Rumormongering: New Emma Series on BBC in 2009
Several Alert Janeites (thanks to Cinthia, Sylvia M., Maria L., and Patty) have written to us with the news that the admin of the C19 forum, citing dependable sources, claims that Sandy Welch, who wrote the screenplays for the BBC’s magnificent adaptation of Elizabeth Gaskell’s North and South as well as the most recent adaptation of Jane Eyre, has written a new four-part adaptation of Emma for the BBC, to be broadcast in 2009.
If anyone from the BBC is reading, and this is more than a rumor, why don’t you make it three for three for your Main Male Spooks Hottie to move on to a Jane Austen adaptation, while sending Dorothy and many of our Gentle Readers (and, yeah, okay, the Editrix, too) into a genteel, ladylike tizzy? The campaign begins here: Richard Armitage must play Mr. Knightley.
Yes, we know, his shooting schedule for Spooks conflicts, but you’re the BBC, dagnabit. You can do anything. 
We cannot state strongly enough how popular a casting decision this would be in Janeiteland. We’re talking Colin Firth in the wet shirt levels of hysteria. Do it. Just trust us for once. DO IT.
Who’s with us, Gentle Readers?
(post edited to update incomplete information)
Comments are closed.
Oh, yes. Armitage for Knightly. I’m swooning just thinking about it…
Oh, yes! Can’t you just hear him saying, “It was badly done, indeed!”
I also hope they include this scene. “I remember once calling you ‘George,’ in one of my amiable fits, about ten years ago.” The gaiters scene is very important as well!:)
YES.
Sending shivers up my spine just thinking about it.
That WOULD be perfect casting!
I always thought Richard Armitage would make a really good Wentworth, but I’ll watch him in anything, as long as he’s wearing a cravat!
Oh yes, I am soooo with you on this one, Dear Editrix. Mr. Armitage is the perfect image of an Austen hero. Plus, yay for Sandy Welch. She’s brilliant.
Another yes for Richard Armitage.
If you follow the link to Sandy Welch’s IMDB page you’ll notice a discussion board. If you click to the second page, there is a thread regarding the relative merits of her adaptions vs. Andrew Davies’. Quite amusing.
Another Emma?! Sweet! (And how ’bout giving MP and NA another go as well in a few years?)
@#8 I read that thread. It was indeed very amusing.
He did write Emma, Pride & Prejudice, Bleak House, Wives & Daughters and Daniel Deronda, to name just a few.
Or maybe Austen, Dickens, Gaskell, and Eliot wrote them?
Yaaay!!! I never thought I’d live to see the day when I’d see a new ‘seriously attempted’ JA adaptation by someone other than AD!!!!
If you ask me I have a long list of dos and don’ts.
But as a starter;
– YES!! Richard Armitage as Mr Knightley!¨*shiver* *shiver*
- ‘and could it be longer please! pleeese! …say 6 parts at least. It can be done! Look at P&P1995.
Goodness!! What a day!!!
He’s even the right age! Perfect.
As soon as I stop hyperventilating, I will add my vote for the divine Mr. Armitage to play the divine Mr. Knightley.
This would go waaaaayyyyy beyond Colin Firth in a wet shirt IMO. If RA could ever possibly top John Thornton, it would be as an Austen hero. Just sayin. Hope RA/Welch/Auntie Beeb are listening. I swear I’ll buy the DVD. Maybe several copies.
And I agree with Reeba, the longer the better. Six is such a lovely number. Eight is good too.
Okay, now I’m going to take a deep breath and go back to being the sensible woman I thought I was.
From the C19 post it sounds like it will be four hours long. That will be about the length of N&S. They need a young looking Emma, though. My vote goes for Kimberley Nixon who played Sophy Hutton on Cranford. Some have suggested Gemma Arterton as Emma. I suppose she might work. Actually, Gemma’s closer to Emma’s age then Kimberley.
I have only seen Richard Armitage in the Vicar of Dibley (yes, I must live some sort of sheltered life) — but RA would be a perfect Mr. Knightley — and 4 hours, perhaps then I could learn to like Emma as I should.
Another yes to Richard Armitage as Mr. Knightley (even though I’d like to see him as Capt. Wentworth, too!)
BBC in 2009, when would it get to us (meaning US)?
