It looks like the long-gestating remake of “My Fair Lady” is going back to the drawing board. Again.
It appears that John Madden, who joined the troubled production in December of last year has quit the film. Rumor has it that disagreements over who to cast in the role of Professor Henry Higgins led him to leave the film that was going to try to get in front of cameras later this year, or in early 2011.
As we reported back in March, screenwriter Emma Thompson and had been championing her friend Hugh Grant for the role to Madden. We didn’t think much of it at the time, as Grant has a reputation for being selective (though, that doesn’t explain “What About The Morgans?”) and given the project’s slow crawl to the big screen, we didn’t expect a decision to be imminent, especially since the film was still trying to find its Eliza Doolittle. But considering its the only name we heard for the role, if the rumor is true, we suspect that Thompson and the producers loved the idea of Grant playing the role while Madden was less keen on the idea. Cue, stage exit. So does this mean Hugh Grant is still on board? Perhaps, but at this rate, we don’t expect to see this film on screen anytime soon.
With Madden’s departure, he adds his name to the list of directors who’ve boarded and left the project that includes Danny Boyle, Baz Luhrmann and Stephen Daldry. The list of potential Eliza Doolittle’s stands at Keira Knightley, who was attached to the role through most of the handful of directors, before Carey Mulligan became another Emma Thompson candidate (though no one seems to have told her about it). The film is now back to square one for “My Fair Lady” which a director and stars waiting to be found. Anyone have any ideas? We’re sure the producers could use some help.
