Hugh Laurie for Higgins?- Page 3

[Jon]

Posted: 12/19/08 at 11:17pm

Emma Thompson, who's writing the screenplay, has indicated she will restore the original Shaw ending.

[commasplice]

Posted: 12/19/08 at 11:44pm

"Emma Thompson, who's writing the screenplay, has indicated she will restore the original Shaw ending."

And for that, I love her.

[Shannon Bo Dannon]

Posted: 12/20/08 at 3:41pm

Hugh Laurie would be brilliant, I hope that happens.

Thank god Emma Thompson is putting in the original ending, that is very good news.

I'd rather see Hathaway than Knightley as Eliza, but I do agree that the accent is extremely important. Maybe if Hathaway had a fantastic voice coach or something.

[LadyDramaturg2]

Posted: 12/20/08 at 4:38pm

agree agree agree with all the go-Hugh-Laurie opinions, except,

is he a Singer?

he plays instruments that play-in-tune themselves (piano, guitar)so, PLEASE please let him be a singer.

Patrick Stewart for the Broadway revival.

[Plum]

Posted: 12/20/08 at 5:01pm

Laurie definitely sings - he sang 3 times in this week's SNL, sang period songs like "Minnie the Moocher" in Jeeves and Wooster, and his own original comedy songs in A Bit of Fry and Laurie. (The "Kicking Ass" song is one of my personal favorites from the latter.) So you can see him singing on any of those DVDs or on that tubular site we're not supposed to mention. He has a nice natural voice - not amazing, but he's more than up to singing Higgins.
Updated On: 12/20/08 at 05:01 PM

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 12/20/08 at 5:03pm

Yes. Yes. Yes. YES!!!!!!!!!!

[TheActr97J]

Posted: 12/20/08 at 5:32pm

Since when does Higgins have to sing anyhow?

I wish they'd put stars in all the other roles and cast a fabulous unknown as Eliza!

[MrMidwest]

Posted: 12/20/08 at 7:42pm

Kate Winslet? Too old?

[Plum]

Posted: 12/20/08 at 7:45pm

I think Winslet is about the same age Hepburn was when she did the part. And even if she wasn't...she's Kate Winslet, and I'd overlook a lot for an actress that good.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 12/20/08 at 8:26pm

Why remake a classic?

[Plum]

Posted: 12/20/08 at 8:28pm

There's no good reason as far as I'm concerned, but since they're clearly going forward with it they might as well cast good people.

[TIGGOSAURUS]

Posted: 12/20/08 at 8:43pm

I think Hugh Laurie would be an excellent choice for this role (am I the only one who thought it might be a bit of a no-brainer for Emma Thompson to suggest him given that (a) he's made a big international transition with House and (b) they performed in Cambridge Footlights together? I'm fully expecting a cameo from the wonderful Stephen Fry too).

As for the female lead - how about Anna Friel? She's also made something of a transition and she is a closer match in age to Hugh Laurie. I really liked her in Pushing Daisies, even if her character wasn't always the most easy to sympathise / empathise with sometimes. But overall, VERY photogenic, versatile and talented IMHO.

Updated On: 12/20/08 at 08:43 PM

[LaMusicaVa]

Posted: 12/20/08 at 9:57pm

Hugh Laurie would be perfect for Higgins! He was the first person I thought of when I heard that a remake was inevitable. Let's just hope the 'eventual director' agrees with Emma Thompson.

According to articles I've seen Keira Knightley is 'signed' to play Eliza. That could be exaggeration or misinformation, but I have a feeling it's true. (Although one article's author displayed their ignorance by declaring she was being coached by a voice teacher to handle "all the high C notes" in 'I Could Have Danced All Night.' We know there isn't even one high C in that song...)

