My Fair Lady remake may star Keira Knightley
Wouldn’t it be lovely to remake My Fair Lady? Columbia Pictures is planning just that but will retain the musical score and setting of the original.
I was quite taken aback when I read that Columbia Pictures is all set to remake the 1964 cult classic My Fair Lady, and that Keira Knightley will play the cockney waif Eliza Doolittle, simply because I didn’t think anyone would be brave enough to touch the Oscar-winning movie.
Apparently, producers Duncan Kenworthy who has previously produced hits like Notting Hill, Love Actually and Four Weddings and a Funeral, and Sir Cameron Mackintosh producer of successful Broadway musicals, do not share my view.
The grapewine has it that Knightley has been signed on for My Fair Lady and Daniel Day-Lewis is being wooed to reprise the role of snooty professor Henry Higgins.
The rags-to-riches transformation of impetuous waifs aided by upper crust gentlemen is old hat for the movies, a classic example being Pretty Woman.
Wisely, the latest production of My Fair Lady will stick to the original storyline but will draw heavily from the original Pygmalion. It will also keep the 1912 setting and the original music score featuring I Could Have Danced All Night, Wouldn’t it Be Lovely and Get Me to the Church on Time.
The 1956 Broadway production of My Fair Lady, a musical adaptation of George Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion, starring Julie Andrews as Eliza Doolittle and Rex Harrison as Higgins was a huge hit. The 1965 movie version of My Fair Lady that won eight Oscars starred Audrey Hepburn and Rex Harrison. Duncan Kenworthy, Cameron Mackintosh, and CBS Films have a lot to live up to.
Can they pull it off? According to the filmmakers, the My Fair Lady remake will attempt to flesh out the characters, especially that of Eliza Doolittle, and shoot on actual locations to recreate 1912 London in an authentic manner. If they are able to lend more depth to Eliza Doolittle’s character (which was not very well etched out in the original), the remake would be very interesting to watch.
Successful musicals are tough to beat but Mackintosh has produced two stage revivals of My Fair Lady, one in 1979 and the other in 2001, which is a distinct advantage. Mackintosh has also produced many of the West End’s and Broadway’s successful musicals, such as “Cats,” “Les Miserables” and “The Phantom of the Opera.”
The next question is who should be cast as Eliza Doolittle and Henry Higgins?
Keira Knightley, said to be already on board, looks like an utterly luvverly waif, no doubt, but can she top Audrey Hepburn’s gamine minx? Personally, she lacks the vividity and verve of Audrey Hepburn and is likely to end up as a pale imitation. On the plus side, she can sing (Audrey Hepburn’s vocals were dubbed.)
Conversely, Daniel Day-Lewis (There Will be Blood and Last of the Mohicans) is too vivid to play the stuffy, but sharp-tongued, Henry Higgins. Sadly, there are not too many alternatives. Orlando Bloom, Jude Law, James McAvoy – too young. Colin Firth – too Mr. Darcy. Daniel Craig is, well, too Bond. That leaves only Rupert Everett and Liam Neeson. I would definitely refer Neeson over Daniel Day-Lewis.
Keira Knightley, who was first noticed in the small-budget Bend it Like Beckam, made it big with Atonement, Pride and Prejudice and the Pirates of the Caribbean. Knightley is on a roll as far as period films are concerned with movies like The Edge Of Love, The Duchess, and King Lear in the pipeline.
So will the remake work? There is a good chance that it will. If nothing else, the curiosity value should pull in the crowds.
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sharpas a tack said on Monday, June 16, 2008, 23:33
Then that leaves only JEREMY NORTHAM!!!!!!!!
babychen said on Thursday, June 19, 2008, 14:33
Jeremy Northam is too dishy! Henry Higgins was a horrid old man, more likely to drool rather than be drool-worthy
tessa said on Monday, July 21, 2008, 3:55
With Emma Thompson writing the script I see this film having a chance even with Keira Knightley….and why not Jeremy Northam!
elemacd said on Tuesday, August 5, 2008, 17:10
I think Mr. Firth ‘would be loverly’ for the role of Higgins. He did win the Variety poll a few weeks back…
Shanna said on Tuesday, August 5, 2008, 17:36
I watched My Fair Lady this past weekend with Rex Harrison as Prof. Higgins. There is no way Daniel Day-Lewis would fit this role. He is not attractive enough to play Higgins. There would be no chemistry between him and Knightley. I think Colin Firth would be ideal to play Higgins. He can sing and has a wonderful dry wit. I started a petition to send to the producers saying us as fans prefer Colin Firth in this role. I currently have 83 signatures. If you would like to sign it here is the link:
http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/colin-firth-to-play-henry-higgins-in-my-fair-lady.html
Kay said on Monday, August 18, 2008, 6:12
I’m not real familiar with Colin Firth, but whether he can sing is beside the point. Prof. Higgins’ musical numbers are sing-talked, and mostly talked. Any Higgins actor has only to be able to maintain the rhythm of the lyrics and throw in bits and pieces of the actual tunes here and there. Personally, I’m rather partial to Liam Neeson as Higgins. Neeson is about the right age and presents a physical image similar to that of Rex Harrison. I own the 1964 film and am very curious as to what the current folks would do with this story. And while I’m at it here, I didn’t know Miss Knightley could sing. What kind of voice does she have?
lizzie said on Tuesday, November 25, 2008, 21:21
I think Kiera knightley is too much of an obvious choice, and her singing would hardley be to scratch. However, I think Daniel Day Lewis would be magnificent.
Tania said on Saturday, November 29, 2008, 3:36
It has to be Jeremy Northam. At 47 I think he is the perfect age. He has an amazing singing voice and the gravitas to pull this role off – more so than any other actor around! In fact as much as I’m actually not a fan of remaking this – with Northam in the Higgins role and Emma Thompson writing it I think it would have a lot going for it!! Without him sadly I think it would sink like a stone!
Victoria said on Thursday, February 12, 2009, 3:59
I think Robin Teichert should play the role of Eliza. She would be almost perfect
Zany said on Thursday, February 19, 2009, 1:14
Listen to Jeremy Northam singing and tell me who the “next” Higgins should be http://www.imeem.com/khit/music/x0QBwieh/christopher_northam_jeremy_northam_and_her_mother_came_too/
Amber said on Thursday, April 16, 2009, 4:23
I doubt if the remake could cast the same magic as the original movie did.Anyway it would be fascinating to see Keira Knightley acting “a good girl”
Marilynn said on Thursday, May 14, 2009, 14:19
Anthony Stewart Head would make a much better Prof. Higgins. I’d like to see him in a major role. He has a wonderful singing voice and he’s great at being a pompous ass. And Kiera Knightly cannot hold a candle to Audrey Hepburn. I don’t know of an actress who could possibly replace her. She is too much of an icon. However if Emma Thompson is writing the screen play at least the script will turn out well. After all she did a wonderful job with Sense and Sensibility.
babychen said on Friday, May 15, 2009, 6:19
But he looks cold and mean……
Karen said on Wednesday, October 21, 2009, 22:44
I don’t think this will come out well…no one can replace Audrey Hepburn. The only people who can pull off Eliza ( I think anyway ) are Audrey Hepburn or perhaps Julie Andrews, they are the only people with the right acting skill. Too bad Julie is too old now =( I think Julie could do the role of Eliza wonderfully. I miss Julie’s singing she was so good. Well I’ll see if they can make it work.