Broadway Legend Joined: 5/7/04
According to screenwriter Emma Thompson.
>>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."<<<
Carey Mulligan Will Take The Lead In 'My Fair Lady'; Hugh Grant Still A Maybe
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/7/04
Here's another story:
http://incontention.com/?p=24171
I would LOVE if this were true!!!!
Mulligan is a great choice! But no thank you on Hugh Grant.
This is perfect!! Love Carey...she's a fantastic choice.
They chose the wrong Hugh. Wish it were Hugh Laurie, which would be a MUCH better choice.
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/16/07
This would actually make me excited about this. I thought she was just marvelous in "An Education."
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...
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.
EXCELLENT CHOICE! Loved her in An Education!!
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/30/08
Does she sing? She is an excellent acting choice but I don't know her vocal talent history.
I absolutely love her and now will actually look forward to this.
Again. CAN SHE SING?
Kinda important in a musical that originally starred Julie Andrews.
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.
Ah Sally Sparrow, is there nothing you can't do? I'm excited about this, but will reserve getting too happy until it is the day of filming.
Again. CAN SHE SING? Kinda important in a musical that originally starred Julie Andrews.
Er, not that important in a movie that originally starred Audrey Hepburn.
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
Let's hope things work out with Hugh Grant. I think he'd be marvelous in the role...and sexy, too!
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.
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/27/05
The problem is that they won't dub. For some reason, modern movie musicals just seem to refuse to dub (with the exception of Carlotta in PotO).
Were they not rumors of Colin Firth being considered for Higgins? He'd be my top choice.
..and Jim Broadbent as Pickering.
Broadway Star Joined: 7/24/07
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.
"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."
-she should have won the oscar
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.
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