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 12/20/08 at 10:25pm

I guess I'm showing my age by this, but WHY are they doing a remake of MFL? Nothing against Emma Thompson or Laurie or anyone else involved, but WHY????? Some movies just don't need to be remade -- Gone With the Wind, Maltese Falcan, All About Eve, Sunset Boulevard come to mind -- just leave them alone!!!! With the advent of DVD, VHS and whatever (I told you I was showing my age), the originals are readily available and will suffer by comparison.

[Taryn]

Posted: 12/20/08 at 10:57pm

As for the female lead - how about Anna Friel?

That's the first suggestion I've heard that I've really loved. I enjoy both Keira Knightley and Anne Hathaway (quite a lot, actually), but that's the first name that really clicked for me.

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 12/20/08 at 10:57pm

I like Anna Friel a lot, but does she have the soprano chops?

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 12/21/08 at 12:03am

I'd prefer Winslet over that bag 'o bones Knightly any day. She one of the most annoying actors possible, on screen and off. One of Winslet's many talents is the ability to play younger and older with ease.

[Plum]

Posted: 12/21/08 at 12:22am

Hepburn was 34 or 35 when she did My Fair Lady, though admittedly I think Julie Andrews was 21 when she did the original show. Winslet is 33.

But I really do think Knightley is signed - a crying shame, but also settled fact, unless they get delayed and it interferes with something else in her schedule or something.

I think Anna Friel might be the only member of the Pushing Daisies cast who hasn't done any singing...is there some past project I'm not aware of? I like her and all, but if she doesn't even sing a bit there are other ways to go.

[Taryn]

Posted: 12/21/08 at 1:01am

I will say this about Keira Knightley... When I first heard that she was cast as Lizzie in Pride and Prejudice, I was AGHAST. But she totally blew me away when I saw the movie. She's pleasantly surprised me before, so for all I know, she could rock this.

[LadyDramaturg2]

Posted: 12/21/08 at 2:27am

Learning How To Read Music?
"Since when does Higgins have to sing anyhow?" says TheActr97j.

Whoa, study up a little bit (the score, e.g.,), and get back to us when you actually understand how it all works.




Updated On: 12/24/08 at 02:27 AM

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 12/21/08 at 3:05am

Meh on Keira Knightley. Anne Hathaway, the brilliant Kate Winslet, and Anna Friel (brilliant idea!) are ten thousand time better choices than Knightley. Unfortunately, she is already signed so we'll have to deal with her in the role.

[bwaybabe2]

Posted: 12/21/08 at 3:32am

There's something about his appearance that does not quite strike me as Higgins...that said, makeup and good acting can change that. He is one of my current favortie actors, and I think he would be brilliant in "whatever" he undertakes.

[commasplice]

Posted: 12/21/08 at 4:00am

IGNORANCE CHECK!
"Since when does Higgins have to sing anyhow?" says TheActr97j.

Whoa, study up a little bit, and get back to us when you actually understand how it all works.

Your condescension is completely unnecessary. If we were talking about casting a role like Emile de Beque in a remake of South Pacific (or even the casting of Eliza), TheActr's comment would be odd, but Higgins' singing is much closer to speak-singing than actual full-out singing. You don't need to be a legitimate singer; Rex Harrison supposedly said that his vocal range was "one-and-a-half notes" (and I've heard Higginses who have tried to break away from the recitative aspects of the score and try to truly sing the role, and it doesn't really work).

Updated On: 12/21/08 at 04:00 AM

[CONAries]

Posted: 12/21/08 at 4:16am

This would be an incredible casting victory if they could get him, I've been a fan of his work for years, now all they need is a cameo from Stephen Fry and the Cambridge reunion will be complete!

[TIGGOSAURUS]

Posted: 12/21/08 at 4:21am

Snippet of Anna Friel singing (with an Irish accent!):

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=zQ8DEgEuzus

I'm not much of a fan of Keira Knightley - I thought she was Ok in 'Bend It Like Beckham' but I've never understood the hype surrounding her. She comes across as very bland and lacking much of a spark of personality in everything I've seen her in since.