[jazzygirlsings]

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/118417.html

UGH! And again...UGH!!!!!!!!

[Set_Buildin_Dad]

Maybe they intend to overdub her the way they did with Audrey Hepburn in the first movie. From listening to her sing on YouTube (thread is in the social forum) sh doesn't have the singing chops to carry the role.

[jazzygirlsings]

[Salome]

damn i cant read the article at work its blocked.

honestly I doubt they wouild remake a best picture winner..but if they do they wont find anyone to play the lead! who could replace Rex Harrison??and whjo can put a new spin oin him? maybe Jermey irons but he is the only one i can name.

[lottielou22]

This makes me sad. They were supposed to wait until I got older.
I'd rather see Emmy Rossum in this than Keira Knightley. At least she can sing for herself. (I guess that statement is debatable among some people, though.)

[Salome]

Emmy Rossum cant act at all. this is Shaw not a chorus concert. besides if they dont cast Higgins well it doesnt matter anyway.

besides the orifginal film is unbeatable, Sir Rex,Stanley Holloway, Gl;adys Cooper,Wilfred Hyde White, Jeremy Brett,Mona Washbourne,Theodore Bikel..you cant get a cast like that today.

[jazzygirlsings]

[Brock07]

Dawn, here's the article so you don't have to wait to get home to read it.

"Columbia Pictures announced June 5 that it will join forces with CBS Films to create a new film version of the classic musical My Fair Lady that will be produced by Duncan Kenworthy and Cameron Mackintosh.

The film will utilize the legendary Lerner and Loewe score but will adapt Lerner's original book by drawing additional material from Pygmalion, upon which the musical is based. Producers hope to "dramatize as believably as possible for present-day audiences the emotional highs and lows of Eliza Doolittle as she undergoes the ultimate makeover, transforming under the tutelage of Professor Henry Higgins from a Cockney flower girl to a lady," according to press notes.

Producers plan to film on location in the original London settings of Covent Garden, Drury Lane, Tottenham Court Road, Wimpole Street and Ascot racecourse.

Columbia Pictures president Doug Belgrad said in a statement, "My Fair Lady is not just the quintessential stage musical and classic film, but a fantastic story. We're thrilled to have the opportunity to bring it to the screen once again. There is no one alive who knows this material better than Cameron Mackintosh; he has staged two revivals of My Fair Lady, the first in 1979 directed by Alan Jay Lerner himself, and the second the award-winning adaptation that's now touring the United States. He and Duncan Kenworthy have already set out on the long journey of bringing a new version to thescreen and we feel very lucky to be a part of it. This update will preserve the magic of the musical while fleshing out the characters and bringing 1912 London to life in an authentic and exciting way for contemporary audiences."

Producer Mackintosh added, "My Fair Lady's extraordinary tale of a man turning a flower girl into a lady, and then falling for her, combines one of the most powerful narratives in world literature with some of the wittiest and most winning songs ever written for the stage. People everywhere will fall in love again with Lerner and Loewe's miraculous songs set in a big, gorgeous film with contemporary stars, a more realistically achieved vision of Edwardian London, and a touch more Pygmalion at the heart of this powerfully emotional story of a girl's transformation. The classic story of a flower girl transformed into an instant sensation couldn’t be more timely in a contemporary world obsessed with overnight celebrity."

And, producer Kenworthy said, "When George Cukor shot his wonderful film entirely on sets inside Warner's Burbank soundstages, Lerner and Loewe's smash hit musical had been running on Broadway for seven years, and the film was appropriately reverential and inevitably theatrical. With forty years of hindsight, we're confident that by setting these wonderful characters and brilliant songs in a more realistic context, and by exploring Eliza's emotional journey more fully, we will honor both Shaw and Lerner at the same time as engaging and entertaining contemporary audiences the world over. The casting of Eliza is crucial, and we are currently in discussion with a major international star to play the role."

Variety reports that film actress Keira Knightley is currently in talks to star as Eliza. Knightley was nominated for an Academy Award for her performance in "Pride & Prejudice."

My Fair Lady is based on George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion and features a book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe. The original Broadway production opened on March 15, 1956, ran for over six years and won nine Tony Awards, including one for Best Musical. The score contains such Broadway classics as "I Could Have Danced All Night," "On the Street Where You Live," "Wouldn't It Be Loverly?" and "Get Me to the Church on Time."

