Knightley On For My Fair Lady Says, 'Oh, wouldn't it be luvverly?' Source: Variety
It's all a bit tentative at the moment, but Keira Knightley is said to be lined up for a new film of My Fair Lady, currently being produced by Duncan Kenworthy and theatrical empresario Cameron Mackintosh.
The story centres on lower class, Cock-er-ney flower girl Eliza Doolittle (Knightley, it is hoped) who is taught to speak and act properly by stuffy linguistics expert Professor Henry Higgins.
The film's being called an "update", but it's still going to be set in 1912 and will use the original score. The "update" will involve going back to George Bernard Shaw's play Pygmalion, on which the musical is based, in order to "dramatise the emotional highs and lows of [Eliza] Doolittle as she undergoes the ultimate metamorphosis under the tutelage of Professor Henry Higgins". There's also talk of a more "realistic" context for the story, using real locations rather than soundstages, and Mackintosh also drew a parallel between Doolittle's transformation and current celebrity culture.
There are no further details on the project yet, but we'll be keeping an eye on this one. And in the meantime, the upcoming Edge of Love shows that Knightley can do accents (in that case, Welsh) and sing, so check that out to form a better opinion of her chances as the new Audrey Hepburn, who last played the role onscreen.
If they're going to do it differently and do it well then why not? But whatever happens do yourself a favour and see the Audrey Hepburn/Rex Harrison original (if you haven't already!). One of the best films of any kind ever made. ... Read More
She would suit the role i'm sure. But WHY? My Fair Lady doesn't need a remake. So many unecessary remakes these days...tut tut.
Like that Halloween remake was just a carbon copy of the original and nowhere near as good. However, if they go for a proper telling of the originalo story and don't go for a musical, if they have enough of a fresh take on it, who knows? It might yet surprise us. ... Read More
I'm sorry but can't Hollywood leave classic films alone? Can't they find new and exicting ideas to do? What's so great about Keria Knightley? She can't act, she can't sing and she can not do accents! She's awful, leave this be! Find someone body else if you want to relive this but not her, no freaking way. ... Read More
Keira knew better than to do this!! Hopefully it's all nonsense and she isn't going to do it. I think she's been picking her parts very well recently, this would be a step back. And to the twat CameronJames - how about you keep your pervy and derogatory views to yourself? There's no need to show off how little respect you have for women. ... Read More
Is there some part of Ms Knightley's pschye that makes her think she has to take on parts that have already been portrayed quite adequatley? First she took on Elizabeth Bennet, and now Eliza Doolittle. Who's next for her re-do treatment? Expect the Seven-Year Itch announcement any day now... ... Read More
Ok Keira, we didn't want to but if your going to make us say it, you can be a "proper actress", now stop doing fucking costume dramas and get some skin out! ... Read More
I don't think there's any problem updating classic plays, books, etc, with new versions, and the fact that they're talking about Pygmalion as source material rather than this just being a straight remake is quite interesting, it suggests there's a lot of thought going into it. But I fear this will be percieved as just "Knightly does Hepburn", which is a shame. ... Read More
