Friday, February 12, 2010

Jane Eyre 2011 cast continues to take shape. . .

*Hat-tip to BronteBlog*.

Several new names have been reported in connection with Jane Eyre 2011 in the Hollywood Reporter:

Cranford

Dame Judi Dench as Mrs. Fairfax;

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Jamie Bell as St John Rivers;

Persuasion 2007

Sally Hawkins as Mrs. Reed;

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and Imogen Poots - probably as Blanche Ingram.

My thoughts: Judi Dench as Mrs. Fairfax - awesome! :-D

I don't know much about Jamie Bell, but he looks about right for the part of St John - his blond, boyish looks should contrast well with Michael Fassbender's darker, rougher features.

Sally Hawkins as Mrs. Reed is an interesting choice, to say the least! Sally is a great actress, and will no doubt pull it off, but I have to say my first thoughts were that she seems way too young, thin, and attractive to play Mrs. Reed!

Imogen Poots - pleeeease, not another blonde Blanche Ingram!! Blanche is described in the book as being dark, exotic, and very tall. In almost all of the movie adaptations I have seen, she is portrayed as the stereotypical mean, dumb, blonde villainess. *Heavy sigh*. Let's hope that Miss Poots has actually been cast as Rosamund Oliver, NOT Blanche Ingram.

20 comments:

Marian said...

Yeah, I agree--Blanche should be a brunette. In fact, both Jane Eyre and Blanche Ingram should have dark hair, but Blanche should have a prettier, more striking appearance. Judi Dench would be excellent as Mrs Fairfax! Thanks for posting these. :)

The Editrix said...

both Jane Eyre and Blanche Ingram should have dark hair, but Blanche should have a prettier, more striking appearance.

Exactly! On the flip side, I hope they don't make Jane herself a blonde for this production! (Mia Wasikowska has naturally blond hair). They'll probably colour her hair, or use a wig. . . the public outcry would be too great if Jane Eyre had blond hair. :P

Unknown said...

I liked St. John, and I like Jamie Bell, but somehow I can't imagine Jamie Bell *as* St. John (only as Smike!). Oh well. We shall see. :)

Unknown said...

Jamie Bell as St. John?! I LOVE IT! Thanks for the news!

Katherine said...

Judi Dench as Mrs. Fairfax is perfect!

I didn't recognize Smike/Jamie Bell at first, I look forward to him as St. John Rivers.

Sally Hawkins is really good actress it will be interesting to see what she brings to the role of Mrs. Reed.

Imogen Poots would be perfect as Rosamund Oliver but if she's cast as Blanche Ingram I'll have to wait and see.

It's been a few years since I've actually read Jane Eyre but does Charlotte Bronte describe Jane as dark haired?

I'm very much looking forward to this production!

Unknown said...

^ ^
I believe Jane is said to have "hazel hair and hazel eyes", which would imply light brown hair.

The Editrix said...

Nibs - yes, I think you're right. I think Jane is supposed to be somewhere in between the dark, glamorous Blanche and blonde, blue-eyed Georgiana Reed (with whom Jane is compared early in the book, when they're both kids).

Rebekah said...

Hmm... Great choice for St. John I think... Judi Dench?? I don't care for her acting (well, the characters she plays) a whole lot and I love Mrs. Fairfax, so... I'm not sure what I think...

Sally Hawkin's doesn't quite seem right either but she might do well...

Imogen Roots is beautiful whatever part she plays, I must say!! :)

To the KING be all the glory!
Rebekah

BLOG: http://www.donotgrowweary.com/blog

"Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth." 2 Timothy 2:15

Andy said...

Jamie Bell FTW, he's great in Defiance and Billy Elliot.

Charleybrown said...

Hi Elise!
I just found out about this too! For a production that I didn't want to care about because I didn't think we needed another Jane Eyre, I'm really excited about the new additions! I'm not sure I see Bell in his role but Dame Judi is wonderful in anything she plays! She could do a toilet paper commercial and I would watch! I'm not sure about Sally playing a mean character - I like her in her lighthearted roles but love her talent. And I'm eager to see Imogen in whichever role she takes on...

