’t even have to be an actor or have a talent for acting to get a job in Hollywood

    You just have to be famous (for whatever reason)

    Tragic!

  32. Fred says:

    I think it could work. She could actually sing live without difficulty (think of the movies about sports in which the actor looks completely awkward in closeup), and she is performing in her concerts anyway. Go for it!

  33. Rachel says:

    Does her lack of camisole and demi-bra line under the sheer shirt bug anyone else? I think it’s so distracting, AND I don’t want to see Swifty’s underpinnings. SLOPPY FASHION! (The kitten shoes are just barf.)

    • Hakura says:

      IKR?! I wondered if I was the only one that caught the full-view bra under the top in that picture where she’s coming straight forward.

      NOT a good look.

    • EscapedConvent says:

      I suspect she’ll wear the Kitty Kat shoes while she tries to sing A Case of You.

    • Pamspam says:

      Glad you guys all noticed it too. I felt like a perv or something…

      • Hakura says:

        It’s not strange at all to be observant. =) It was a little hard to tell, & you don’t really see it at all in the side/angle shots. But I can’t believe she wore a ‘demi’ bra. I find that style to be unattractive for some reason.

  34. Guest says:

    I love eveything about Joni Mitchelle so I will respectively pass on this this movie. I find this singer so grating and irritating. I am sure talent was not a requsite in her choice for this project.

  35. L says:

    Sure she’s got the look, but Joni Mitchell is more than just the look. It’s the angst, the music, the songwriting. Not to mention that Shifty can’t act her way out of a paper bag.

    I mean can any Swifty fan tell me she pull off something like this?
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-q4foLKDlcE

    Remember in the original casting rumors they were talking about Jessica Biel for Carly Simon? The casting folks had better NOT pull that crap on anyone. Lea Michele as the goddess that is Carole King would be even worse.

  36. phoenix says:

    NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

  37. EscapedConvent says:

    Well, this is just too much. When I first heard this rumour several months ago, I had a bit of a fit & refused to believe that anyone would cast her as Joni Mitchell. It is just staggeringly awful to think about. Even if I liked her, & I don’t, she does not have the chops to play Joni Mitchell on any level. I thought it was a joke, really.

    If any artist is sacred to me, it’s Joni. I would love to hear the conversations that resulted in Swiftboat getting cast. Even more, I would like to see Joni’s horrified expression when she heard about this. I am going to bury my head in the sand until this goes away.

    I hear the pounding of hooves….

  38. TrustMeOnThis says:

    They paved Paradise and they put up a parking lot.

  39. EscapedConvent says:

    Wait….the new album is called “Red”? Is that to cancel out Joni’s “Blue”?

    I don’t think any bit of casting news has ever made my head spin like this one has. All of a sudden Lindsay Lohan as Elizabeth Taylor sounds like inspired casting, in comparison. Is Swiffer going to try to squeak out Joni’s beautiful songs? Oh, the horror.

  40. skuddles says:

    Well considering Joni Mitchell has an incredible vocal range and is well known for her intellectual acuity and take-no-shit attitude, I’d say Swift is the worst possible choice ever. I suspect Mitchell is NOT impressed.

  41. Onyx XV says:

    I’ve never heard Taylor Swift sing, so I can’t legitimately join in the all the Swifty-hate on here. She does bear a physical resemblance to Joni Mitchell, so I can see why a casting director might choose her for the role. I just finished reading “Girls Like Us,” and while it was interesting, frankly, I don’t see why anyone would want to make a movie out of it. It is three intertwined biographies, which is hard enough to pull off in book form let alone on film. I sure wouldn’t want to tackle that. I also didn’t think it painted a very flattering picture of Joni, in particular. She came off as pathologically self-centered, IMO. In that case, maybe casting Swifty as her was right on the mark!

    • Lisa says:

      I love Joni’s music, but I believe all of the unflattering press about her. I’ve never warmed to her as a person. She’s written some beautiful music, though. Everyone talks about Blue, but Song to a Seagull is her best album. Hell of a debut!

      • Onyx XV says:

        Yeah, I feel pretty much the same way. Always loved her music, never quite felt a connection to her though. After reading a little about her in that book, I can kinda see why that is now. I also saw why I always loved Carly Simon and still do. Now that casting choice will probably get me fired up, if it’s bad!

    • the original bellaluna says:

      Consider yourself lucky. I got epically bitched out by a (much younger) former co-worker for thinking Miley Cyrus sang one of her songs. (On our never-ending MUZAK track.)

      So, there you go!

      • Onyx XV says:

        LOL @ “epically bitched out” – my sympathies at that & the Muzak (blech!) I’ve never heard either of their music – Swifty or Cyrus – to my knowledge, and do consider myself lucky 🙂

  42. Jill says:

    Can we actually get someone with some kind of singing talent to do this? Is there not anyone else in this world? Are we just limited to the same individuals playing parts over and over and over again. Cmon!

  43. Dawn says:

    Although not the best choice it is not awful. I can’t come up with one person who would be an awesome choice anyway. Awful would be something like a Kartrashian playing a role of any kind other than as a reality “star”. At least Taylor is a true musician and if Joni doesn’t mind why should I?

  44. summer says:

    She had a boob job. u can totally tell by those pics. don’t tell me she’s wearing push ups. it’s like she suddenly discovered push ups and started wearing them.

  45. EscapedConvent says:

    It’s good to see that I am not the only person who thinks Taylor Swift trying to play Joni Mitchell signals the decline of civilization. I will take comfort in this. And now, to the fainting couch!

