Keira Knightley to Star in “My Fair Lady” Remake
Keira Knightley
According to Telegraph.co.uk, Keira Knightley (Pirates of the Caribbean) has won the role of Eliza Doolittle in a new film adaptation of “My Fair Lady.”
Scarlett Johansson was also up for the lead role, but the site reported that Joe Wright has come on to direct, and it seems that Wright has gone with Knightley, who he directed in “Pride & Prejudice” and “Atonement” to star.
Academy Award-winner Emma Thompson (Sense and Sensibility) is writing the screenplay. Daniel Craig is also being mentioned as a possibility to play Professor Henry Higgins.
Knightley, the 24-year-old actress, last starred in “The Duchess” and has a few new upcoming roles, including in William Monahan’s “London Boulevard.”
Keira Knightley New Movie/King Lear Cancelled
Keira Knightley has signed up to appear in Mark Romanek’s sci-fi project “Never Let Me Go.” Knightley will star alongside Andrew Garfield and Carey Mulligan in the cloning-themed movie.
The story revolves around a trio who grew up in a boarding school with no contact or knowledge of the outside world until they discover they are clones grown for the sole purpose of organ donation.
Alex Garland adapted Kazuo Ishiguro’s novel into the script.
Shooting is expected to begin to London and Norfolk in April. It is Romanek’s first feature since 2002’s “One Hour Photo.”
Knightley also is attached to play Zelda Sayre, author and wife of F. Scott Fitzgerald, in “The Beautiful and the Damned” which will centre on the couple’s troubled relationship. She will also star with Colin Farrell in “London Boulevard,” a crime drama that marks William Monahan’s directing debut and in the Columbia Pictures remake of “My Fair Lady” as the simple Cockney flower girl who is transformed into a lady.
Unfortunately, “King Lear” – the British production of Shakespeare’s tragedy – project announced at last year’s Cannes film festival has been cancelled, despite A-list cast of Keira Knightley, Gwyneth Paltrow, Naomi Watts and Anthony Hopkins. Hopkins was due to play the ageing monarch, with Knightley signed up for the role of his youngest daughter, Cordelia. Gwyneth Paltrow and Naomi Watts were also on the cast list as the king’s disloyal elder daughters, Regan and Goneril.
A spokesperson for the film company said: “Ruby [Films] are no longer doing it – the film will no longer go ahead.
Earlier this month, it was announced that Al Pacino and director Michael Radford will reunite to make their own adaptation of King Lear following their collaboration on “The Merchant Of Venice” in 2004.
Pacino has never played Lear before, on stage nor on screen. Until now, he had always turned down Lear offers on the basis that he wasn’t “ready”. But producer Barry Navidi says that Radford “came up with the most brilliant adaptation and Al and I flipped for it.”
Perfect role for Anthony Hopkins, actually he’s great actor so every role is perfect role for him. But, we’ll see Pacino as King Lear, because he’s ready now!
Keira Knightley in talks for ”My Fair Lady”
Columbia Pictures is in talks with Keira Knightley to star as the simple Cockney flower girl who is transformed into a lady - ”My Fair Lady” according to Variety.
Duncan Kenworthy and Cameron Mackintosh will produce the film, which will retain Alan Jay Lerner’s stage lyrics and the 1912 setting. The movie will shoot at several UK locations including Covent Garden, Wimpole Street and the Ascot racecourse.
“My Fair Lady,” with book and lyrics by Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe, was first staged in 1956 featuring Julie Andrews and Rex Harrison.
Broadway musical, based on George Bernard Shaw’s play Pygmalion, was first adapted for the screen in 1964. The film, which starred Audrey Hepburn won eight Oscars.
Kenworthy said: “With 40 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 honour both Shaw and Lerner at the same time as engaging and entertaining contemporary audiences the world over.”
Mackintosh, who has produced many of the West End’s and Broadway’s most successful musicals, including “Cats,” “Les Miserables” and “The Phantom of the Opera,” said the story of Doolittle’s transformation “couldn’t be more timely in a contemporary world obsessed with overnight celebrity.”