The musical was adapted for the screen in 1963, directed by George Cukor, and cast Audrey Hepburn as Eliza and Rex Harrison as Higgins. The film won eight Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actor."

[wicked_boy]

I see MFL as a true classic that can't be replaced.

It's one of those films that you grow up with.

Although, it will be nice to see how it turns out.

[Salome]

I cant see a reason for a remake tohugh the first film was near perfect.

[Quique]

Sounds like a terrible idea. We'll wait and see.

[nabla]

Where's the room for improvement? How could they possible make a film half as good as the original?
Well maybe they could go back in time, steal young Julie Andrews who could still sing, and actually cast her as Eliza this time

[Salome]

Audrey was wonderful AFTER she became the lady. it was her Flowergirl Eliza tht was not totally believeable.
but when you consider Rex,Holloway,Cooper,Hyde-White,Brett,Wasbourne and Bikel...you tend to forget Audrey was a bit miscast. I mean seriously i'd sacrifice half of Eliza's perofrmance to get that cast!!!

[jazzygirlsings]

[actor]

Who could play Higgins? I keep thinking that Alan Rickman (maybe George Hearn but is he too old?) would do a decent job but I agree, no one could top Sir Rex's performance. And why are they messing with the script? If it isn't broke don't fix it! They are gonna have to hunt down a HELL of a talented cast to even come close to the original.

[jazzygirlsings]

[Salome]

Keira I think could play Liza. I dont know if she could sing it but..that didnt matter the first time lol

as for the script I cant help but think Rex is looking down and smiling saying "finally someone is putting more Shaw back into My Fair Lady" LOL

[kozafluitmusique]

ugh. why?

[darthlorexa]

Some movies should just never be remade *clings to original My Fair Lady*

[music is my life!!!]

why can't they stop doing this to the classics? i've grown up with the Rexz Harrison version, and i continue to think he's legendary, and shouldn't be replaced by somone today!

as for keira knightly - can she even do a funny cockney accent? doubt it...

[actor]

The cockney accent isn't supposed to be funny.

She is British so I don't think she will have a problem with it.

[Set_Buildin_Dad]

I agree that nobody is ever going to replace Rex. I saw him do the role on stage and it was just magical. He owned te stage whenever he was on. He is better on stage than he was in the movie (if that is even possible).

I saw Jonathan Pryce do a credible take on the role during a tribuite to CamMac called "Hey Mr. Producer". It was nowhere near the quality of Rex, but it was much better that any of the other imitators i've seen. I wonder if that is who is being considered?

[music is my life!!!]

^ i didn't mean a funny accent - just the way she'd present herself doesn't seem very elizerish to me...

plus - no-one could replace rex - he's an incredible actor and the part completely suited him!

[Mark Walton]

[music is my life!!!]

can't they get McCutchen to do it then? She's a great Eliza - very funny, yet sings very well

[Salome]

[Salome]

[jax1491]

I will kill myself before I go see that. Sorry....

[mantarnia]

I think "Michelle Dockery", who is currently playing eliza in pygmalion would be a good choice. I also happen to know that she can sing.

[nabla]

[annasette]

[Salome]

never heard of her. who is higgins in the production?

[mantarnia]

[mantarnia]

[Salome]

Tim Piggott Smith is a great actor. so versatile. I'd love to see him star in Pygmalion. too bad i'm in America.

[Melindaisy]

This whole thing makes we want to cry.... why do they think we need an "update" on a perfectly wonderful film to begin with?
No one will ever be a better Higgins than Rex Harrison...
Just goes to show you how hard up the film industry is for original ideas!

And Keira Knightley?....... please!

[ConverseSneaker]

I can imagine Anne Hathaway as Eliza better than Keira, regardless of Anne being American.

They just want to add another english beauty role to Keira, honestly....

[Salome]

please not anne hathaway! ugh!

[sopranodespair]

[Salome]

She isnt much of an actress especially if you want her to master Shaw. plus she's american.

[nycbound]

^Oh, I don't agree. I think Anne Hathaway has a lot of talent. And, it's not like Americans haven't played Brits successfully and vice versa.

[Salome]

well I havent seen her be good in anything yet.

i havent seen get Smart yet though but she was pretty lame in those jUlie Andrews films, she was poor in Devil Wears Prada.

[nycbound]

Well, there you go. I must be wrong then. :/

[Set_Buildin_Dad]

I also like Anne Hathaway as an actress. I think she shows a lot of promise, but I can't see her as Eliza. I've never seen her sing anything that would show me she has the chops for the role.

