Keira still shadowing Audrey

I just happened to hear about this by accident, but apparently Keira Knightley has been performing in a West End production of The Children's Hour - taking on Audrey Hepburn's old role of Karen Wright. The show opened around the end of January and I'm not sure how much longer it will be around, but Keira has been getting mixed reviews. Mainly upbeat, though the Daily Mail says there's still room for improvement.

You may remember that Keira was in serious talks to star in a film remake of My Fair Lady before it fell through, and that the remake is still in development. This is twice now that Keira has wanted to recreate an Audrey Hepburn film role, and her first time actually doing it. Any thoughts on her choices in this regard?

Updates on the My Fair Lady remake

To be totally honest with you, the news is that there isn't really any news. I mean, the gossip world is still abuzz about remaking My Fair Lady - I guess they really want it to happen - and places from wee celebrity gossip sites to The Guardian are feeding the flames with their "inside news," but after doing some digging, I can only tell you what's not happening.

Keira Knightley is not playing Eliza Doolittle. I know some of you will breathe a huge sigh of relief over this (myself included). Perhaps at one time she was attached to the project, or at least hoped she would be cast, as director Joe Wright, who has worked with Keira on both Atonement and Pride and Prejudice, was once on board to direct Lady. But he is off now, and so is any thought of Keira as Eliza.

Carey Mulligan is not playing Eliza either. Though she is linked to the project on IMDb, and screenwriter Emma Thompson herself said that Carey had been definitively cast via The Guardian, poor befuddled Carey herself shoots down that pesky rumor in an interview on Collider.

Daniel Day-Lewis isn't playing Henry Higgins, and neither is Hugh Grant. Just to clarify.

In short, no one has signed on yet, as far as anyone can tell, and the only thing that is for certain is that there is a screenplay, and Emma Thompson wrote it. Beyond that, just gossip. Also, remember that this remake has been in the works for ages now, much like the infamous Why Can't I Be Audrey Hepburn?

update on the My Fair Lady remake

While I still haven't heard anything set in stone and announced officially, it seems to be a widely assumed fact that Keira Knightley is signed to play Eliza Doolittle in the upcoming film remake of My Fair Lady. Information is still scarce, and no other cast has been announced (though wildly speculated on), but now IMDb has a development page up for the film, with a release date of 2010. You have to have a Pro account to see any details, and I don't really feel like paying to get one piece of information, but Keira's page also has one developing project on it, which I'm betting is MFL.

While doing some wandering on the Internet, I found that Wikipedia has collected some more information. Supposedly, actress Emma Thompson will be writing the screenplay (longhand, with a fountain pen), and it's to be a somewhat updated version of the classic film and play. Even more startling is the persistent rumor that Brad Pitt and George Clooney were looking to produce the movie together, as they have worked together many times before, but had a huge falling out over the fact that they both wanted the plum Henry Higgins role. What's more, some are saying that Brad wanted partner Angelina Jolie as Eliza! I'd say to take all these rumors with a grain of salt or two, but it still makes for interesting news, no?

Hopefully we'll get some more concrete news before too long, and can then focus on the long wait 'til production photos, trailers, and the film itself. Has this new information made anyone feel better -- or worse -- about the remake? Also, what are your views on redoing this role so famously? Audrey herself wasn't immune to criticism when she was cast, despite the fact that Warner Bros. thought Julie Andrews was too unknown to star in the last great film musical, so how will Keira and her career hold up after trying to fill the shoes of two such memorable women and their versions of Eliza Doolittle?

My Fair Lady remake is a reality

Bad news for those of you who feel that My Fair Lady was perfect the first time 'round on film: it is definitely being remade, and Keira Knightley is definitely going to play Eliza Doolittle. According to The Telegraph, Keira is officially signed to the movie and has already begun singing lessons (though it's yet to show up on IMDb). Also, it seems that Daniel Day-Lewis will fill Rex Harrison's rather large slippers as Professor Henry Higgins -- at least, if the producers get their wish. He's at the top of their short list of actors for the role, though there's no word on whether he's signed yet.

Now that it's official, what do you think as Audrey fans? There have been whispers that remaking an Audrey Hepburn film is a sort of curse to an actress's career, since Audrey is held in such high regard by the public and filmmakers. Will this hurt Keira's career, or push her closer to the top of the heap?

You can read more about the casting and possible directors here, if you're curious.

Keira Knightley still shadowing Audrey Hepburn?

There have been rumors swirling for years that Keira Knightley was in talks to do a big-screen biopic of Audrey Hepburn, and while nothing has ever come of those, a different rumor seems to have taken root. There were whispers that Keira might also star in a West End revival of My Fair Lady, and while those talks fell through, it looks as though a film remake of the musical will come to pass -- with Keira as Eliza Doolittle. The film is currently being looked at by Columbia Pictures, and will be "updated" by mixing the original George Bernard Shaw play script and Lerner & Loewe's adaptation that became the film we know and love. This remake also promises to improve on the 1964 film by filming on location in Coventry Garden and other spots around London.

While this still may be just an idle rumor, this is definitely the most I've heard on the remake to date, which makes me think it's picking up speed and may actually happen. Should My Fair Lady be remade for film? Also, does any one know if Keira can sing? It'd be a bit silly to claim a remake as superior when Eliza's still dubbed. Either way, you can read more about the rumored production through Variety.