Another YES!!! Richard Armitage for Mr. Knightley!!!!!! Like Sylvia M, I also could almost hear him saying “It was badly done indeed!” (*fainting*). Mags is so right, such casting could produce a rave equal -if not higher- to the one with Colin as Darcy. So please, BBC and Sandy Welch and Richard’s agents, if you are reading this, please move everything in order that he could star in this miniseries. We could even wait, it is not necessary that it should be broadcasted at the end of 2009. Furthermore, if the 3rd season of RH has been moved, the 8th season of Spooks can be moved too, get that to 2010. Let him be free to get the role of Mr. Knightley.
I am also with Reeba and Maria L. Though I am glad that this might be a miniseries and a BBC one, which is a guarantee of quality, I think Emma deserves more episodes than only 4, 6 o 8 would be perfect IMHO, so nothing would be missing.
Just chiming in to say YES WE CAN put richard armitage in an austen adaptation. not to mention sandy welch.
How do we get a petition to the BBC? Isn’t that what got N&S on DVD?
Just think, in one fell swoop Janeites everywhere could solve the world financial crisis just by buying up zillions of DVDs of an RA Emma!
As for Spooks, they can pretend to kill his character off and resuscitate him after he finishes filming Emma. I mean we’re talking about something important here…
And I agree RA would make a wonderful Wentworth also. (Much better than Rupert who looked like the only challenging waves he ever met were in the bathtub
)
Consider this the petition.
(and swooning at the idea of Richard as Wentworth, bellowing orders on the quarterdeck…)
Yes for Richard!
This might be the last chance for him to play an Austen hero and he would be perfect as Mr Knightley.
Another vote for RA as Knightley!! I cannot imagine a better bit of casting! Although how the poor man is to squeeze it in with Spooks and anything else he might be hoping to do (Richard III) is going to be an interesting feat of time management!
And three cheers for Sandy Welch writing the adaptation. That alone makes me happy, after some of the more recent abysmal adaptations!
A petition please.
This a brief post but if I loved the idea of Armitage as Knightley less, I might be able to talk about it more
Oh yes, RA has to be Mr. Knightley.
Although I’m not quite sure why they’re remaking it; I’ve always been quite fond of the Gwyneth Paltrow / Jeremy Northam version.
That would be AMAZING!
+1 to Callie G. @25. Well played, madam.
Heck yes!
YAY!!! I LOVE this idea! Wait – to Patty (#23): why might this be one of the last chances the sex g-d gets to be an austen hero? i hope that’s not true
YAY 4 EPISODES MEANS A DECENT ADAPTATION. *wootwoot*
I don’t know about Kim Nixon playing Emma though. I’ve only seen her in Cranford but she seems too…sweet. and I mean Emma is sweet but…hmm I just can’t see it. and definitely not Gemma Arterton, I can’t imagine her AT ALL as emma. For some reason I can imagine Justine Waddell as Emma. Hmm.
YAYAYAY. I’d totally sign the petition.
YES!! Can we get a petition started? Would they listen to us? Dear god, yes please!
Does anyone know if the BBC ever reads this blog?
Yay I agree Richard Armitage would be perfect as Knightly!
ssshhhhh!! Kirsty @26
They might hear you.
Richard armitage as Wentworth!!
Would that be asking too much?
Armitage as Knightley! I don’t think he would make the ideal Wentworth. Wentworth needs to be someone more boyish like Ioan Gruffudd.
I have to say, that’s one of the best casting ideas I’ve ever heard, and I’m not one of those who hoped he would be cast as Rochester in the latest Jane Eyre. Armitage would make a superb Knightley!
I don’t think Gemma Arterton would make a bad Emma either (basing this off her short term as a Bond girl, since I haven’t seen Lost in Austen yet, and one Tess adaptation was enough for me, thanks). There’s something appealing about her.
Where’s the petition? I’ll sign like NOW!
If they can’t get RA for Knightly they should wait until they can!
OH, YES I’LL VOTE FOR RA!! But I hope he’s not as stern as the Mr. knightly in the Kate Beckinsdale version of Emma. I LOVE Jeremy Northam but RA would do the job.
I just can’t see Ioan Gruffudd as Wentworth. I’ve never thought of the character as particularly boyish; I’ve always pictured him as rather rugged. Which is why, despite the fact that Ciaran Hinds was admittedly too old for the part, he is (for me, at least) still the Wentworth against whom all others are judged.