[nycbound]

^Absolutely, I agree. I don't necessarily think she's the right choice for this particular role, but I disagree with Salome's statement that she fails as an actress. I thought her work in "Brokeback Mountain" was particularly good.

For Eliza, I wish they could feel comfortable casting an unknown because quite honestly, I can't think of any A-listers that would fit the role.

[Salome]

Kate Beckinsale would be perfet..she had a strong theatre bacground. studied theatre..and is quite versatile. She can sing too.

[actor]

Just because she's American doesn't mean she can't change her accent lol Although there is nothing worse than hearing an American doing a bad British accent lol

[Monsieur D'Arque]

John Lithgow. Please.

[annasette]

I would agree that I think Kate beckinsale would have been a better choice.

But Americans doing a standard British accent are not generally very good. But that is easier to do acceptably. A strong very specific regional accent like Cockney done inadequately too easily falls into appalling caracature! Definitely to be avoided!

[musical4eva]

Three words. Dick Van Dyke... Or maybe it's two... not quite sure. XD

[jackissensational]

"I thought I was going to die. My knees actually started buckling."
-Keira Knightley, on having to sing in front of the cast and crew in "The Edge of Love."

[nabla]

Oh then she's totally ready to be the female lead in one of the greatest shows ever,

[LittleGavroche]

I remember reading something to the effect of Anne Hathaway being the first choice for Christine because of her amazing soprano. -shrug- Could be hearsay, but why does CamMack need to put his greasy hands on everything?

[Salome]

Cameron ruined My Fair Lady in the laste 90s with his weird and dry London revival.

[Not Dead Yet]

Anne Hathaway would probably take it if she was offered the role-- she likes Audrey Hepburn so she would probably jump at the idea of remaking a classic that originally starred her idol.

Can't say I'd like that to happen, I would prefer they cast someone else. But I wouldn't hate it as much as I'd hate it with Keira. I mean, at least get someone who can sing.. and not Depp-sing.

[AllThatJazzHands]

I'm adding this article (I have it in the social forum, too but it's more appropriate here).

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/119774.html

[JIJane]

[Salome]

and so was Anthony Andrews. he should have opening in the revival not Pryce.

but the orchestrations and the staging and the cuts were all horrible in that procuction. it was the ugliest sounding versionm of With a Little Bit of Luck that I heard in my life.

[JIJane]

I agree.

[Yakko]

Well if they do remake it I would want to have either Anthony Warlow or Seth McFarland(his Stewie is based on Rex Harrsion mind you) in the role of Higgins.

[Salome]

Stewie is based on Noel Coward.



Warlow would be terrible!

It would have to be a great actor like Rex..
either Irons,Rickman or someone of that calibur.

[Yakko]

1. you think that the god of music would be terrible?! Why?
2. Stewie IS based on Rex Harrison. It says so on imdb.

[Sweeney Hyde]

[Glissando]

Keira can't do it. Straight up. She can't sing it and she can't act it.

Have a nice day.

[Yakko]

[Patrick]

[Salome]

the accent is a perfect Noel Coward. the only time he sounds Harrison like is when he does the higgins bit. his voice is a perfect Noel Coward imitation.

[Salome]

[lottielou22]

Somebody said something somewhere about Hugh Laurie as Higgins...
I think he'd be the best out of the contenders for the part... if he is a contender....

[Salome]

I heard they are after Daniel Day Lewis..god he'd be so wrong!!!

[lottielou22]

^I think he's the one who's doing it, actually.
Wasn't he that creepy guy in Gangs of New York??

[Salome]

he did laot of things..Gangs of New York, My Left Foot,The Crucible, In the Name of the Father.

great actor.. but wrong for Higgins.

[nabla]

I haven't seen him in much but i can hardly see that guy from the crucible being Henry Higgins
That's almost as wierd as Richard E. Grant doing it in Sydney

[mantarnia]

[NoOneMournsTheWicked]

We were discussing this in my musical theatre history class.

I am of the opinion that Keira Knightley would be able to ACT the role of Eliza beautifully...but not sing it quite as beautifully.

...Basically, I think she should do Pygmalion. With James McAvoy as Freddy, because they make a gorgeous couple (yes, I'm watching 'Atonement' right now).

[Salome]

Freddy is such a small part . why would you care who played the junior twit in Pygmalion.

