Good News and Bad News

Let's start with the bad news. /Film is reporting that they're still going ahead with that My Fair Lady remake we talked about a few weeks ago. Keira Knightley, who auditioned for the part last year, has been taking singing lessons and is still apparently set to star. No word on the other cast members yet.xx

The good news: Joe Wright has been named as director. You may remember that Keira has done her best work with Wright, who first directed her to an Oscar nomination in 2005's Pride & Prejudice, and again worked with her on Atonement, for which she also garnered praise. Emma Thompson has written the script, which sounds promising.xx

I wish they'd leave well-enough alone, personally. I love the 1964 original and really don't think it needs an update. But if they're going to do it, at least they're getting some major talent involved.

Recasting Classics: My Fair Lady

I'm hoping to make this a regular feature here at Nitflicky. With remakes becoming more and more prevalent in cinema, there are often talks of updating beloved classic films. One that's reportedly getting the remake treatment is George Cukor's My Fair Lady, the film adaptation of the stage musical, which in turn was based on George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion.
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The casting of the 1964 film was famously controversial, with fans of the stage production adamantly insisting that Julie Andrews reprise her role as Eliza Doolittle. But producers wanted Audrey Hepburn, who wasn't known for her singing voice but who studio heads thought would bring bigger crowds and more money. The decision also affected the Oscars. My Fair Lady racked up 12 nominations, but Audrey Hepburn was left out. Many speculate that Julie Andrews' win for Mary Poppins was Hollywood's consolation prize for losing the role.
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The updated version was announced in June of 2008, but so far no details have been confirmed. Reportedly Emma Thompson is on hand to write the screenplay, with Daniel Day-Lewis and Keira Knightley looking to get on board as Henry Higgins and Eliza.
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Now, I have to make myself very clear on this point: I'm not a fan of remakes. Even the great ones tend to lose something special from the original. But this is just for fun. Pretend for a moment that the movie is being made for the first time. Which of today's stars would you cast as Eliza Doolittle, Henry Higgins, Colonel Pickering, Freddy, and Alfred Doolittle? Let me hear your thoughts in the comments section.