It will NEVER END
Now that they’re done with all the new Austen adaptations, reimaginings will come to the forefront. We already had some news today about Sense and Sensibilidad; it looks like Lost in Austen will be out next month; and now Alert Janeite Elizabeth sent us news about Emme–a hip-hop musical version of Emma. We did check for an April 1 posting date, but it looks like this is no hamster curry, Gentle Readers.
Screen Gems is planning a hip-hop musical reimagining of Jane Austen’s classic novel “Emma” for the bigscreen.
Chris Bender and J.C. Spink will produce via their Benderspink banner.
Contemporary-set tale, which takes place at an inner-city high school, revolves around a stepbrother and stepsister. Film will include at least 15 song and dance numbers. Tyger Williams penned the screenplay.
Screen Gems topper Clint Culpepper said he came up with the idea for “Emma,” which will likely be redubbed “Emme,” after watching the musicvideo “Lipgloss” by Lil Mama.
Austen’s novel also inspired the Alicia Silverstone starrer “Clueless,” which was set in a suburban Southern California high school.
“Now it’s urban,” Culpepper said. “This is the way it should be reimagined in the new millennium.”
They definitely get extra points for imagination. And hopefully some kickass dancing.
April 8th, 2008 at 10:51 am
I’m sorry to say this hip-hop musical sounds like it will be silly. It sounds like it will be like the the hip-hop musical version of “Carmen” that Beyonce did. That was really bad. And even though Clueless might seem dated to some, it is still the best modern remake I’ve seen of any of JA’s work. It doesn’t take place in the suburbs either. Beverly Hills is a subsection of Los Angeles. As metropolitan as it gets! I don’t mean to be negative about anything new but that’s just my feeling about this new production. We’ll see how it goes!
April 8th, 2008 at 11:55 am
I think Emma lends itself better to hip-hop than Carmen! I’ll keep an open mind till we know more about it. Like I said, hopefully at least we’ll get some good choreography. I love hip-hop dancing.
April 8th, 2008 at 1:03 pm
I like Clueless, but I’m rather partial to Bride and Prejudice as far as musical remakes of JA. I hummed “No Life Without Wife” for days after seeing that one!
April 8th, 2008 at 1:47 pm
It sounds like silly fun to me! I’ll go see it
April 8th, 2008 at 3:23 pm
I’m with Mags on this one. I think it sounds like a very innovative and bold idea. Yes, it could certainy turn out to be terrible–but it could also be AMAZING! Unless proven wrong, I’m sticking with amazing.
April 8th, 2008 at 8:20 pm
I am very fond of Bride & Prejudice as well! Perhaps I should clarify my statement and say that Clueless is my favorite modern remake that is not a musical. For some reason I’m just not that fond of hip-hop remakes of classic tales. So far I’ve seen the Carmen one and one based on Othello and they were both poorly done. Perhaps because Emma is a comedy and not a tragedy like these others it may work better.
Mags- I’d be happy to teach you some hip-hop moves! I used to be on the school dance team back in the day and was quite good!
April 8th, 2008 at 8:34 pm
I can do the “Thriller” dance. *nods*
AND the Electric Slide. I’m not a total white girl.
April 9th, 2008 at 9:25 am
I think I understand Jessica a bit. I love the modernizations that have been made so far, I am looking forward to Sense and Sensibilidad, and I also love musicals in general, but about Emme, the most positive think I could say is that it sounds intriguing. I attribute this only to a matter of personal taste, I’m a afraid I do not like hip-hop.
April 9th, 2008 at 11:42 am
Emme? We’ll see…
April 9th, 2008 at 12:31 pm
LOLOLOLOL @ Mags! Thriller and the Electric Slide are great starts! And don’t worry, I’m an equal opportunity believer in the dancing abilities of all!