[Mistress]

Kiera is too classy and pretty and doesn't have the vocal strength for it. I thing it'd be much safer to hold open auditions and get a talented/well trained unkown.

[NoOneMournsTheWicked]

[Salome]

Street Where you live is a brilliant song probably the best sonmg in the show.

nothing beats John Micheal King's original version of the number of course.

[lottielou22]

[le_moofin]

[Salome]

Freddy is a fioppish wuss but Street Where You Live is such a great song.

[le_moofin]

[GungaDin]

Pierce Brosnan has just been announced to play Henry Higgins in the new filmusical version opposite Keira Knightley!

[Salome]

its doomed.

Il ike Brosnana for what he is but he isnt a shavian and he cant hold pitch.

[SomeoneLikeYou]

Pierce Brosnan?!?!?

NOOOOO!

I mean, I liked Mamma Mia but he was the worst singer in it. Laurie, Irons, or Rickman would clearly be so much better. Don't casting directors have any brains?

[jackrussell]

Keira Knightley is perfect in every way, to my blinkered male eyes, but she would have a huge credibility gap to convince anybody she's a Cockney flower girl, even more so than Audrey Hepburn.

Rex Harrison managed the unlikely feat of totally owning the role of Higgins, despite talking the songs instead of singing them. (I still can't make up my mind which is worse out of that or being dubbed.)

It's a bit ironic to talk of any new version being a travesty of a classic, when it is at least arguable to say that the original musical was a travesty of Pygmalion. For my part, I think Shaw would have hated it but I love it.

[Salome]

the role cof Higgins NEEDS to be talk sung. it would sound stupid having Higgins burst into song like say Freddy or Doolittle.

Thesongs were tailor made for Harrison. and anyone who plays higgins afterward talk sings the songs the way Alan and Fritz intended.

certain roles MUST be talk sung. in additiion to higgins they include Harold Hill, King Arthur and Coco Chanel.

there are reasons for this in theatre. and it goes back tho the german schprechsung (sp?) .

[Monsieur D'Arque]

Relax, guys. GungaDin is kidding. He does almost nothing on the board except post false casting notices.

[jackrussell]

[Salome]

look at threepenny opera all the spoken tuff are written to notes.

and if you read lerner's "the street where i live' you'll get the whole story on why higgins should never "sing" per se.

[jackrussell]

[Salome]

he's not a big enough film star. they wouldnt use him.rumor has itt he film will star a miscast Pierce Brosnan anyway. ughk.

[Mistress]

Actually, if it really is Brosnan, it might not be too bad, since he's talk-singing as opposed to actual singing like in Mamma Mia...on the other hand, physiically, he doesn't have the right physical presentation for Higgins-he's to suave and handsome.

[GungaDin]

[quote="Salome"] and Coco Chanel.

[/quote]

I think "Coco" had to be 'sung-speak' because that old harridan who played Coco orignally couldn't hold a note if her life depended on it. I hear when Danielle Darrieux took over, and she could carry a tune, the show became completely more fluid. So I disagree with your supposition that "Coco" has to be talked in pitch.

If a younger Higgins really sings the role, I don't see it detracting either from the integrity of the L&L version. It IS a musical after all, so why can't the new actor give his own interpretation. And if I were the director, simple, I would have Freddy sing-talk "Street" to balance it out!!

If they can't find the right English actor, would Kevin Spacey do? I think he would deliver a creditable Henry Higgins!! I mean after all, English women have taken on prominent American femme roles: Scarlett O'Hara, Rose Dawson, and a few others I can't recall off the top of my head. I hope Matthew Broderick and/or Johnny Depp sharpen their sing-talking chops!!

[Salome]

i'm finally seeing your ironic sense of humor here lol

[RainbowJude]

So news from my least favourite theatre columnist - I'm reluctant to call him a journalist - Baz Bamigboye in the Daily Mail is that Danny Boyle won't be directing the My Fair Lady remake.

No great loss there, methinks...

Later days
David

[WontYouCharlestonWithMe]

I don't understand why they have to make a remake. They should leave the original be. And Keira Knightley as Eliza? Blehhh.

[RainbowJude]

[mantarnia]

I don't mind re-makes. But I don't really see the point of re-making this. It is known to be one of the few musical films that is trully close to the stage version. IMO it would make much more sense to re-make a musical film that had a lot of differences in its original form. The worst example I think has to be the film version of 'On Your Toes' which cut every song.