No, Andy Gibb was not in the final film Xanadu. While he was originally considered for a lead role, he ultimately did not appear in the movie.
Original Casting Intent
Andy Gibb, a popular singer and younger brother to the Bee Gees, was initially cast to play the male lead character, Sonny Malone, in the 1980 musical fantasy film Xanadu. This was a significant role opposite the film's star, Olivia Newton-John. However, for reasons that are not explicitly detailed in publicly available information, he was replaced before filming commenced or during early production stages.
The Final Cast of Xanadu
The role of Sonny Malone eventually went to actor Michael Beck. Beck, known for his previous work in The Warriors, starred alongside Olivia Newton-John and legendary dancer Gene Kelly in what would be Kelly's final film role.
| Role | Original Casting Consideration | Final Actor |
|---|---|---|
| Sonny Malone | Andy Gibb | Michael Beck |
| Kira Kingston | N/A | Olivia Newton-John |
| Danny McGuire | N/A | Gene Kelly |
For more details on the film's cast and production, you can visit its official page on IMDb.
Enduring Success of the Xanadu Soundtrack
Despite Andy Gibb's absence from the film itself, the Xanadu soundtrack achieved enormous commercial success, becoming a significant cultural phenomenon of the era.
Key highlights of the soundtrack's performance include:
- The song "Magic", performed by Olivia Newton-John, soared to number 1 on the US pop singles chart.
- In the United Kingdom, the soundtrack album reached an impressive peak position of number 2.
- The iconic title track, "Xanadu", also sung by Olivia Newton-John and featuring Electric Light Orchestra (ELO), held the number 1 spot on the UK charts for two weeks in July 1980.
The soundtrack, a collaborative effort primarily between Electric Light Orchestra and Olivia Newton-John, remains a beloved part of 1980s music history, outshining the film's initial critical reception. Its catchy tunes and disco-pop fusion continue to resonate with fans today.
