>>The most recent rumors have suggested that Carey Mulligan and Hugh Grant were being courted for the lead roles, although Mulligan denied the reports a few months back. Things seem to have changed, however; Emma Thompson, who's written the screenplay for the film, was at the premiere of her latest film, the family sequel "Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang," last night, and confirmed some of these reports. Speaking to the BBC on the red carpet, she said that "I think Carey is set to play [the role], yes."<<<
Uhhh....I heart Hugh Laurie was in talks for Higgins, not Hugh Grant. Perhaps someone has their Hugh's mixed up. At least it's not Hugh Jackman. What a waste of a role for him -- he wouldn't be able to showcase his beautiful voice!!
I find it interesting that Emma Thompson is penning the screenplay. I think she'll do wonders with an adaptation of Pygmalion...but MY FAIR LADY? Let's see what she has planned for it...
"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle
What a stupid, stupid, stupid idea. Who are they making this movie for? It's something that clearly doesn't need a remake; it's doomed to artistic failure (or, at least, indifference) and it's not going to be a big commercial success in this day and age.
After seeing AN EDUCATION I thought Mulligan just had to play the role. She was simply fantastic in AN EDUCATION, a star-making performance, I could not take my eyes off her when she was on screen and her acting was mesmerizing. Either her or Meryl Streep should have won the Oscar this year, she was that good. I'd love to see her play Eliza, I can only imagine the wonders she'll do with the role. However, I think casting Hugh Grant is a mistake, as I've said before, Colin Firth is my pick but I wouldn't mind to see an AN EDUCATION reunion with Peter Sarsgaard playing Higgins.
"Some people can thrive and bloom living life in a living room, that's perfect for some people of one hundred and five. But I at least gotta try, when I think of all the sights that I gotta see, all the places I gotta play, all the things that I gotta be at"
Seeing Music & Lyrics (guilty pleasure), Hugh Grant does have a singing voice but nothing that could ever invoke the idea of Henry Higgins. I would love Hugh Laurie and I even liked that Daniel Craig idea.
It doesn't matter if she can sing. She can be dubbed.
"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle
Yes! I'm not a Carey fan, I think she's overrated, but as long as it's not Keira it's all good. Anything, as long as Keira is not part of it, is a ok with me.
Daniel Craig, haha. That was just me and my bandwagon.
What a wonderful choice. Mulligan is a brilliant actress with the aura and elegance of the late great Audrey Hepburn. Her performance in An Education should have been taken more seriously at the Oscars (ditto Gaborey Sidibe). As far as Hugh Grant goes he was absolutely wonderful in Notting Hill and Four Weddings and a Funeral and I see why he would be a good choice because of his upper middle class wit and his intelligent humor. I however think he has this charm and modesty which is definitely not a trait of Higgins. Colin Firth would be wonderful but he is doing a very similar movie about speech called the King's Speech. He plays King George VI who works with a speech therapist to fix his stutter. The speech therapist is played by Geoffrey Rush who I think would be brilliant as Henry Higgins. Not only does he resemble Rex Harrison he has excellent speech and is a dynamic presence in everything he is in. At least we will see him in a Higgin-esqe role next year.
Current Avatar:The sensational Aaron Tveit in the soon to be hit production of Catch Me If You Can.
"After seeing AN EDUCATION I thought Mulligan just had to play the role. She was simply fantastic in AN EDUCATION, a star-making performance, I could not take my eyes off her when she was on screen and her acting was mesmerizing."
Oh dear God (and I'm an atheist) this is so wrong on so many levels. Hugh Grant is a boy. No matter if he's 45, he's a boy. The role calls for a MAN. Like Geoffry Rush or Hugh Laurie. Men in their 50s to 60s who look like they have traveled the world collecting obscure accents, not spent the last three decades in a drawing room. Hugh Grant is a fop. You know, even Ian MacKellan, ten years ago, would have been right for the role. Rex Harrison was 50 when he first played the role. He had been in the theatre for forty years by then, having been the biggest of matinee idols (The called him Sexy Rexy) in the early 1030s.
Hugh Grant is all wrong and too light weight. There is no malice in him. No evil. Higgins is a prick, he treats Eliza like dirt. Grant trying to play him will look like a snit.
And as for Colin Firth - another fine actor - if you tried to sit through Mama Mia the Movie, you'll know why he's wrong.