Emma (2009-2010)
A new adaptation of Emma is planned to begin filming this Spring and air in Autumn 2009 on the BBC. This four part miniseries is to be adapted by Sandy Welch of Our Mutual Friend, Jane Eyre, and North And South fame.4/5/09 -
I wandered over to my favorite Jane Austen blog and found out there's a new article containing three cast members for the new Emma. Here's a first glimpse of the cast:
Ramola Garai as Emma Woodhouse
Other period films: Daniel Deronda, Nicholas Nickleby, Amazing Grace (to name just a few, the article states that she was also considered for the role of Elizabeth Bennet but lost to Keira Knightley) Points in her favor: handsome, clever, probably rich, played a lovely saucy character in Daniel Deronda and can probably pull that off as Emma, has a pretty singing voice as evident in Daniel Deronda.
Points against her: she's on the wrong side of 25 making her technically too old to play 21-year-old Emma Woodhouse, and personally I've always found her feet too large looking on screen. Her acting is also rather affected, a bit like seeing the same character over and over and she has a tendacy to whine a bit.
Taken all together: Ms. Garai might very well do a lovely job, I think she can tap into the saucy side of Emma but also be kind and loving. Also we don't absolutely have to a blonde Emma as this particular actress looks very natural as a brunet as well as a blonde. I also know people have been wanting her to be in a Jane Austen adaptation for quite a while now and now to be a heroine - her time has come!
Sir Michael Gambon as Mr. Woodhouse
Other period films: Wives and Daughters, Cranford, Sleepy Hallow, The Lost Prince, Amazing Grace (among the hundreds)
Points in his favor: years on acting experience, lovely humor, and generaly adds a comfort and greatness to everything he's in.
Points against him: let me see...nope, can't think of any...
Taken all together: I think he's going to make a wonderful Mr. Woohouse, complaining and fearful for everyone's health but still quite lovable!
Jonny Lee Miller as Mr. Knightley
Other period films: Mansfield Park 1983, Mansfield Park 1999 (not much else, mostly modern things) Points in his favor: he's the right age for Knightley and ten years older than Ramola Garai, rugged jaw, wild hair.
Points against him: he's rather "too piano for me", definitely not the fine figure of a man that Mr. Knightley should be. He also isn't that becoming astride a horse, his acting in Mansfield Park was a bit dissapointing.
Taken all together: I have serious doubts about him as Knightley, but time will tell. The article also mentioned that filming will begin sometime next week in Surrey and Kent. What excitement!
The biggest question is as to cast. Below are some of my suggestions for cast. Which are your favorites/suggestions?
Mr. Knightley:
Richard Armitage - not my first choice but here he is all the same. The greater part of Janeites are wishing for actor Richard Armitage to play Mr. Knightley. I'm personally not sure about him. I loved him as Mr. Thornton in North & South but with his rugged accent and dark good looks he's just not my picture of Mr. Knightley. I think of Mr. Knightley as a bit homely or at least the picture of an English gentleman farmer. A man not immediately thought handsome but grows so on closer aquaintance. Not someone who you'd think would be a match for Emma.
Benedict Cummerbatch - I started really liking him in a recent Miss Marple show and was thinking of his potential as an Austen character. I had suggested him on my favorite Jane Austen blog, but he was soon set down as unsuitable and too young. Maybe as Mr. Elton or wouldn't he be great as John Knightley?
Mark Dymond - he was absolutely perfect as Frederick Tilney in Northanger Abbey. He might just be a great Mr. Knightley, he's 35, tall and the picture of an English gentelman. Just so long as he doen't brude at all the ladies.
Emma Woodhouse:
Carey Mulligan - loved her a Kitty Bennet and Isabella Thorpe and I'd love to see her as an Austen heroine. She has the charming smile and kind heart of Emma. I think she'd be quite lovely.
Georgia King - played Rosamond Oliver in Jane Eyre and Pet in Little Dorrit. Not sure I want another blonde Emma though.
Emma Griffiths Malin - played several similar characters to Emma and I'm not sure about her age. She played Fleur in The Forsythe Saga.
Talulah Riley - she was a rather pretty Mary Bennet in Pride & Prejudice 2005, and I've seen her in a couple of period things since and she was rather lovely. I'm not quite sure she could pull off Emma's character but I include her because a friend mentioned her.
Kimberley Nixon - she was wonderful in Cranford as Sophy Hutton, so lovely. She's 23 and could be a lovely Emma Woodhouse.
Harriet Smith:
Shauna Taylor - played Maria Thorpe in Northanger Abbey, I think based on appearance only she could play a lovely innocent Miss Smith.
Tamzin Merchant - she was lovely as Georgiana Darcy in Pride & Prejudice 2005, and one of my friends suggested she might be perfect for a young naive Harriet Smith.
Mr. Elton:
Tobias Menzies - he was great as Mr. Elliot and I'd like to see him charming other Austen ladies.
William Beck - he was an awesome John Thorpe and he could probably manage Mr. Elton's simpering ways.
Mrs. Elton:
Emma Pierson -In Little Dorrit played she played Fanny Dorrit, a flirt and highly made up character but I just found this photo and had thought she might be a good Jane Fairfax but perhaps she'd make a great Mrs. Elton.
Jane Fairfax:
Amelia Warner - Loved her as Lorna Doone and wished she could have been Fanny Price instead of Frances O'Connor but perhaps she'd make a good Miss Fairfax.
Claire Foy - So beautiful as Amy Dorrit and I want to see more of her. I think she's be perfect as Jane Fairfax, it's a similar character as Little Dorrit anyway.
Gemma Arterton - she was just lovely as Tess of D'Urbevilles and a fun Elizabeth Bennet in Lost in Austen. I'd like to see her in other Austen adaptations so perhaps as Jane Fairfax.
Frank Churchill:
Jack Huston - he played Doctor Charles Haden in Miss Austen Regrets and I thought he might just be a candidate for Mr. Churchill.
Rupert Friend - played Mr. Wickham in Pride & Prejudice. My friend mentioned he might be a good Mr. Churchill but I'm not too sure. He's rather too piano and sulky for me and looks too much like Orlando Bloom to fit the role.
Dan Stevens - I'll admit that Frank Churchill doesn't leap to mind when I think of this particular actor, Robert Martin is more like it. But he was a great Edward Ferrars and I'd love to see him in another Austen adaptation. What we need is an adaptation of Sanditon!
Miss Bates:
Julia McKenzie - too old though I fear, she'd have been perfect at a younger age.
Victoria Hamilton - she's been in three Austen adaptations and countless numbers of other period films and I think she'd do quite as well as Sophie Thompson did in the same role.
Sir Tom Courtenay - played Mr. Dorrit in the Little Dorrit series. He's almost 72 years old but I think he'd do very well at capturing Mr. Woodhouse's pessimistic health conscious ways.
Tim Pigott-Smith - he was excellent in North & South as Rev. Hale, Margaret's father and I'd love to see him in an Austen adaptation. If not as Mr. Woodhouse perhaps he'd make a good Mr. Weston.
It's actually quite hard to find suggestions, but other cast doesn't matter so much. Some fresh new faces are in order as well. Either way I can't wait to see who they cast. The script should be excellent though, if not the very words of Jane Austen then the essence of her meaning. It couldn't come soon enough for me!
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