I am beginning to worry whether CF will in fact do MD. I was feeling confident but two things worry me. Firstly, will he have the time? I am really not sure how long films take to make but I assume he will only start preparing for DQ after 3DOR i e mid March. I realise I have very little idea about how films are made but they must have a lead in time, rehearsals etc. or do they do that as they go along? It is hard to imagine that they would start filming before the beginning of May. I assume BJD wil be filmed in the Summer. I would guess June or July. Presumably not later if they are looking to an early 2000 release. Wouldn't that make it rather hectic for anybody but especially for Mr"I hate working back to back" Firth. Secondly I am worried about that comment about being too old to play moonstruck young lovers any more. Perhaps he doesn't put MD in that category.

(Allison), Wouldn't that make it rather hectic for anybody but especially for Mr"I hate working back to back" Firth. I think Colin seriously wants to change this and is working hard at it now. The new Colin is emerging hold on to your hats!

(Laura)I still go with Claire Rushbrook, she is quite pretty and very versatile! Only thing is....who would go to see this movie?.... A bunch of no-names. ******* ( Allison) Wouldn't that make it rather hectic for anybody but especially for Mr"I hate working back to back" Firth. (Moon)The new Colin is emerging hold on to your hats! That's known as "Paying the mortgage on the new house"syndrome.

MD isn't a moonstruck lover...he's a successful divorced barrister, late thirties, with a bit of a commitment problem! Mortgage, kid, non-working wife (probably). Hey, he'll be working back to back all the time now! And if a few more bambinos appear on the scene... 3DOR will be over by mid-March (with stage plays most of the work is before the opening). Block out April-May for DomQ, which could be filmed in 6 weeks, and that still leaves June thru' Sept for BJD. And he has just had six months off! I still haven't given up on Mary Queen of Scots...way to win an Oscar, major romantic role in big costume drama, horrible death at end! But that really would be back to back to back. But he's a man with responsibilities now! The Oscars...Why Brenda Blethyn again? She got awful reviews in the UK, and her voice really grates on my poor ol' nerves. And it's always the same performance. And what happened to Bulworth? Got rave reviews over here, ditto The Trueman Show.

Haven�t been able to post much this week, as life and work seem to be interfering with my time at Drool. Very good news about P&P and BJD sharing the same screenwriter�. Anyway, here is an exceedingly short (and bad) poem which sums up my feelings about the MD casting issue: Dear Mr. Firth, please put us to rest, Don the bumblebee socks and ugly vest-- "Mark Darcy! Mark Darcy!" they call out to you; We Firthettes need an inside joke or two. Oh won�t you please be our Valentine And sign the movie contract on the dotted line? Note: after I wrote this, I did check my facts, and in BJD MD is wearing an ugly sweater (jumper) in lieu of an ugly vest (waistcoat). Didn�t want to rework the rhyme, so I left it alone. My apologies to the BJD purists. Happy Valentine�s Day to all.

Nice one Lizza! I'll add... "Cuckolds, madmen,haughty earls, Soccer fans and fickle churls, You've shown your range, Now hear our pleas, Just one romantic hero please!" Pleas...please, oh well, it's late. What I would like to see is GP winning an Oscar, and then announcing that her next project is BJD with CF. I think this all falls within the realms of possibility!

Sorry, Lisa . As I said, it's late!

Lisa....Bethan....we hardly know ye...What talent... Poets in our midst!!

Brilliant Ladies! All of our sentiments so succinctly and eloquently put. Far better than what is scrawled in any Hallmark VD card. :)

Such a creative bunch...it only takes a little inspiration. Also in honor of the day, I see in my 1999 Bridget Jones Diary that besides being St. Valentine's Day, today is also National Impotence Day. (That's what it says!) And then a note from Bridget saying, "You see life imperfect for many"

Has Kate Winslet ever been suggested to play Bridget Jones opposite CF, I think she would be perfect, she has a high Hollywood profile after Titanic, she has a slight weight problem, is about the right age, she is british, and now with her short haircut looks like my idea of BJ. I don't remember her name being mentioned before but I may be wrong.