Enbrethiliel said...

+JMJ+

I really can't see Jane as a blonde (though the cover of my copy has a painting of a woman with light hair); but I think that if the world was all right with a blond James Bond, there won't be much of an outcry over a blonde Jane Eyre!

Unknown said...

BTW Elise, you've been awarded at my blog! :)

Alexandra said...

I love all the casting (looove Michael Fassbender!!!) buuut do you think that Mia Wasikowska looks a little young??? I mean, I guess Jane's been cast too old in the other versions, buuut...

Of course, I LOOOOOOVE Dame Judi in anything, so I'm happy about this. The "playing up Gothic element" scares me a little, though.

The Editrix said...

Alexandra - IDK. . . Jane is supposed to be 18. But she is also supposed to have a sort agelessless, "ethereal-ness" about, so you do have a point.

And yes, the "Gothic" thing has me a tad concerned as well. We've already been through that territory with the 2006 Jane Eyre, which played up the Gothic elements of the book quite a bit. . .

And sorry I still haven't done that Jane Eyre post! :-( It'll happen sometime, I promise. . .

Traxy said...

Oh, thank you so much for this! Hadn't seen there were more roles cast. Dame Judi Dench as Fairfax, yes I can see that. Jamie Bell as St John... he looks like he's still a teenager? Sally Hawkins as Mrs. Reed - now, she's definitely too young! Imogen Poots, I agree, she would be a much better Rosamund Oliver than Blanche Ingram! Perhaps people keep thinking Blanche should be blonde because of her name?

Mia Wasikowska did a great job in "Defiance", and I'm looking forward to "Alice in Wonderland". She's too pretty, technically, but she can be plained-down with makeup, I guess! Michael Fassbender could make a great Rochester, but we'll have to wait and see.

Feels strange to do a new version already, especially when the 2006 one was so good, and even though it would be nice to see "Shirley" or "Villette" for a change, I'm not going to complain too much. After all, one more Rochester to ogle and swoon over ain't gonna hurt! ;)

Anonymous said...

I adore Judi Dench; she's brilliant! So glad to hear she's in this. = )
Blessings,
Kate

atchoo said...

Hello, I stumbled upon your blog and found it interesting since I'm a fan of Victorian novels and the adaptation.

I love Jane Eyre and knowing that Jamie Bell will take part in it makes me even excited :)

Thanks for the info!

Anonymous said...

This new version, will a promising cast will definetly be good. But no matter how good this new adaptation may be it can never live up to the 2006 production. The new director should at least watch this brilliant adaptation and if he were truly a great director he would recognize how impossible it would be to mimic it because it is incredible. ARgh this is so unjust, the team and actors of the BBC version do not deserve to be overshadowed like this.

elaine Clayton said...

I made my own little film about my all time favorite novel, JANE EYRE. It is for fun, it is kitschy and I had the best time making it. If you'd like to see it, you can go to the IlluminaraArt channel on Youtube. It is called
JANE EYRE: SCENES FROM MY LIFE, or go to:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1u87Eu1JAk

I'm glad I found this blog, it is a great resource. Next I'd like to make Wuthering Heights and then Pride and Prejudice.
Elaine

Anonymous said...

Michael Fassbender has always been in my dreamcast for Rochester and I'm sure he will be great...but yes!..another blonde Blanche. Check out the BBC 1983 version, and they have a dark haired Blanche, but then again, they got everything right in that one...it was a studies guide to Jane Eyre...spot on! I always have a problem with these classics as movies, mainly because of cramped screen time and an under-developed plot with dialogue that has been changed or left out completely. Two hours is never enough, you need a good four hours for Jane Eyre, that's why I say leave the classics to the experts...BBC!!!! (mind you, even they have been falling into the trap of taking liberties with the plotlines lately) I daresay I will be trotting along to the cinema to get my latest Rochester fix at any rate... he looks hot!