Oh isn’t this a lovely idea, Richard Armitage playing Mr Knightley?
“Lovely, lovely, lovely!” Could he also play Frank Churchill so we’ll have Richard on the screen 4 full hours… anyone else signing my petition?
I think RA would be fabulous, too. Is Daniela Denby-Ashe too old to play Emma?
Does anyone know if the BBC ever reads this blog?
Doesn’t everyone? (she asked innocently)
Google is a wonderful thing. Let’s just leave it at that.
Just another who absolutely agrees that RA *must* be Mr Knightley. I cannot think of anything more perfect.
Baja Janeite (42) – DDA is 30, so yep, too old.
I live in Texas and don’t know how much influence I have on the BBC, but please the fantastic Richard Armitage as Mr.Knightley.
No no no to RA as Mr Knightley! You need a posh bloke – public school and cut glass accent.
Gorgeous as he is, he was so brilliant as John Thornton because he’s from the Midlands and has a Yorkshire heritage – the accent in North and South was real.
Give him what we Brits call “received pronunciation” and you’ll have lost half of his charm. Even in Spooks you hear an edge of a delicious Leicester accent.
Also, he’s far too young. You need someone a bit older otherwise it’s not credible. How about Mark Strong again?
RA is far more Bronte than Austen!
Laura Essendine
Author – The Accidental Guru
The Books Limited Blog
YES!!! Definitely RA as Mr Knightley.
He’s tall, he is dark and he’s got the “right” kind of looks to do this part. He would certainly increase the swoon-factor a 100% if he were to be cast as MR Knightley. Go for RA!
Oh – yes, yes, YES! Richard Armitage as Mr Knightly!!!
Ooo, a new Emma, too exciting for words. I never thought that the three previous adaptations got it right. RA is the best choice for Knightley. Actually, the only choice who can pull off the balance of authority and hunkiness. Excellent suggestion. Now Knightley can be angry and we will beg for more! Who cares if he is curt with her if RA doing it. It will make for great friction between Knightley and Emma. I like the notion of Gemma Arterton as Emma. She has the presence and sass. Kimberley Nixon is not right for Emma. She would make a better Harriet Smith. Definetly not an Emma.
A red letter day in Janedom for sure.
Cheers, LA
>No no no to RA as Mr Knightley! You need a posh bloke – public school and cut glass accent.
Oh what a horrible image of Mr. Knightley.
No, no!
He was far far from being ‘posh’. He was very down to earth, did not stand on ceremony, and had a …I can’t get the word (I haven’t had my morning coffee)..err something like brusque, blunt manner of talking.
He was very much a farmer at heart and could communicate well with his tenants – a public school and cut glass accent seems very out of place for Mr Knightley IMO.
Oh yes please melts at the very thought of Richard Armitage as Mr Knightley!!!
Please BBC!!!!!!!
@46: Isn’t Knightley 37 in the book? So age-wise (and every other-wise!) RA would seem to be the perfect choice. I’ve never seen Knightley as overly posh either. He’s a gentleman farmer true, but not so highbrow and above it all that he can’t see the deep merit of a Robert Martin as a man, not just an employee, for instance. Knightley’s too comfortable in his own skin to resort to cut-glass hijinks.
But I do agree that RA could also tackle Bronte, in fact let’s just put him in every period drama produced from now on
And I agree with Julie P too. I don’t see any boyishness in Wentworth, he’s always been manly and a bit weatherbeaten (in a good way) in my imagination. And Ciaran Hinds personified that for me perfectly. But I would love having RA take a stab at Wentworth, after all, he also does “manly” very well indeed!
I am afraid that we are working ourselves up to such a tizzy that if they choose anyone other than RA, we will be sorely disappointed….
In total agreement with Reeba (#50). Mr. Knightley with a cut glass accent? Public school? POSH? And, Reeba, I think you did quite well even without your coffee. Now … back to the main purpose of all these comments, here’s another resounding YES for RA as Mr. Knightley!
I second 50′s voice of dissent-Armitage is far too dark and heavy for Knightley-please, please NO. Knightley is light and ironic. Tom Ward would be great.
Great news though! I’m glad it’s the Beeb and not ITV. And at four hours they should be able to cover the book properly.
*flails with glee*
@Mel
>Armitage is far too dark and heavy for Knightley-please
But that’s where acting comes in. He has not to be dark and heavy and bring with him Knightley characteristics of manner IMO.