Kate Winslet is TOOOO YOUNG. BJ is in her mid thirties.

Kate Winslet looks older than she is....she could do it. A British star who is well known to Americans.

I tend to lurk here more than post but I just had to give my two cents, if you don't mind. Has anyone ever thought about Jennifer Ehle as Bridget? Granted she doesn't have the Hollywood profile but it's a British film, isn't it? And personally, I don't want to see an American in the role, especially GP. When actors are shoved down my throat in so many movies and magazine covers and interviews in such a short period of time, they tend to grate on my nerves, and she is bugging me like crazy lately. If she p ays yet another British person, I will scream. Enough already. Try a southern drawl or something. I'd just get such a kick if JE were paired with CF again. What better place than a modern take on P&P to reunite them? That's my ideal casting choices but I have a feeling it'll snow in hell before my wish would happen.

If GP could play BJ then I don't see why KW couldn't, she must be about the same age and is very popular here in the UK.

I've thought of JE as Bridget, and if this was a purely British film, I'd think this could be a possibility. But it's the "Hollywood" version (Why? It can't be an expensive movie to shoot, London locations,character driven, many interior shots, no special effects, British actors are cheap...couldn't Film Four or BBC Films have done it for �2 or �3 million? ) Anyway, if it's Big business, it will be a Big name. I still think GP is the odds on favourite. Although I agree KW could look early thirties...she h s a more womanly type of beauty! But if it's the "Hollywood version" it will really boost CF, otherwise he seems to be overlooked. And he has to play this role (Hollywood, d'ya'hear me! Not Hugh Grant, not Ben Affleck, okay!)

Hugh Grant would be such a total turn off. BA is too young for the role. Who would look better in that tart outfit Bridget wears? I think Kate W. But at this point it looks like whatever Gwynnie wants she gets. I'm just hoping that they offer MD to CF. JE could be offered the part of one of Bridget's friends. This could be a great P&P reunion film but I doubt it would happen.

I was reading about the casting for the new Miramax film of Jane Austen's "Mansfield Park" shot in England....the lead role of Fanny is played by an Australian actress, and the rest of the principal cast is American, with, I think, one British actor who was in "Trainspotting". So I don't know what that portents for BJD!! It's big business, bankability and profits that matter. I wouldn't be unhappy with Gwynnie, provided that she stays loyal to CF! Isn't she quoted somewhere as saying that Harvey wanted an American to play Shakespeare, but she persuaded him that it had to be a British actor!!

Again, I will say it Kate Winslet is TOOOO DAMN Young as is Gwyneth Paltrow. JE is on the cusp. They need an unknown British actress who is in her early to mid thirties. Perhaps Helen Fielding could play Bridget. She is Bridget!

(Lisa) CF & JE in BJD....That's my ideal casting choices but I have a feeling it'll snow in hell before my wish would happen. I think you could easily bet the "family farm" that they'll never be cast together. *** I vote for Gwyneth.Bag the unknown British actress :-) Movies with unknowns play on each coast and in UK (who also don't go to see them!!)Producers hate them because they can't get funding without a bankable star. They are made alright and then they sit on a shelf because no distributor will touch them.

So you know what's practical to make a bankable film. But what do you really want? Forgetting money for a moment, who do you really want to see as Bridget? A fantasy, I know but I'll be damned if I want a 20-something playing a woman in her thirties. There are too many good actresses (American and British) in their 30s who could do this role. I like Jane Leeves or Emily Watson myself.

Thank you, Heide. GP is too young!!!! I will not rest until I get everyone to figure that out!

Ok then, not KW, what about Natasha Richardson, (a Month in the Country(, the chemistry between CF and NR was good in AMITC, and I think she would be the right age and is quite well known in the US?

(Heide), I like Jane Leeves or Emily Watson I can't place JL but I disagree on EW. She is a v. good actress but I don't see as Bridget, and the same goes for Natasha R. Laura, GP may be too young but as Evelyn pointed out it is a Hollywood movie. We should just hope they get it right and at least have the intelligence to offer MD to CF which is NOT a given. I'm afraid the producers are gong to want to reach a younger audience with BJD and if GP wants to be BJ she will probably have first pick. I would prefer a P&P reunion but that would be too much of an inside joke I'm afraid.

