BS Watch: My Fair Lady – Pick a star, start a rumor
Back in June of 2008 (and maybe earlier), The UK Telegraph reported on new version of My Fair Lady from the producer of Notting Hill, Love Actually and Four Weddings and a Funeral with Keira Knightley lined up to play Eliza Doolittle. Daniel Day-Lewis was said to be “at the top of their wish list of actors” to play Henry Higgins and that the producers were “keen to get” Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese or Roger Michell (Notting Hill) to direct.
In July 2008, Emma Thompson was reported attached to write the screenplay.
Next the gossip pages spun stories about George Clooney and Brad Pitt having a falling out over competition for the Higgins role.
In December, Daniel Craig was being touted for the male lead.
In February of this year, Stephen Daldry was rumored to be directing and then in March it was Danny Boyle.
In August, The Telegraph was back, this time reporting that Keira was battling Scarlett Johansson for the role and that Stephen Daldry was still expected to direct.
Now The Telegraph is apparently trying to establish itself as the official My Fair Lady paper of record because it is claiming that Keira won the role and that she’ll be reuniting with her Pride & Prejudice/Atonement director Joe Wright.
Got all that? Believe a word of it? You probably shouldn’t. Yes it’s true they’re producing a remake of the musical that George Cukor turned into a film starring Rex Harrison and Audrey Hepburn in 1964 and Emma Thompson really is writing the screenplay, but the rest is pure speculation and wishful thinking. Or is it?
While the film is still but a gleam in a producer’s eye, let’s see if I can start a rumor of my own. On the way home tonight, I stopped at In-N-Out Burger and asked the guy in the drive-thru window if he knew who was going to play Henry Higgins. Do you know what he said? Johnny Depp.
You heard it hear first, folks. Johnny Depp IS Henry Higgins. Tell all your friends.
Filed under: Rumors
Tags: Brad Pitt, Daniel Craig, Danny Boyle, Emma Thompson, George Clooney, Joe Wright, Johnny Depp, Keira Knightley, Martin Scorsese, My Fair Lady, Roger Michell, Scarlett Johansson, Stephen Daldry, Steven Spielberg
LOL. The POTC fans will be so pleased.
Spread the word!
Heehee. In N Out Burger is where all the big deals are made. That lead’s solid.
Imagine my surprise to find this morning that every outlet is taking the Knightley/Wright news seriously. I guess it could be true, it makes sense, but for all the rumors that have been flying over this film for the last year, this just feels like another one.