Tuesday, May 29, 2007

Diana and the Paparazzi: Nasty Casting Alert

At Cannes, there has been a flurry of activity around a book called Diana and the Paparazzi, with a bunch of producers having a feeding frenzy trying to acquire the property.

And the name being bandied about to play Princess Diana is... Keira Knightley.

So let me get this straight. You are telling me that producers remembering this individual in her mid-30s:



Want this rail-thin 22-year old actress for that part?



I guess there is a lot of crack on the French Riviera this time of year or a prerequisite of bidding on the project was a swift crack to the head.

The comparison the leading contender to make this film has made is to Helen Mirren playing Elizabeth II in The Queen. I think it is fair to say that Knightley is certainly no Mirren, and in fact, in terms of talent and screen presence, she is WAY down the list.

Something truly does reek in Hollywood.

7 comments:

SamuraiFrog said...

That's just a terrible, terrible bit of casting there. Diana reminds me of someone in that picture, but I can't think who. Someone who could do a better job playing her, no doubt.

Anonymous said...

I don't get it at all. When casting... they really should go for an actress, who both, LOOKS AND SOUNDS like the person of whom she will be emulating.

I don't understand the how or the why behind our fascination with Diana. Isn't there something more pressing for our attention these days?

MC said...

SF: I can think of at least 7-8 British/OZ actresses who would be a better fit for that part.

Maven: I think the fact that there are so many more frightening things in the world is indeed the reason why people keep going back to Diana.

Cold Cut Ten said...

Thinking of Diana, doesn't exactly cheer one up or take one very far away from the symptoms that might be making the world a frightening place. It's actually rather depressing to think about Diana. There's not even a closure on the matter of her death.


- Liz

The Ferryman said...

She's really pretty though. I likes her :)

Hey, you never know. Everyone scoffed when it was announced that Michael Keaton would play Batman, but until Christian Bale I think he was the best one.

Becca said...

Ewwwwwwwwwwwww!!!!! Whose that zombie woman walking down the street! It's disgusting! Someone needs to feed Kierra a sandwich or three.

MC said...

Liz: But people idealize and idolize dead celebrities... especially if they have a minor tinge of glamor, and seeing as she is a royal, well, that explains a lot of the fascination... it isn't the death that interests people but the life.

Mr. Fab: I didn't scoff at Michael Keaton as Batman... but I am scoffing at this.

Becca: I meant to thank Diana Prince for finding that photo.