Buzzing around the world of musicals, is the talk of a new film version of My Fair Lady.

http://www.broadwayworld.com/viewcolumn.cfm?colid=28676

While I definitely love the original movie, I actually think this could be good… if they choose to do it well. I certainly hope the movie makers will have enough sense to keep true to the story. I’m sure many die-hard My Fair Lady fans will be upset if they do not.

An excerpt from the linked article:

“The new film will use the original songs of the much-loved Broadway show, and will not alter its 1912 setting, but Kenworthy and Mackintosh intend where possible to shoot the film on location in the original London settings of Covent Garden, Drury Lane, Tottenham Court Road, Wimpole Street, and Ascot racecourse.

The filmmaking team will also look to adapt Alan Jay Lerner’s book more fully for the screen by drawing additional material from Pygmalion ­­– George Bernard Shaw’s play that served as the source material for the musical – in order to dramatize as believably as possible for present-day audiences the emotional highs and lows of Eliza Doolittle as she undergoes the ultimate makeover, transforming under the tutelage of Professor Henry Higgins from a Cockney flower girl to a lady. “

Screen star Keira Knightley is in talks to star as Eliza. It’s not a bad choice, she does well in period pieces like the most recent “Pride and Prejudice,” actually, I’ve never heard of her doing any movies that have been set in modern times.

I’m not sure how she’ll handle the role of Eliza. Eliza is an outspoken and crass flower girl for most of the story, and I can’t quite imagine Keira Knightley in those circumstances. And unless she is has a secret musical talent, she won’t be doing the singing. I’m interested to see how this will play out.

Also, I’m jumping on the fast-growing bandwagon for Julie Andrews to star as Henry Higgins’ mother! As the original Eliza on the stage, and the whole backstory as to how she was snubbed for the movie version (though she seemed gracious about it) it would only be fitting to bring her back in this movie. How amazing would that be?

As for Henry Higgins, I’m a bit worried about that. It seems impossible for anyone to be able to fill Rex Harrison’s shoes in that role. It was perfect for him.

So, I’m anxiously waiting for more information on this movie, and I’m keeping my hopes high that the movie makers will do justice to this classic musical.