US braced for ‘Jewface’ storm as Yentl goes Gaga
►LADY GAGA HAS been given the starring role in a remake of the Barbra Streisand musical Yentl, the JC can reveal.
The casting coup promises huge returns at the box office — but it also means Hollywood is about to be rocked by the most explosive “Jewface” row yet.
The original 1983 film was a labour of love for Streisand, who not only starred in it but was also director and co-wrote the screenplay with Maureen Lipman’s late husband Jack Rosenthal.
Based upon the Isaac Bashevis Singer short story Yentl The Yeshiva Boy, it tells the story of a girl in a shtetl in early 20th century Poland who pretends to be a man so she can learn the Talmud — but then falls in love with a fellow student.
Despite a mixed critical response upon its release, the film was a box office hit.
It will come as no surprise after the success of Lady Gaga’s 2018 version of A Star Is Born that she should be starring in a remake of another musical. However, Gaga — real name Stefani Germanotta (pictured) — has entirely Italian Catholic ancestry, with no Jewish roots. Her casting comes just months after it was revealed Helen Mirren is starring in a forthcoming Golda Meir biopic, prompting furious objections from Ms Lipman and others who asked why the role had not been given to a Jewish performer. Such criticism is bound to be redoubled as Gaga takes on a quintessentially Jewish role. Last night, Yentl remake producer Mirup Taschenhaman told the JC: “Of course I understand people will be upset — I am too. My first two choices were Adele and Beyoncé but they both said no. Nu, you can’t win them all, right?” Yentl the remake will be released on 30 February 2023.