Rumormongering: New Emma Series on BBC in 2009
Several Alert Janeites (thanks to Cinthia, Sylvia M., Maria L., and Patty) have written to us with the news that the admin of the C19 forum, citing dependable sources, claims that Sandy Welch, who wrote the screenplays for the BBC’s magnificent adaptation of Elizabeth Gaskell’s North and South as well as the most recent adaptation of Jane Eyre, has written a new four-part adaptation of Emma for the BBC, to be broadcast in 2009.
If anyone from the BBC is reading, and this is more than a rumor, why don’t you make it three for three for your Main Male Spooks Hottie to move on to a Jane Austen adaptation, while sending Dorothy and many of our Gentle Readers (and, yeah, okay, the Editrix, too) into a genteel, ladylike tizzy? The campaign begins here: Richard Armitage must play Mr. Knightley.
Yes, we know, his shooting schedule for Spooks conflicts, but you’re the BBC, dagnabit. You can do anything. 
We cannot state strongly enough how popular a casting decision this would be in Janeiteland. We’re talking Colin Firth in the wet shirt levels of hysteria. Do it. Just trust us for once. DO IT.
Who’s with us, Gentle Readers?
(post edited to update incomplete information)
Well Reeba, I’m not interested in restarting the Emma wars again (I hope you aren’t
) but I happen to enjoy the Beckinsale Emma and seeing as most of the production team were the same top professionals who worked on P&P 1995, I don’t feel it is below standard. I know there are disagreements with the characterizations in this version, but as to standards, I think it’s on par with the other good adaptations from the 1990’s. 
Hi dear!!
I really enjoyed reading your post!!
Here in Brazil Richard Armitage e a success too!! I really like to see him in Emma!! Thanks for the wonderful news!!
I translated your post and wrote in my portuguese blog about Jane Auten!! Thanks a lot!
http://janeaustenclub.blogspot.com/2008/11/campanha-richard-armitage-para-mr.html
Adriana
I love so much Richard Armitage and his “Thunder” voice… imagine doing a character like Mr. Knightley! He’ll be perfect!!!
Richard Armitage would be perfect, I’ve always wanted to see him as mr. Knightley.. *_*
No worries Maisy.
It was a post about the channels and their credibility and standards rather than the adaptation itself (though I don’t blame you for thinking otherwise
)
I am so relieved that it’s not ITV but BBC producing the film.
so is anyone going to email a link to this over to the BBC or are we assuming that they will see it anyway?
Great Reeba.
I think there’s one thing we all (or at least most of us) can agree on: we’re excited at the prospect of a new, longer BBC Emma! 
Richard A. would be a PERFECT choice! I hereby add my vote to the petition.
Wow. That’s a lots of votes for Mr. A. I think the BBC better adhere.
Yes, that would be great if Richard Armitage could play Mr. Knightly!
Add me to the “RA would be a perfect Mr. Knightley” clamor. And may I also say that I desperately hope, if such a new Emma indeed comes to pass, it will be co-produced by WGBH/PBS, so that it shows up on Masterpiece Theater here in the US? That seems to be the only way that such programs get broadcast here. (North & South was apparently only shown once on BBCA, very much under the radar in a very dismal time slot, and severely chopped up and edited to allow for many commercials. That is a major crime!) Richard needs to be seen in this country in (unedited) prime time glory!!! That’s what did it for Colin Firth; I think that could easily work again.
Anna Popplewell as Emma… That is a very interesting idea!
Thanks Maisy! I had no idea, not being an IMDb Pro member. Good to know. Can’t wait till the new one’s up!
Anna Popplewell for Emma. . . hmmm, interesting idea. I think it could work – I can just see her as Emma Woodhouse. But how would she look opposite RA? It would all depend on their chemistry together. . .
I watched a couple of interviews with Anna Popplewell and find that her voice is very low-pitched. I don’t imagine Emma with a low-pitched voice. Do you? The only thing I’ve seen her in is TLTWATW.
