Judi Dench will be playing a supporting role in the costume drama Jane Eyre, the latest adaptation of the classic novel by Charlotte Brontë. So, of course, that means this is a project to be taken seriously.
I’d love to see someone do a clever mash-up of Dench’s scenes from all of the period pieces where she has curtly snapped off lines about how the social norms are being upset.
Who are the leads?
Why, the up-and-coming Mia “Gwyneth Paltrow v. 2” Wasikowska (Alice in Wonderland) and the ruggedly handsome (apparently) Michael Fassbender (Inglourious Basterds, Hunger).
My first thought? Thank goodness this isn’t Tim Burton’s Jane Eyre. The film is being directed by Sin Nombre‘s Cary Fukunaga.
The press release announces that:
The screenplay adaptation is by Moira Buffini, who for Ruby and BBC Films adapted the upcoming Tamara Drewe. Ruby’s Alison Owen (an Academy Award nominee for Elizabeth) and Paul Trijbits (Fish Tank) are producing Jane Eyre. Christine Langan, Creative Director of BBC Films, is executive-producing for the BBC. Focus senior vice president, European production Teresa Moneo is supervising the project for president of production John Lyons.
The supporting cast includes Jamie Bell (of Focus’ September release The Eagle of the Ninth), Academy Award winner Judi Dench, Holliday Grainger (of the upcoming Bel Ami), Golden Globe Award winner Sally Hawkins (Happy-Go-Lucky), Tamzin Merchant (of Focus’ Pride & Prejudice), and Imogen Poots (of the May release Solitary Man). The director of photography on Jane Eyre is Adriano Goldman, reteaming with Mr. Fukunaga following their acclaimed collaboration on Sin Nombre. Will Hughes-Jones (Survivors) is the production designer; Academy Award winner Michael O’Connor (The Duchess) is the costume designer.