My Fair Lady - remake (+ more) — Page 3

I too would love to see Maggie Smith as Mrs Higgins.
I'd also love to see Stephen Fry as Pickering. He would be perfect for it. And even better if Hugh Laurie was Higgins.

Michael Cane as Doolittle? That would never work in a million years. Name or no name. There are plenty of other names to play his part.

Hugh Laurie isn't enough of a name now?

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I was just throwing examples. Basically, no theater star that's not a film name is going to star in this movie.
SporkGodess, like I said, I don't think Laurie's HOUSE schedule would allow him the chance to be in this film.

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StephenSondheimWHOO: I completely agree.

ray: Ahh, I see. Too bad. :/

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^^^Yeah, but this is a musical. There's pre-recording, learning choreography, and the fact they want film on-location, and that always comes with its problems.

I know that Higgins doesn't dance, but who knows? It might be different.

Now that I think about it, I wonder how different it's going to be from the stage play/original movie. Maybe it might have a different ending? I also wonder if they'll cut any songs. I think it'd be pretty cool if they added "Say a Prayer For Me Tonight" before Eliza goes to the ball. Wasn't there another song called "Come to the Ball" (sung by Higgins) that was cut from the stage production? There was also a dream ballet sequence involving Eliza.

Ben Kingsley as Pickering?

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Anyway, I've read that Keira Knightley is a done deal if this project ever actually happens. It's better to speculate on the supporting cast.

Not true, surprisingly. Knightley herself said that she covets the role but hasn't actually gotten it yet. I think there are worse choices, but heavens do I wish we could find someone with a better voice. If our theoretical movie refuses to cast someone less-known as Eliza, I'm not above hoping for dubbing. What can I say? I'm a traditionalist that way. :P

(And BTW, why not cast a newcomer as Eliza? If the producers had some guts they'd try to discover the next starlet-in-the-making - who also happens to have a good voice - and cast her.)

As for Hugh Laurie - he can film in his House hiatus, and has recently with Street Kings. But to be fair, that was a supporting role filmed in LA. On the other hand, he understandably likes to go to England on his breaks, so there's that. And one of his best friends is writing the screenplay and wants him for the part.

I guess just think he'd be so completely ideal for Higgins I'm willing to grasp at straws a bit. I think gets about three months off in the summer, plus a week or two for Christmas that can be used for pickups. Is that a plausible time frame?

I think they got away with it in Hairspray because, apart from the theatre community, the musical wasn't that well known, so no preconceptions were made by the general public. Eliza, however, is the biggest selling point of the film. Plus, the other female supporting roles, with the exception of Mrs Pearce, are just not big enough to attract big names.

"I can't think of any big name who could do the role justice vocally." How many of the top actress' vocal skills are you familiar with? We know very little about most actress' singing abilities.

Dayao, none of these actresses have to be professional singers. They just have to be good enough to hit the note one time in a studio. This is a movie, not a live performance being done eight times a week, some of these actresses are certainly good enough to pull off the role on screen, and some of the mentioned actresses have been professionally trained. Just because you haven't seen any of them on Broadway (yet) doesn't mean they can't play the role, and do it well.
That being said, I think Anne is the best choice. She does have the training and the voice, but she is already under contract to do the Judy Garland musical both on screen and stage. Knightley isn't a bad choice and I think she could do a fine job. At the end of the day, a name actress will be important to make this work. The actress playing Eliza is what people will want to see, not the movie, people can put in their DVD for that.

Professor Higgins: Daniel Day-Lewis
Eliza Doolittle: Emily Blunt
Alfred P. Doolittle: Bill Nighy
Pickering: James Cromwell
Mrs. Pearce: Mariam Margoyles
Freddie: James Marsden
Mrs. Higgins: Julie Andrews (if she'll do it.)

^ Apparently that may come true about Carey:

http://breakingnews.iol.ie/entertainment/mulligan-to-play-eliza-in-my-fair-lady-444932.html

I'm sorry, but I'm so glad Keira isn't involved anymore!