Comments on: Rumormongering: New Emma Series on BBC in 2009

By: Cinthia

Cinthia — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 22:50:45 +0000

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.

By: Victoria Tonks

Victoria Tonks — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 09:43:12 +0000

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.

By: Sylvia M.

Sylvia M. — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 00:25:22 +0000

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.

By: Sylvia M.

Sylvia M. — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 00:15:47 +0000

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.

By: BlueDolphin

BlueDolphin — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 03:54:27 +0000

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..)

By: Reeba

Reeba — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 14:31:54 +0000

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).

By: ibmiller

ibmiller — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 05:31:12 +0000

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.

By: Mags

Mags — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 03:13:17 +0000

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).

By: Michelle w

Michelle w — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 01:31:01 +0000

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

By: Maria L.

Maria L. — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 00:30:51 +0000

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