The false rumor that Slumdog Millionaire‘s Danny Boyle would direct the next James Bond movie dominated the news cycle today, but the Academy Award winner is the talk of the town for another high-profile gig. It may sound far-fetched, but numerous sources tell EW that Boyle is talking to Sony Pictures about helming the studio’s remake of the musical My Fair Lady, which already has a screenplay by actor-writer Emma Thompson. In fact, one source says that Boyle’s interest in Lady has prevented him from working on the teen-assassin project Hanna, from screenwriter Seth Lockheed, which Boyle has been developing for a while. Both Sony and Boyle’s reps declined comment.
Whether he would actually do My Fair Lady or not is another matter, but Boyle has never been one to follow the rules. His indie edge might be just the jolt the staid Eliza Doolittle could use. You never know, the results could be loverly….
addCredit(“My Fair Lady: Everett Collection; Danny Boyle: Samir Hussein/Getty Images”)
WHY????? the original is the best
I think this could be fantastic; I read an interview with Emma Thompson where she mentioned the project and her hopes that Hugh Laurie would be cast as Henry Higgens…which only adds to my level of excitement!
Maybe if Hugh Laurie is Prof. Higgins and….what am I talking about!? I will shun this like Dwight Schrute.
Another update? Remake? Why don’t they just bring it back to Broadway? I hope Danny keeps his indie edge. He’s at the top now. Danny, don’t do the big budget over the top musical, please don’t.
This is the worst idea ever. Boyle is awesome. Musicals suck.
MDK, don’t diss musicals, they’re amazing.
hugh laurie would make a nice henry higgins. but i have two words for you in regards to eliza doolittle….
anne hathaway.
i want it.
Honestly?
He’s a good director, yes.
but a musical is different than a bollywood indie.
don’t touch a classic and expect gold to pop out. please don’t.
Shannon, musicals are crap. Why would I watch movie where characters randomly break into choreographed song and dance? It’s stupid.
I don’t know about this. I love Danny Boyle since ‘Shallow Grave’ & I love ‘My Fair Lady.’ However, the two don’t seem to belong together. On the other hand, I found the movie version kinda blah, so he might be able to add some life this time around. I’ll just have to keep my fingers crossed.
“musicals are crap. Why would I watch movie where characters randomly break into choreographed song and dance?”
It’s called fantasy, you dope.
It’s a perfect choice. His movies are full of music and visual magic….what better choice is there? Look how boring all the recent musicals have been…I think it’s a great idea.
Mark, “It’s called fantasy, you dope.” Good call buddy, way to prove your point…actually I’d much rather watch a narrative “fantasy” film like LOTR where actors stay in character rather than prancing around and singing a song. Musicals are the worst genre of film in the history of cinema.
I’m all for Boyle doing a musical, but does he have to touch a beloved classic like “My Fair Lady”? Why not try something original, or adapt a good stage show that hasn’t been brought to the big screen yet?
“Would’nt it be lovley” indeed if Hugh Laurie was Henry Higgens! But who could be Eliza?