The only thing better than Armitage as Knightly or Wentworth would be Armitage as Darcy. I would die a happy woman to hear him say: “In vain I have struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.” Luckily, i have a vivid imagination when it comes to Mr. Armitage.
If you’re reading this Aunt Beeb, direct Sandy Welch’s pen next to Pride and Prejudice and be quick about it before Armitage is old enough to play Mr. Bennet.
Laura Essendine@46 said:
No no no to RA as Mr Knightley! You need a posh bloke – public school and cut glass accent.
Have to agree with Reeba. While a Yorkshire accent would be completely out of place for a Surrey landowner, Mr. Knightley is not exactly a Mr. Darcy. He wears gaiters, for pity’s sake! He is gentlemanlike, but I don’t think he’s exactly posh. Remember Mr. Knightley is cash-poor. He truly lives off his land.
Mel @54 said:
Armitage is far too dark and heavy for Knightley
Have you seen him in Vicar of Dibley? If not, check YouTube, there are at least some excerpts around. Harry Kennedy (who Richard said is the character he’s played who is most like himself), I think, has a similar personality to Mr. Knightley.
The man has range, you know. He doesn’t do John Thornton in every role.
As to Emma–I like the Gemma Arterton idea. I was intrigued with her brief showing as Elizabeth Bennet in Lost in Austen and there just wasn’t enough of her. She could also be Jane Fairfax, who was dark and pale and delicate. I also think of Emma as dark, though I don’t think it’s said–just that her eyes are hazel. (Someone correct me if I’m wrong.) But she should be tall and “healthy” (that is, not stick-thin.)
Here’s a picture of Gemma in period costume for another film. It would give us a good idea of what she would look like even though it’s not quite the right time period.
http://www.imdb.com/media/rm4115566848/nm2605345
Laura Essendine, how do you see RA as being too young to play Knightley? Have you not seen him in anything since North & South. He is actually 37 years old now and the exact age of Mr Knightley in the book.
He is not always harsh in his roles and can pull off gentleness and tenderness as well as those dark looks of Guy of Gisborne, he really is a chameleon in the way he embraces a role and makes himself so different.
Oh, squee! And Richard Armitage is dishy . . . Is there a petition we should be signing?
I would be happy enough to see Richard Armitage in any Austen film, but they idea of him as Wentworth makes my little fangirly heart go SQUEEEEEEEEE!! He would be the picture of a dashing naval captain who made his fortune through his own skill (and that of his crew, of course.)
Not so much on the Ioan Gruffudd idea. Though I love his work, he’s already made his mark as a naval officer of that era and he can’t very well be romancing Anne Elliott when he’s already got a wife and a baby on the way, with Lady Barbara Wellesley waiting in the wings. He’s got to go to sea sometime, hasn’t he? ;D
Richard is a little too old to be Captain Wentworth. Wentworth is only about 31. I guess 35 year old Colin Firth was a little old to be playing a 27 or 28 year old Darcy and we didn’t complain about that.
Mags, this might just be the best idea in the history of the world.
Absolutely love the idea of RA as Knightley. Knightley has never been one of my favourite Austen heroes but if RA played him in the next adaptation he would definitely become one of my favourite.
I am ready to sign as many petitions as it will take to persuade the BBC.
I vote for Richard Armitage as Mr. Knightley. I am sure if done properly it would be a favorite of a lage number of Jane Austen fans.
I vote for Joseph Millson. He would be a perfect Mr Knightley.
Joseph Millson would get my vote every time! One of the best stage actors in the UK,it would be wonderful to see him in a great period drama.
RA is in Spooks?!! Be still my beating heart … the ABC here in Australia screens Spooks so erratically and sooooo behind that I wasn’t aware of the fact!
I add my voice to the chorus in saying yes, he would make a wonderful Mr Knightley. Yes please, with sugar on top. And that Sandy Welch will do a wonderful, not-chocolate box version of Emma. Seriously, the 1990s versions give me a tooth ache. (I only want my sugar to come from RA, obviously.)
But would someone please take pity and do a decent MA at some stage? We need a Sandy Welch (or even a Andrew Davies) to give it a proper interpretation.
Apologies to you all!! I seem to have ruffled some feathers with my suggestion that RA is not quite the ticket for Mr Knightley.