Age aside, I can't see GP as Bridget. She seems too...I can't describe it...together? Sophisticated? Same for Natasha. I think KW could pull off that manic, disorganized 'why do these crazy things keep happening to me?' quality of BJ but YES, LAURA, she's too young. I've never seen Emily Watson do comedy, but she's not right either. Now Jane Leeves, I could see her, but is it too close to her 'Frasier' persona? Has she done any films lately? Considering the big-bucks Hollywood angle, it's still a ga ble when US TV stars move to films (e.g., 'Friends'). How the closely the screenplay will match the book is another interesting question.

Nothing like a little controversy to get some life on this board:-) (heide) Forgetting money for a moment, who do you really want to see as Bridget? A fantasy, I know ... Hmmmm, let's see...if Andrew Davies doesn't change it all around.... Natasha would be OK ( Parent Trap, cute and she wowed 'em in Cabaret). I guess firstly I would like Colin to be cast as Mark...and whom they cast him with is immaterial...I just hate to see these good Brit movies just go on a shelf.Have they announced the director yet?That is crucial. The more I look at P&P the more I think Simon Langton was the unsung hero.Agree with Moon a P&P reunion would be the fantasy "Dreamteam".

Laura, GP may be too young but as Evelyn pointed out it is a Hollywood movie ] I think we will see differently. Helen Fielding has maintained that she wanted creative control when it came to casting BJ. We will not see GP and KW as BJ. How do I know this, because it's HF's baby and she would not let them ruin it. I will remain adamant and when I am proved right, I will then gloat! I really could care less who plays MD, he's a dog anyway!

How about Ruth Gemmel??

Or Holly Aird, who played RG's flatmate, she has the right kind of dizziness and sense of humour.

I think Holly Aird would be a great possibility. As far as "essentials" - what an actress needs to play Bridget, apart from looking the part (hence no 20-somethings, my rule only), the women we've mentioned above are all actors - I'm sure any one of them can do comedy roles even if we equate them only with dramatic roles now.

I think Holly Aird would be great...(reminded me of Rosie O'Donell with Meg Ryan in "Sleepless in Seattle".) Can't stand Ruth Gemell's voice!!Grating.

OK, so how about a discussion on the secondary roles? Who do you want or would you think would be fun in the following roles? (Please keep in mind, that not that much thought went into this, I haven't read the book in a while so the description of the characters escapes me.) Daniel Cleaver...... Rupert Everett Pam Jones........... Joan Collins Colin Jones......... Sharon.............. Julia Sawalha Jude................ Una Alconbury....... Phillida Law Geoffrey Alconbury.. Michael Caine Natasha............. Elizabeth Hurley Perpetua............ Magda............... Jeremy.............. Vile Richard........ Rebecca............. Richard Finch....... Tom................. Julio............... Ricky Martin This was a lot harder than I thought that's why so many are left blank. Any one else want to give it a try?

Well, I guess I am the only one in the dark.... Who is Holly Aird?

Wait! and don't forget to cast: Elena Rossini (the domestic servant MD defends in court)........ ME! (I shamelessly asked HF at her booksigning last year if I could possibly have a minor role)

I like Imogen Stubbs as Bridget also, aka Lucy Steele or Sarah in Jack & Sarah (she died in childbirth:() Ricky Martin!!! LISA!!!!!!! too funny, but Julio wasn't he an older man?????

Who is Holly Aird? She was Ruth Gemell's flatmate in FP.

(Evelyn) She was Ruth Gemell's flatmate in FP. Thanks, Evelyn. Ah, now I know why I had not heard heard of her. And now I have to wait until May to see her(and CF, of course!) in FP....::sigh:: I used to consider myself a patient person, but waiting for the release of some of CF's movies has tested me beyond reason......::bigger sigh::

Sorry for the two *heards* above....