  46. TheOneAndOnlyOnly says:

    Emmastonewannabe you are joking right about her playing a guitar ever hear of someone named Jimmy Page for starters? Music and guitarists have been around a lot longer than 2008. Swifty is close to talentless by any real standard.

  47. I Choose Me says:

    Swift as Joni Mitchell?! Oh hell no! What were they thinking? She has the neither the passion, the raw vocal power or personality to channel Joni Mitchell.

  48. BangBang says:

    This is a joke, no? I understand her appeal to little girls completely but she does zero for me and I cannot understand why they would cast her as Joni?? Maybe they want a young audience introduced to the fabulous music or something?? Uhhhh….I don’t like it a all and will probabley not see it.

  49. BangBang says:

    And to add, this must be a complete mind f*ck to Taylor Swift. In the other article posted on celebitchy today she says how important her music is and it’s everything to her but her songs, imo, are really, really bad and now that she’s cast as Joni that must really validate her opinion that she’s this great musician. Just lol

  50. the original bellaluna says:

    Guess this explains the bangs. (Sorry if this echoes anyone else’s comments, but I really don’t think I can stomach so many comments about such non-person. At least Blohan’s cracknanigans are entertaining.)

  51. j. says:

    Not a fan of her being cast as Joni at all…

    That Red song sounds pretty awful. I must admit I did like the song she released last week that she previewed on GMA though (and iTunes), “Begin Again”… which I’m guessing is about the end of the relationship with JG and beginning of her new relationship with Conor (unless there was someone else she dated before him)…

  52. normades says:

    URGH. I was hoping this was just another rumor like that “les mis” mess, but Variety has confirmed it:

    “Taylor Swift is already in line to play Joni Mitchell…Rising stars testing for the role of Simon include Allison Williams (“Girls”), Jessica Pare (“Mad Men”) and Analeigh Tipton (“Crazy, Stupid, Love”); among the actresses who will read for the role of King are Alison Pill (“The Newsroom”), Olivia Thirlby (“Dredd 3D”), Ari Graynor (“For a Good Time, Call”) and Zoe Kazan (“Ruby Sparks”).”

    I think Pill would make a good King.

  53. axis2cluster_b says:

    All I’m taking away from this is that now I’m 100% convinced on the bolt-ons. The rest… blech. I can’t even with her anymore.

  54. blonde on the dock says:

    Joni Mitchell is from my hometown. I actually know her. I think Swifty is a good choice other than the fact she can’t sing.

  55. Lisa says:

    Oh goody! And Kim Kardashian can play Joan Baez.

    What does Joni have to say about this? She’s probably through the roof over it, knowing how selective she is about, well, everything.

    • EscapedConvent says:

      Oh my God. This could actually happen. There seems to be no limit to this bizarro casting trend. I will keep my ears peeled for a reaction from Joni to this news. I’ve loved her for decades, but I admit she sounds like a cranky old lady in her interviews. She called Bob Dylan a phony plagiarist—imagine what she might say about this!

      • Lisa says:

        God, exactly! Especially since everyone lumos her in with Dylan because they ran in the same circles. She considers Jimi Hendrix the only authentic one. Maybe Kim K could read for him if they find someone else for Baez. 😛

    • Suze says:

      I’m amusing myself both by envisioning Kim as Joan Baez and thinking about Joni’s reaction to this casting stunt.

      Hell, if Swifty can pull this off she has more moxie than I gave her credit for. I anxiously await the movie!

  56. Laine says:

    This is so devastating.

    I adore Joni Mitchell. I can’t believe that anyone would think this is a good idea. How can Swifty possibly portray the meaning behind songs like Little Green and Blue?

    I hope that any true fans of Joni wont waste their time with this joke of a film.

  57. Carolyn says:

    Taylor can sing. Just not anything like Joni. Cosign on all comments about Taylor not having any personality, depth or acting skills to carry this off.

    Who the hell thinks this movie & casting is a good idea? Surely the roles can be given to other more deserving actresses/singers? Joni’s songs won’t appeal to youngsters and those who aren’t youngstes won’t see this with Taylor in it. Weird all round.

  58. A Fan says:

    How can a someone who swims in the shallow end of the pool play someone who swims in the deep?

  59. DrM says:

    She reminds me of those stories you used to hear about Grace Kelly – prim and proper looking on the outside, completely different on the inside LOL

  60. savedbykittylitter says:

    What the hell is that outfit…

  61. PinKPunk says:

    Lohan as Elizabeth Taylor, Swift as Joni Mitchell, what’s next? Carrot Top as David Bowie??? fu#K this, I’m never watching TV again! blehh!

    • EscapedConvent says:

      Don’t worry, Tilda Swinton will play David Bowie, & she would be brilliant.

      I am tickled pink by the stunt casting suggestions on this thread. And while we’re on the subject, I think Joss Stone should play Joplin.

  62. baja says:

    …….a student in Amsterdam?
    OR IS IS LADY GA GA?

  63. zenb!tch says:

    She dresses like my mother did at her age. My mother is about the same age as Peggy Olsen!

  64. Mar says:

    Joni Mitchell is cool. Taylor Swift is a dweeb.

  65. F5 says:

    ROFL @ these pics.

  66. Jammie Dodger says:

    The REAL question is who is playing the man in all of their lives, James Taylor? John Mayer? Bleah. Joni must be getting a ton of money for this or she’d be in court instantly. Wild.