Speaking of Thrones

Mr. and Mrs. Logue

Wow, when she goes back to work, she keeps on working, doesn't she? Making good use of her time in the United Kingdom, Jennifer Ehle is moving from one throne to another while Mom rules the Royals on the stage in New York. It has just been announced that she has been cast in the historical drama The King’s Speech, which started shooting today (November 13) for a projected 2010 release.

Baz Bamigboye in the Daily Mail reported on Ms Ehle's casting.

Jennifer Ehle, who captivated the nation when she starred as Elizabeth Bennet in costume drama Pride And Prejudice opposite Colin Firth, is to be reunited with her Mr Darcy.

The actress has just signed to join Firth, Geoffrey Rush and Helena Bonham Carter in a new movie called The King's Speech about how Lionel Logue, an Australian speech therapist, was retained by the then Duke of York (later King George VI) to help him to overcome his stammer in the years before, during and after the Abdication crisis.

The two will be in scenes together - but they're married to other people

Firth will portray George VI, Helena his wife Elizabeth, who later became Queen and then the Queen Mother.

Jennifer has been cast to play Myrtle Logue, and Oscar-winning Rush will be her screen husband.

Director Tom Hooper held a read-through of the script on Wednesday [November 12] with the company, including Guy Pearce as Edward VIII, Michael Gambon as his father George V, Timothy Spall as Winston Churchill and Derek Jacobi as Dr Cosmo Lang, the Archbishop of Canterbury.

However, Jennifer was filming the lavish HBO drama Game Of Thrones and couldn't meet Hooper and his cast at the rehearsal.

Producer Iain Canning said although the former Jane Austen heart-throbs are not playing a couple in The King's Speech 'it's a wonderful thing to bring together two people that, in the British public's memory, are so part of a moment in time'.

Firth's role was reported at this blog earlier, on September 10th.

Sarah Cooper at Screen Daily also reported on the casting.

The Kings Speech will shoot for seven weeks, taking in UK locations such as Lancaster House, the Bradford Bulls Stadium, Ely Cathedral, Harley Street and Battersea Power Station.

The Weinstein Company is handling international sales and has picked up the US rights to the project as well as licensing rights in Germany, France, China, Hong Kong, Latin America, Benelux and Scandinavia. Momentum has picked up UK rights, whilst Transmission Films will distribute in Australia and New Zealand.

It remains to be seen if JE will be needed for all seven weeks, although the time line would still allow a return home for a Christmas break before rehearsals begin for Mr. and Mrs. Fitch which I'm guessing will be sometime in January.

Hollywood com discusses the film.

The film is based on the true story of King George VI and his friendship with maverick speech therapist Lionel Logue. As the second son of George V, Prince Albert was not expected to ascend to the throne, but when his brother Edward chose to abdicate to marry Wallis Simpson, Albert was his successor and in 1936 was crowned King George VI. The reluctant king, who was plagued with a nervous stammer, engaged Logue, an irreverent Australian**, who helped him find a voice with which to lead the nation.

**[We know of a couple of those, don't we?]

Read about Lionel and Myrtle Logue in this piece by Caroline Bowen


So much to look forward to in 2010! This is amazing.