When was the release date for FP changed to May, I thought the latest date was March, I don't know first February, then March and now May, goodness knows when we will see MLSF at this rate.

I reckon FP is being released close to the release date of MLSF, so that perhaps he'll promote the two in tandem in the US. May be too busy now, with 3DOR, and perhaps DOMQ. Holly Aird would be fine, but if they want the film to be an international success, I still think they'll go for a "name". All-British cast films often struggle, even in (particularly in?) Britain.

Ouch! Hollywood's reality is so harsh, I'm just going to forget it and live in my fantasy world - who I'd like to see play the roles, not who Hollywood should cast to get the most bang from their buck. I like Lisa's game. Joan Collins as Pam? Interesting...kind of a viper image. Daniel Cleaver...Colin Firth. Ha ha!! Perpetua...Tracey Ullman in one of her guises.

What's wrong with Ricky? I have no idea how old Julio is but I'd love to see RM in the role. Come on! Shouldn't Julio be this hunky latin guy with buffy broad shoulders that just makes Pam and every lady in the theatre melt? I'd be ready to plunk down 8.50 Cdn multiple times just to hear him say: "You sleep with MY woman" in a dangerous, possessive way. I'd rather Julio be younger than Pam anyway. I don't want to see a Ricardo Montalban scaming her but a young latin stud with a great butt do it.

I think Jennifer Saunders would be a good BJ; watching ABFAB today it hit me that HF must have had Eddie in her mind when she conceived BJ/. Ricky Martin is WAY too young for Joan Collins!

Oh no Laura, I would rather see Dawn French as BJ!

Ricky Martin is WAY too young for Joan Collins! Didn't JC marry a young guy a few years back and he took her money? She'd be perfect for the role of Pam, she wouldn't need to do any research for it! OK, you don't like Ricky, how about Placido Domingo? Is he old enough for you? Or would you prefer Antonio Banderas? (I'm running out of Latin men here!)

No, Lisa, they are good choices, but he must be older. Not Ricardo Montalban older, but in his 40s. I always thought Julio was more greasy, if handsome looking;) Dawn French! Oh dear Lord, that's funny! Okay, I'll stick with Claire Rushbrook, she's pretty and funny! and not your typical perfect looking model, but NORMAL looking. I could always play BJ, but I'm too thin:( ;) Karen, come back to us soon!!!!!

For Julio: that actor from 'Nostromo' (can't for the life of my remember his name), you know, the one who played the soldier/bad guy. Had dark, wavy hair all slicked back. Sorry I can't be more specific, it's been awhile since I watched Nostromo (not one of my Firthfaves). Joan Collins as Pam? What a hoot.

I'm back (sorry, folks) Anyway, HF mentioned that she had in mind Omar Sharif for Julio...not a younger guy! ;-) More later

Omar Sharif? Is he Portuguese? Isn't Julio supposed to be from Portugal? How old is OS anyway? I guess he's about JC's age or maybe more... yeah... he's OK... I'll settle for him if I have no choice, although I'd prefer someone a bit younger.

Believe it or not I actually watched Nostromo on Sunday! Must have been desperate. Eilenn, that actor who was the nasty Sotillo (sp.) would be good as Julio though a bit older too than I'd imagine. Still, he was slimy. And a bad actor to boot!

Omar Sharif? Is he Portuguese He's Egyptian.

Saw Ricky Martin on ET last night. I hadn't been making the connection before. Him? For Julio? Isn't he still in diapers??? And forgive me, but I thought Omar was dead :-( . Guess not, if HF was thinking about him. Seems we're having the same age thing (too old, too young) with this character as well as BJ! I hope the real casting people aren't...

Saw Ricky Martin on ET last night. I hadn't been making the connection before. Him? For Julio? Isn't he still in diapers??? OK, you've all convinced me he's too young, but I still think he'd be fine if they can't find anyone else. He can act, I saw him on General Hospital a few years ago (thank God he chopped that mop off his head!)and if they wanted, Julio could always break out into song and serenade Pam! I saw him on ET too Eileen. I had no idea he was singing at the Grammys on Wednesday. I wasn't planning on tuning in before but I am definitely now. The only thing that bothered me was that he was singing his song La Copa De La Vida in English. What a disappointment! If he was going to sing in English he should've picked Maria, Un, Dos, Tres . There's an English version of that song and it's so much fun to bowl to! I tried looking up other Latin men actors but I didn't have much luck. They are few and far between. I could only come up with three more: Jimmy Smits, Edward James Olmos and Andy Garcia.