Hmm, I don’t know… I just can’t see Anna Popplewell as Emma, nor could I see her across from RA. So far Gemma Atherton seems like the best choice that’s been thrown out there, but I’ve only actually seen her in the tiny bits she had in LiA. Justine Waddell I can also see, tho. I’m not sure about her and RA. Maybe there’s someone fabulous and (relatively) undiscovered that they’ll find? Then again, I’m not a huge Emma fan, so I don’t have many strong impressions of what the character should be like.
Justine Waddell is way too old at 32 to play a 21 year old. Another suggestion would be Jennifer Higham who played Louisa Musgrove in P3. She is 24 (25 next year) so I guess that might be a little older then she should be, but I liked her in Persuasion.
I can’t see Popplewell and RA as a “match” at all. I like Gemma Arterton and thought she did a fine job in Tess, but as Emma, I’m not so sure. I think I’m favoring an “unknown” actress, one for whom we do not have any preconceived ideas and who can bring a fresh perspective to the character. My one request is that she be dark-haired, because that is how I’ve always imagined Emma.
For Knightley however, I definitely want a known quantity– and it’s a great quantity of RA that I want
Fascinating, but how reliable is this? Out of curiosity I googled the idea and found an article “TV drama kings fall out over Jane Austen”
Independent, Jul 14, 1996 by Clare Garner
which talked about the Beckinsale Emma being grabbed by ITV,
“He might have had the Davies-Birtwistle Emma as a world-beating sequel – indeed he was offered it – but he had already promised the adaptation to someone else. “It was a very, very difficult situation,” he said yesterday. “I had already commissioned Sandy Welch, one of our BBC writers, to do Emma. We really were in a fix.” He felt bound to honour his word.”
Could BBC have had this on the backburner for over 10 years?
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_/ai_n14057669
I have no idea how dependable it is. It’s really just a rumor at this point. Speculation is fun, as is fantasy casting.
But really, if this has been kicking around for ten years, maybe someone’s thinking it’s time to bring it out again. They already paid for it, after all. Davies’ NA kicked around forever before ITV was suckered into making it (damn their eyes).
Or was fortunate to make it…
Better ITV than Miramax, at least.
And, though I actually adore the 96 Beckinsale/Strong/Davies film, a four-hour version (or 3 hr 10 min, with 50 min episodes) would be wonderful – if Welch trusts Austen’s language more than she did Gaskell’s or Bronte’s.
Small note: though Mr Armitage certainly has range, his brooding, intense approach to date seems very similar to Strong’s take.
For my part changing language would hurt – but less than adding/changing things drastically as the NA which ITV was suckered into making it (damn their eyes).
Claire Foy is amazing as Amy in “Little Dorrit”! I wouldn’t mind seeing her as Emma, or Harriet Smith. (I previously suggested Sophia Myles as Emma..)
I think Claire Foy is fantastic as Amy Dorrit! I’ve been watching that series as it comes out and also want to put in a plug for Tom Courtenay. Judging from his performance in Little Dorrit he would make a perfect Mr. Woodhouse.
Actually, for Harriet Smith I hope they actually get a plump, young lady to play her. I really liked Samantha Morton’s Harriet, but think she is too thin to be the book Harriet. Toni Collette was too large and a little older then she should be. Debbie Bowen was probably the best Harriet.
Here just to fully support the campaign! Yes, Richard Armitage as Mr. Knightley, PLEASE! I’ve just finished my 3rd re-read of Emma, picturing him all along. I’m sure he’d be absolutely perfect. He’s got talent, depth, and range require for this really difficult role. Not to mention the way he seems to be preparing for every role – doing research and studying the novel if it’s to be an adaptation.
I do hope he’ll be cast. I can’t imagine any other Mr. Knightley, truth be told.
I’m sorry to be such a sport-spoil, but BBC has us still on tenterhooks regarding this project and meanwhile it has only conffirmed that season 8 of Spooks starts filming on March 2009, which means the main obstacle so far forseen in the way to get Richard Armitage as Mr. Knigthley still stands
*sniff*
Is someone at BBC listening to us??? We want him as Mr. Knigthley, so move all other things in order he can play the role.