Optimistic as I was for God Help the Girl and Elle Fanning‘s peformance, some expectations now have to shift. (Not necessarily lower. Just… shift.) BleedingCool has learned that Hannah Murray (Dark Shadows, Skins) is taking the actresses place — many assume it’s on account of Disney’s Maleficent, in which she has a starring role — while Emily Browning (Sucker Punch) has also come aboard in a supporting capacity. A little shifting notwithstanding, Enter the Void‘s Olly Alexander is still attached.

God Help the Girl, if you weren’t aware, is something of a unique project. Stuart Murdoch of Belle & Sebastian is behind the film — itself based on a concept album he recorded with a second group that just-so-happens to be named God Help the Girl — and revolves around a young girl, Cass (Murray); she becomes the protege to James (Alexander), a “cynical” musician working with the lead singer, Eve (Browning). It sounds similar on the surface, but it’s unusual since much of the plot will have a foundation in the group’s music. Best of all? The film’s promised to be a “fuse [of] François Truffaut with Bill Forsythe.”

It’s a bit of a shame to see Fanning drop out — not that her excuse is all too bad, when you think about it — but I did, at the very least, like Murray when she was on Game of Thrones for about 45 seconds (hey, it’s something); Browning‘s a solid addition, too, with her having showed a little singing talent in Sucker Punch. Casting changes can be a scary thing, but I’d say God Help the Girl is still in good shape.

What do you make of this change for Girl? Are you still optimistic?