I think Helen was referring to a certain "look" when she said she visualized Omar Sharif in the role. You know, dashingly handsome and mature. A Ricardo Montalban would right as well. (Is he alive?) (Heide) that actor who was the nasty Sotillo (sp.) would be good as Julio though a bit older too than I'd imagine. He's really short!! Was also the bad guy traitor in "Clear and Presdent Danger." But he isn't too old...

OK, I'm grasping at straws here, but Cheech Marin came to mind after I saw commercial for Nash Bridges. If like Karen says, HF wants a dashingly handsome older man for Julio, he's definitely out of the picture, but the thought of him with Joan Collins gave me a good laugh. And Ricardo Montalban is alive!!!!!!!!!

I like that Hyacinth Bouquet lady for Bridget's mom. Joan is way too glamorous.

Karen, it's Hyacinth Bucket! What about the grandma on ABFAB as Pam, she's plays ditzy well, I mean who uses condoms to wash dishes? hee hee;)

Yeah, as soon as I sent it, I remembered that it's Bucket, but she pretentiously pronounces it like the other. Oh well, I don't watch the show, but she looks about right. Don't watch AbFab either.

Finally, I shall be able to see what the fuss is about Cadbury Milk Trays!!

Chocolate, Karen, Chocolate. Plus Cadbury is made there, so it's much different from our Cadburys! Oh do bring some back;)

OK, managed to find several of the more important Bridget junk foods! Can say categeorically that Jaffe Cakes (brand name) are the exact same thing as a cookie thing made by the LU brand and sold in the US. They call them Pimm's or some such thing and are available with orange or raspberry jelly. Brought a deluxe tin of Milk Tray at the airport on the way out (what else does one do with leftover cash!!). Haven't opened them up yet (or the tin of Flake either), but seems to me they aren't going to be much different from any assorted chocolates one can buy from Fannie Mae, Fannie Farmer, Sees, Whitman,e etc. These were a "deluxe" tin, so the shapes and decorations were a bit more la-di-dah! So Helen is addicted to these things...

I don't like Flake;( It's too flaky. Rebecca flipped out when I brought some back from Ireland. She hated it too!

I like Jaffa Cakes. Karen and I munched on them during the Jennifer Ehle movie on Sunday.Yummmmm. **** I vote for Antonio...(Gi's fiancee) to play Julio. He is Portugese and v. handsome.

No way, Evelyn! Antonio says there really is a Julio in Albufeira, who lives off foreign women. Antonio has business and lives in part in Albufeira, and can I but dream that they'll shoot BJD there if Colin is in it? :-)

(GI)No way, Evelyn! AAA. Did not mean to imply that Antonio is a gigolo:-) Mean't it as a compliment....as handsome as Antonio Banderas;-D

No offence taken. But I would not have him play Julio :-)