I’d happily watch RA in anything but, I still think I’d prefer him as bluff Yorkshireman Gilbert Markham in The Tenant of Wildfell Hall. Shirt undone, sweat on his brow, toiling in the fields…. You have to admit that you were more excited by him with his cravat off in N&S than when he was all buttoned up!!!
As long as he’s on screen, he could be reading the weather forecast, and I’d still watch – just don’t lose the accent.
Laura Essendine
Author – The Accidental Guru
The Books Limited Blog
Laura, have you seen Sparkhouse? If not, you should.
Never managed to get hold of Sparkhouse although I keep my eyes open for repeats on TV – for obvious reasons!
Much as I love the divine Richard Armitage, his performance in N&S is so strong that if he ever played Knightley I think I would be constantly double-taking and thinking, ‘Hang on, what is Mr Thornton doing in Emma?’
Nice idea, but it’d also be nice to see some of the oodles of lesser known Brit acting talent used.
I agree and second any notion!!! How about RA for President 2012? I’m game for that as well!!!
“I’d happily watch RA in anything but, I still think I’d prefer him as bluff Yorkshireman Gilbert Markham in The Tenant of Wildfell Hall. Shirt undone, sweat on his brow, toiling in the fields…. ”
ohmigod get a girl all excited why don’t you – he’d be brilliant!!
But RA as Mr Knightley, glowering while ticking Emma off would be TGTBT!!!
Yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes!
I agree with ^anonymous^!
Yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes YES!!!!
I’ve had this feeling in my bones for the last few months that the next JA adaptation was bound to be Emma!
Personally, I still think that RA is too good-looking to be Mr. Knightley. . . but so what?! He’d be fabulous anyway, even is he is too beautiful for the role.
HI!
witch page I do that on ?
I will also vote !
I want to vote on Richard Armitage also He is so good in all the parts he do.
I’m one lady from Sweden who is fascinated in RA and in Jane Austin and see them both in some project would be great.
Hah! I read about this on C-19 last week and wondered when it would show up on Austenblog.
I totally agree that RA is the correct and obvious choice for the role of Knightley. How could they possibly cast anyone else??!!! LoveGgemma Arterton and think she has the right mix for Emma. I can totally see her verbally sparring with RA. What a great adaptation that would make! And admit it ladies, how many of us are giddy at the idea of RA dancing at the Crown Ball??!! Oh yeah…
Yes.
OMG!! YES!!! I can totally see him as Mr. Knightley!! I would love to see him dance in a ball scene! *thud*
@ #62:
Some of us did…
@ #71:
I was able to download it all from YouTube. Haven’t watched it yet though.
Yes, yes, yes, YES!!!!
Richard Armitage would be a perfect choice!!!
Richard A. would be a perfect Knightley, I completely agree.
I add my vote for Richard Armitage as Mr. Knightley–or any other Austen hero!!
Hooray for Sandy Welch! Can’t wait for her ‘Emma’. And of course, a very big YES to Richard as Mr Knightley. Roll on 2009!
I will vote to!
Richard Armitage will be perfect as an Austen hero but I also thing he will be perfect as Rochester in the new adaption of Jane Eyre. The role of the tragic hero suit him very well:)
Um…on IMDb it’s listed as 2010, not 2009. I promise, I am only trying to keep all of us from being too disappointed by the inevitable delay!
There’s going to be a new adaptation of Jane Eyre…really?
Jen K. that Emma in 2010 is an American hip-hop version.
The only R.A. that should play Mr. Knightley is Richard Attenborough!
Yes a million times to Richard Armitage being in a JA adaptation!! ..Just because we’re used to seeing him in dark complex roles, doesn’t mean that he can’t do something different. I’ve seen him in “VoD”, and I thought he was totally charming as Harry! I have confidence he could pull off anything he set his mind to! As far as Emma, I’m opposed to Gemma Arterton…maybe it’s just me, but her voice is a bit irritating (at least in “TotD”). Also, I really doubt that they would cast Daniela Denby Ashe opposite of RA again. Don’t get me wrong, she’s a great actress- I just don’t see it happening..
Agreed….
Richard Armitage is wrong, wrong wrong! Wonderful actor, but he’s not Mr Knightley.
….How about Sophia Myles? (I know she may be a little old for the role, but I like her acting!)
Yes! Yes! Sophia Myles would be perfect!
