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'Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell' screenplay complete
Christopher Hampton has written an adaptation of Susanna Clarke's best-selling novel.
Nov 9 2005
Christopher Hampton, the Oscar-winning screenwriter of 'Dangerous Liaisons', has finally finished the first draft of his screen adaptation of Susanna Clarke's epic fantasy novel 'Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell'.
'It took a fair amount of time to work out some way to encapsulate that enormous book in a film of sensible length,' he said. 'But it was lots of fun – and very unlike anything I have ever done before.'
The story unfolds at a time when England is struggling to cope with the hardships brought on by the Napoleonic Wars and practical magic has been all but forgotten – that is until magicians Strange and Norrell appear on the scene and begin to stir up ancient and uncontrollable powers.
The film is due to go into production next year, and will be distributed by New Line Cinema, though no cast or director has been decided on as yet.
However, main character Strange is a good-looking ginger chap, so the choice of Hollywood actors is somewhat narrow. Eric Stoltz perhaps?
User comments on this story
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- katrina barnes said...
- I also thought immediately of Adrien Brody as Strange - perfect Posted on Jun 18 2009 14:07
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- tracy said...
- Adrien Brody! perfect as strange... not gorgeous but magical with no doubt. Posted on Feb 03 2009 02:24
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- Vaaga said...
- David Bowie as Mr. Norrell or "thistledown hair", I can totally see it. Posted on Jul 13 2008 19:37
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- Amy says... said...
- Damien Lewis would be perfect as Jonathan Strange. Posted on Jan 13 2008 11:47
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- Catherine Lee said...
- I'd just like to add that Jude Law should be kept AWAY from this film at all costs! And yes, the multi-talented Tom Hollander - good choice for the movie, but maybe more for the Gentleman, Childermass or even Drawlight (thinking of his slight stature, and I don't know if I'm correct here, but I always pictured the Gentleman to be skinny and not very tall) Posted on Jan 12 2008 12:18
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- Catherine Lee said...
- A few actors mentioned above are not bad, but some I'm totally against! Whoever is chosen, they should just look completely different to their usual selves to preserve the historical and magical atmosphere of the book! And I agree with Tommy - I too am terrified that the film will ruin my images from the book. I can only feel slightly better knowing that Susanna Clarke is hands-on in this project. Posted on Jan 12 2008 12:14
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- Monique said...
- What would you think of Liam Neeson as Sir Walter Pole ? Posted on Dec 09 2007 20:02
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- Elliot said...
- Tom Hollander, the fellow who played Mr Collins in 2005's Pride & Prejudice would be the best casting for Mr Norrell. Since the book is like a Jane Austin novel, he's perfect for the fussy Norrell. Plus he's not an enormously well-known actor. Kenneth Branaugh, Ian Holm, Derek Jacobi, they're all good actors but they're not right for the role and they'd distract from the character. Posted on Sep 26 2007 14:45
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- Tommy said...
- Tim Roth for the man with the thistle-down hair...Paddy Considine for Childermas...Cillian Murphy for Vinculus... Posted on Sep 08 2007 20:07
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- Emma said...
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Lots of people want Ian Holm which puzzles me because I didn't think Norrell was supposed to be particularly old. I love Johnny Depp but I agree that it would be nice to have a British film peopled entirely by British actors for a change.
Mr. Norrell: Kenneth Branagh
Jonathan Strange: Ewen McGregor
Childermass: Daniel Day-Lewis
John Segundus: Ioan Gruffudd
Mr. Honeyfoot: Stephen Fry
Lascelles: Rufus Sewell
Drawlight: Rupert Everett
Sir Walter Pole: Jeremy Northam
Lady Pole: Rosamunde Pike
Arabella: Rachel Weisz
Stephen Black: Adrian Lester
Vinculus: Pete Postlethwaite
Duke of Wellington: David Thewlis
Flora Greysteel: Emily Mortimer
Dr. Greysteel: Tom Wilkinson
Aunt Greysteel: Julie Walters
Gentleman with the Thistledown Hair: Jude Law Posted on Aug 30 2007 21:35 - Report as inappropriate
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- Frank Carroll said...
- I think David Bowie might have made a good "gentleman" 20 years ago but not now. Cillian Murphy would be an interesting choice for the gentleman. How about Dustin Hoffman as Norrell? I pictured Strange as looking like Adrien Brody when I read the book, but I'm not sure he could capture the character. It might be best to cast a relative unknown as Strange. Depp as Byron? Definitely. Posted on Aug 30 2007 01:06
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- J Strangest said...
- Bettany IS Strange, the sardonic smile is his natural look. Ian Holm isn't bad for Norrell. Chiwetel Ejiofor IS Stephen Black...just check him out in "Serenity" if you have any doubts. Simon Pegg should play one of the main servants...perhaps Lucas, he's too good not to use. They dude who did Gollum should be Vinculus...he's perfect too. Christian Bale should play the Raven King...he never appears in the book, but they will need to show him in the film for flashbacks etc. Posted on Aug 07 2007 03:04
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- Tommy said...
- Im terrified about this film. The book is so powerful and dense, i just carnt see how it can be broken down for a movie. The thought of Mr Depp going anywhere near this truely makes my heart sink...Think Bettany, think Holm, think Daniel Day-Lewis as the Duke Of Wellington... The gentleman with the thistle-down hair should go to that welsh guy, Rhys Ifans...suitably awkward and menacing...I hope the movie does the book justice...I believe in magic !!! Posted on Aug 06 2007 14:37
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- jonathan church said...
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I would like to see anthony hopkins as norrell and james mcavoy as strange.
I would also like to see michael sheen as the gentleman with the thistle down hair.
But I am beginning to wonder if this film will ever be made... Posted on Jun 18 2007 16:55 - Report as inappropriate
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- amber said...
- I think that if johny depp is cast then it should be as childermass. Posted on Jun 02 2007 21:44
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