From today's Variety (also a mention of Captain Corelli's Mandolin and High Fidelity toward the end): Working Title duo to stay U may slate 'Bridget,' 'Captain' By ADAM DAWTREY, March 26, 1999 LONDON � Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner, co-chairmen of Working Title Films, have finally signed a five-year deal to continue at the helm of the London-based production company under Universal Pictures. The long-awaited arrangement, due to be announced today, is understood to guarantee them the same creative autonomy they enjoyed under Polygram Filmed Entertainment, as well as richer personal terms. It will enable Bevan and Fellner to greenlight the same kind of risky medium-budget fare, such as the $25 million �Elizabeth� and the $18 million �Bean,� that they previously persuaded PFE to bankroll. The first projects likely to be financed by Universal are �Bridget Jones� Diary,� an adaptation of Helen Fielding�s bestseller about being a single female over 30, and �Captain Corelli�s Mandolin,� to be directed by Roger Michell, from Louis de Bernieres� romantic novel set in Greece during World War II. Bevan and Fellner will also be asking U to greenlight �Thunderbirds,� a blockbuster live-action version of the cult TV series. Concern over Hollywood Bevan, who was not available for comment Thursday, previously has said that if Working Title had been owned by a Hollywood studio for the past five years, the company would only have managed to make �French Kiss� and �Notting Hill,� both mainstream projects costing more than $40 million. Instead the company has produced a stream of low-budget hits, including �Four Weddings and a Funeral,� �Fargo� and �Dead Man Walking.� One of Bevan and Fellner�s highest priorities during their months of negotiation with Universal was to secure the right to continue making quirky British and American films at lower budget levels. The duo�s old contracts with PFE were due to expire in June, but last year�s takeover of PFE by Universal raised questions about whether Bevan and Fellner would renew their deal or seek better terms elsewhere. They had been heavily courted by other studios but in the end were unwilling to leave behind their company and its slate of upcoming projects, all now owned by U. PFE Intl. to distrib Working Title�s films will be distributed internationally by PFE Intl., soon to be rebranded with a Universal label. Domestically, the company�s big-budget films will go through U, but given the uncertainty over the future ownership of both October and Gramercy Films, the fate of Working Title�s smaller films remains undecided. Meanwhile, Working Title is already in the midst of preparing Stephen Frears� adaptation of the Nick Hornby novel �High Fidelity,� starring John Cusack, for Disney. Disney and Universal have also agreed on a split-rights deal for the next Coen brothers movie, �Oh Brother, Where Art Thou,� starring George Clooney, which Working Title will produce.

K- I've started reading Correlli's Mandolin, it's very interesting.

Working Title is already in the midst of preparing Stephen Frears� adaptation of the Nick Hornby novel �High Fidelity,� starring John Cusack Didn't Frears do Dangerous Liaisons?

Didn't Frears do Dangerous Liaisons? Yes, so....

Good news...Working Title must start shooting BJD soon. I still see CF as a cert for MD, but Bridget herself, who knows?

Captain Corelli's Mandolin is a wonderful novel, but in some ways I'd rather it stayed as a book...I can picture the characters in my imagination, and I don't think any film version would them justice.

On Bethan's recommendation I read "Captain Corelli's Mandolin"; it is a brilliant novel and sorry, B. I must disagree..IMO it would make a touching film...talk about a romantic novel...And yes, I can see CF as Captain Corelli....hair dyed black, ,of course:-) ***** Thanks Karen for the Variety article.

Don't give too much on the book, I've just started it! I like it. Loved the The Duce chapter, lmao!

I picked up Captain Corelli's Mandolin about a month ago when I was in Firthland West (that's the book, Winter). Read about 4 chapters and it sits... Think I'd better make a concerted effort. ;-)

(that's the book, Winter). That's right! Now I feel I should follow suit...you think I'd have any difficulty tracing a copy?

And yes, I can see CF as Captain Corelli....hair dyed black, ,of course:-) I remember reading that Ewan McGregor was going to play him. I must confess, I could not get into CCM. My DH and lots of friends loved it but I could not join their enthusiasm so I don't have much feel for whether CF has been robbed:-)

Oh, Ewan McGregor :-( Must admit that despite my comments, a CF film version would have been very acceptable. Ewan McGregor just isn't Captain Corelli, just as Mel Gibson isn't Sydney Carton. But they're big Box Office. I shall stick to the book. Looks like the only hope of another romantic role for CF is in BJD!

I don't have much feel for whether CF has been robbed:-) The Antonio/Pelagia story is v-e-ry romantic, but a lot depends on the adaptation. On screen, it could be just another mawkish WW2 love story. And I always feel that depicting characters when they have aged is not convincing. I actually think the part should have gone to a bona fide Italian..I mean , there are actors in Italy! Or to an actor of Italian extraction (or an actor marriied to an Italian:-) )

I thought the love story between Kip and Hana in The English Patient was more important than the Katharine/Count Almasy relationship, and they dwindled Kip/Hana down to nothing!