Kate @ 92 I dared to suggest a couple of days ago that I didn’t see RA as Mr Knightley and was well and truly shouted down. Hold onto your hat because there’s a storm coming!!
Laura Essendine
Author – The Accidental Guru
The Books Limited Blog
YES
For Jen K. @ #87
The page on IMDb for Emma 2010 has been up ever since the announcement of the hip-hop Emma. I’ve thought for months that the 2010 Emma on IMDb must be for the hip-hop version.
Also–
Just came across an old interview about the making of the Beckinsale 1996 version. BBC turned down that adaptation (so Birtwistle & Co. took it to ITV) because at the time of the offer, BBC had already commissioned their own adaptation of Emma from screenwriter….wait for it….Sandy Welch . Interesting to say the least. Here’s a link to the information
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_/ai_n14057669
Interesting link. Thanks, Maisy.
Well it’s no loss for the BBC that the Beckinsale version got to be produced by ITV because it’s very much in keeping with it’s standards.
Now this one must be, should be, has to be a top class BBC standard keeping version.
Oh, God! I’ll say! “Emma” was never my favourite and I was never keen on Mr. Knightly because I thought he was far too old for her but if Richard were to play him I’d change my mind completely and forever. He’s stunning, still young and such a sweetie. He’d be perfect. Thanks for suggesting the campaign. (If another message appears bearing my name it’s because I got a freeze part way through. Sorry!)
What about Anna Popplewell for Emma? She will be 21 next year. The perfect age!
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/graphics/2008/06/14/bfnarnia114.jpg
http://www.contactmusic.com/pics/l/narnia_premiere_080508/anna_popplewell_1856734.jpg
http://teenhlwdphotos.s3.amazonaws.com/014828/0000255805.jpg
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j100/jemmir/william-moseley-anna-popplewell-swo.jpg
Well Reeba, I’m not interested in restarting the Emma wars again (I hope you aren’t
) but I happen to enjoy the Beckinsale Emma and seeing as most of the production team were the same top professionals who worked on P&P 1995, I don’t feel it is below standard. I know there are disagreements with the characterizations in this version, but as to standards, I think it’s on par with the other good adaptations from the 1990′s. 
Hi dear!!
I really enjoyed reading your post!!
Here in Brazil Richard Armitage e a success too!! I really like to see him in Emma!! Thanks for the wonderful news!!
I translated your post and wrote in my portuguese blog about Jane Auten!! Thanks a lot!
http://janeaustenclub.blogspot.com/2008/11/campanha-richard-armitage-para-mr.html
Adriana
I love so much Richard Armitage and his “Thunder” voice… imagine doing a character like Mr. Knightley! He’ll be perfect!!!
Richard Armitage would be perfect, I’ve always wanted to see him as mr. Knightley.. *_*
No worries Maisy.
It was a post about the channels and their credibility and standards rather than the adaptation itself (though I don’t blame you for thinking otherwise
)
I am so relieved that it’s not ITV but BBC producing the film.
so is anyone going to email a link to this over to the BBC or are we assuming that they will see it anyway?
Great Reeba.
I think there’s one thing we all (or at least most of us) can agree on: we’re excited at the prospect of a new, longer BBC Emma! 
Richard A. would be a PERFECT choice! I hereby add my vote to the petition.
Wow. That’s a lots of votes for Mr. A. I think the BBC better adhere.
Yes, that would be great if Richard Armitage could play Mr. Knightly!
Add me to the “RA would be a perfect Mr. Knightley” clamor. And may I also say that I desperately hope, if such a new Emma indeed comes to pass, it will be co-produced by WGBH/PBS, so that it shows up on Masterpiece Theater here in the US? That seems to be the only way that such programs get broadcast here. (North & South was apparently only shown once on BBCA, very much under the radar in a very dismal time slot, and severely chopped up and edited to allow for many commercials. That is a major crime!) Richard needs to be seen in this country in (unedited) prime time glory!!! That’s what did it for Colin Firth; I think that could easily work again.
Anna Popplewell as Emma… That is a very interesting idea!
Thanks Maisy! I had no idea, not being an IMDb Pro member. Good to know. Can’t wait till the new one’s up!
Anna Popplewell for Emma. . . hmmm, interesting idea. I think it could work – I can just see her as Emma Woodhouse. But how would she look opposite RA? It would all depend on their chemistry together. . .
