When will there be a good movie version of this romantic adventure. It would be the perfect time to make it with the recent release of marie-antoinette. As percy i would cast Mathew Goode he is perfect in looks and personality, who would you cast as the other characters?
shareGood(e) heavens, how long is that man's neck? He'd be perfect as St Cyr!
I doubt there will be another version of the story, not without yet more horrendous 'modernising' of the script. But I vote Rupert Penry-Jones as Sir Percy, Vanessa Paradis as Marguerite, Daniel Auteuil as Chauvelin and Richard Armitage as Armand, to abridge previous hypothetical threads on the topic. I would hope for a big screen adaptation that keeps to the spirit of the story if not the letter, understands that Marguerite did denounce the Marquis, includes the Richmond chapter from the book (*swoon*), and does not feature the usual love triangle between Percy, Marguerite and Chauvelin (it doesn't make sense, it's been done and it's not in the book). Oh, and lots of sumptuous, stylish costumes, a la Marie Antoinette, that are actually correct for the period (not a la Merle Oberon). Marguerite should be young and beautiful, and French if at all possible, Percy should be tall (certainly taller than Chauvelin), handsome, and the actor versatile enough to play the fop and the hero. Chauvelin should not be Martin Shaw.
Those are my specs, anyway!
Sarah
"Tony, if you talk that rubbish, I shall be forced to punch your head" - Lord Tony's Wife, Orczy
Your actors are really interesting, i would have never thought of them but i suppose they could do the roles. It would be good having real french actors insteda a stupid poms pretending to do a frencha ccent (never works). I still think though that Mathew Goode (despite the Long neck) would be perfect. I have seen him in heaps of things and he can switch really quickly between hilariously funny and intensly serious. He is brilliant and perfect for the part.
shareAlternatively, Goode's mate Laurence Fox would make a decent Sir Percy! (Then Goode could be The Best Friend, ie Lord Tony.)
And I don't have a problem with English actors playing French characters, as they usually don't bother with an accent (Jane Seymour in the 1982 film), but please, no Americans! Elizabeth McGovern was painful with her flat pseudo-English accent in the 1998 series - and why was she speaking like that, anyway? Marguerite is a French woman!
Sarah
"Tony, if you talk that rubbish, I shall be forced to punch your head" - Lord Tony's Wife, Orczy
Lawrence Fox as Sir Percy is perfect!
shareJim Caviezel...Sir Percy
Guy Pierce...Chauvelin
Ana Caterina Morariu...Marguerite
Henry Cavill...Armand
Henry Cavill looks the part, irresponsibly young and hot-headed. I think the first two have already been in a film together!
Sarah
"Tony, if you talk that rubbish, I shall be forced to punch your head" - Lord Tony's Wife, Orczy
Dagmara Dominczyk is not too suitable for Marguerite,however.
shareI like Guy Pierce as Chauvelin and Henry Cavill as Armand.
I would prefer someone like Orlando Bloom or Ryan Gosling for Sir Percy. I can see him in the role easily.
As for Marguerite--I thought that Elizabeth McGovern was really miscast in that role. I really liked Jane Seymour in the role but she is too old now. Someone young, petite and beautiful and very feminine.
Christian Bale - Sir Percy
Estella Warren - Lady Blakeny (Or any young and beautiful actress - no middle aged dogs allowed)
Marton Czokas - Chauvelin
Estella Warren looks a lot like Emmanuelle Beart, a French actress and a previous 'fantasy casting' nomination of mine! I definitely think it should be at least suggested that Marguerite is French, if a new movie is ever made, ditto with Chauvelin.
But ooh, Marton needs a role, too - he's nice! I don't think he'd have the oomph to play Chauvelin, but he could be shoehorned in somewhere!
Sarah
"Tony, if you talk that rubbish, I shall be forced to punch your head" - Lord Tony's Wife, Orczy
Jim Caviezel as Sir Percy and Charlie Sheen as Chauvelin. Perhaps Audrey Tautou can play Marguerite.
shareDo you 'see' Marguerite as dark or light-haired? Most of the existing film versions have her as a brunette, and it does seem to work, but I would love to see her with the red-gold hair and blue eyes described by Orczy! As a character, she should stand out. The closest match was Margaret Leighton in the 1950 film, The Elusive Pimpernel, but both she and it were awful (she didn't want to be in the film, and and it shows).
Sarah
"Tony, if you talk that rubbish, I shall be forced to punch your head" - Lord Tony's Wife, Orczy
I would cast Jim Caviezel as Percy and Sophie Winkleman as Marguerite.
shareThis is my favorite book and I've loved every adaptation! But I have always wanted a new movie.
Honestly here's who I see:)
Tom Hiddleston: Percy/Scarlet Pimpernal
Natalie Dormer: Marguirite
Micheal Fassbender: Chaunvlin
Benedict Cumberbatch: Tony
Charlie Rowe: Andrew
Matthew Goode would be awesome as well!