I wholeheartedly agree. It's actually the primary love story in the novel, from what I remember.

Saw Michael Ondaatje yesterday btw...very nice man, interesting sense of humor and pretty near all the questions were about TEP!

Details, Karen! Where did you see him?

Re: CCMD , Antonio...I remember reading that Ewan McGregor was going to play him. Whaaaat? Burp, burp!!The guy should stick to Trainspotting and heroin...period. ****** Re: CCMD, It goes slowly at first ...maybe first 150 or so pages. After that pure bliss. Not just your usual romantic novel...v. much like Frederico Garcia Lorca's "100 Years of Solitude"(Almost said it in Spanish to impress Ben:-)It is inventive , compelling and funny. Stick with it..you will be rewarded.I promise. I think it won the Booker Prize in 1995. *** Yes K. pl. tell us more of Mr. Ondaatje's lecture I can see Juliette Binoche as Pelagia. And Albert Finney as Dr. Iannis

100Years of Solitude is not by Lorca...sorry.

Ewan McGregor as Antonio Corelli...thanks Evelyn for your burp reaction!!! You know, I've been feeling quite depressed about this. Almost spoils the book for me. EMcG is emphatically not, NOT "my" Antonio...he's completely WRONG for this role!

EMcG is emphatically not, NOT "my" Antonio...he's completely WRONG for this role! Think he'll play it with a Scottish-Italian accent?

100Years of Solitude is not by Lorca...sorry. Gabriel Garcia Marquez... and a wonderful book BTW. Brilliant writer.

(Winter)100Years of Solitude is not by Lorca...sorry. Gabriel Garcia Marquez... and a wonderful book BTW. Brilliant writer. Winter to the rescue.!!! Thanks. Was afraid the Mob Squad was going to come after me :-))))

WOT? Ewan McGregor as Antonio Corelli!!! Impossible! Is this absolutely confirmed? (Winter)100Years of Solitude is by Gabriel Garcia Marquez... and a wonderful book BTW. Brilliant writer. I am also a big fan.

I'd rather see Roberto Bergnini as Corelli. But it's "bums on seats" that matter, not keeping faith with the book. Sniff!!

From today's London Times re: Working Title/Universal merger: ....Other projects include High Fidelity, from Nick Hornby's novel, which will soon start shooting in Chicago, with John Cusack starring; Bridget Jones's Diary, which Helen Fielding has scripted with Andrew Davies; and Captain Corelli's Mandolin, adapted by Shawn Slovo. Looks like BJD and CCMD are a "go".

Or as they say in the business, "Green-lighted."

Well, if we know the director and "star" of Captain Corelli (am still depressed about the inappropriate choice of EMcGr..... will he keep his clothes on this time?), isn't it time that details of director/cast for BJD were announced.

I am sorry to get you all upset about EMcG. I might be wrong. I am fairly sure, though, that I read it in an article but it was some time ago, so maybe plans have changed.

Don't worry about it. It doesn't take much to get this group upset. ;-) Since I haven't gotten very far into Corelli's Mandolin, I haven't formed any opinions on who I would like to play the role; however, Ewan (not Elizabeth McGovern) wouldn't be the first to spring to mind.

LOL! Now Elizabeth McG - that would be an even more popular choice round here :-))

This is very strange in view of Evelyn's posting above from Sunday's Times, but quite by accident I picked up the Tatler magazine and there is an article in it which says that Working Titles has withdrawn plans to make the film Bridget Jones' Diary, who is right. Bethan have you had contact with Working Titles and if so can you clarify. Personally I shan't be sorry I couldn't see CF as Mark Darcy but it would still be nice to know for sure.

Ann, since the recent news about Handmade was on all the wire services and the Tatler (April issue I assume) went to print eons ago, I'd go with the entertainment news organizations' latest releases. I mean, why would they even mention BJD in talking about their latest deal with Universal if it they had abandoned plans to pursue it?

Oops, sorry, meant Working Title, not Handmade.