I watched a couple of interviews with Anna Popplewell and find that her voice is very low-pitched. I don’t imagine Emma with a low-pitched voice. Do you? The only thing I’ve seen her in is TLTWATW.
Hmm, I don’t know… I just can’t see Anna Popplewell as Emma, nor could I see her across from RA. So far Gemma Atherton seems like the best choice that’s been thrown out there, but I’ve only actually seen her in the tiny bits she had in LiA. Justine Waddell I can also see, tho. I’m not sure about her and RA. Maybe there’s someone fabulous and (relatively) undiscovered that they’ll find? Then again, I’m not a huge Emma fan, so I don’t have many strong impressions of what the character should be like.
Justine Waddell is way too old at 32 to play a 21 year old. Another suggestion would be Jennifer Higham who played Louisa Musgrove in P3. She is 24 (25 next year) so I guess that might be a little older then she should be, but I liked her in Persuasion.
I can’t see Popplewell and RA as a “match” at all. I like Gemma Arterton and thought she did a fine job in Tess, but as Emma, I’m not so sure. I think I’m favoring an “unknown” actress, one for whom we do not have any preconceived ideas and who can bring a fresh perspective to the character. My one request is that she be dark-haired, because that is how I’ve always imagined Emma.
For Knightley however, I definitely want a known quantity– and it’s a great quantity of RA that I want
Fascinating, but how reliable is this? Out of curiosity I googled the idea and found an article “TV drama kings fall out over Jane Austen”
Independent, Jul 14, 1996 by Clare Garner
which talked about the Beckinsale Emma being grabbed by ITV,
“He might have had the Davies-Birtwistle Emma as a world-beating sequel – indeed he was offered it – but he had already promised the adaptation to someone else. “It was a very, very difficult situation,” he said yesterday. “I had already commissioned Sandy Welch, one of our BBC writers, to do Emma. We really were in a fix.” He felt bound to honour his word.”
Could BBC have had this on the backburner for over 10 years?
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_/ai_n14057669
I have no idea how dependable it is. It’s really just a rumor at this point. Speculation is fun, as is fantasy casting.
But really, if this has been kicking around for ten years, maybe someone’s thinking it’s time to bring it out again. They already paid for it, after all. Davies’ NA kicked around forever before ITV was suckered into making it (damn their eyes).
Or was fortunate to make it…
Better ITV than Miramax, at least.
And, though I actually adore the 96 Beckinsale/Strong/Davies film, a four-hour version (or 3 hr 10 min, with 50 min episodes) would be wonderful – if Welch trusts Austen’s language more than she did Gaskell’s or Bronte’s.
Small note: though Mr Armitage certainly has range, his brooding, intense approach to date seems very similar to Strong’s take.
For my part changing language would hurt – but less than adding/changing things drastically as the NA which ITV was suckered into making it (damn their eyes).
Claire Foy is amazing as Amy in “Little Dorrit”! I wouldn’t mind seeing her as Emma, or Harriet Smith. (I previously suggested Sophia Myles as Emma..)
I think Claire Foy is fantastic as Amy Dorrit! I’ve been watching that series as it comes out and also want to put in a plug for Tom Courtenay. Judging from his performance in Little Dorrit he would make a perfect Mr. Woodhouse.
Actually, for Harriet Smith I hope they actually get a plump, young lady to play her. I really liked Samantha Morton’s Harriet, but think she is too thin to be the book Harriet. Toni Collette was too large and a little older then she should be. Debbie Bowen was probably the best Harriet.
Here just to fully support the campaign! Yes, Richard Armitage as Mr. Knightley, PLEASE! I’ve just finished my 3rd re-read of Emma, picturing him all along. I’m sure he’d be absolutely perfect. He’s got talent, depth, and range require for this really difficult role. Not to mention the way he seems to be preparing for every role – doing research and studying the novel if it’s to be an adaptation.
I do hope he’ll be cast. I can’t imagine any other Mr. Knightley, truth be told.
I’m sorry to be such a sport-spoil, but BBC has us still on tenterhooks regarding this project and meanwhile it has only conffirmed that season 8 of Spooks starts filming on March 2009, which means the main obstacle so far forseen in the way to get Richard Armitage as Mr. Knigthley still stands
*sniff*
Is someone at BBC listening to us??? We want him as Mr. Knigthley, so move all other things in order he can play the role.