It’s been almost two years since rumors spread that Daniel Day-Lewis was in contention to lead a Charles Dickens biopic entitled The Invisible Woman; but as we see in Hollywood, projects change, actors drop out, ect. After word got out that Ralph Fiennes was making said project his second directorial effort, some became fixated on who would be playing the legendary writer. You don’t have to worry any longer, because Screen Daily reports that Fiennes will in fact play Dickens in the adaptation — how convenient.
Up and comer, Felicity Jones, signed on to star opposite the then un-cast role of Dickens, playing the part of Nelly Ternan, the woman behind the controversial affair that lasted over 13 years all while Dickens was married. Based on Claire Tomalin‘s non-fiction novel, the script is penned by Shame‘s Abi Morgan and will explore the relationship between Dickens and Ternan.
Kristin Scott-Thomas, who starred opposite Fiennes in The English Patient, has also signed on to play Nelly’s mother, Mrs. Ternan. Fiennes has also hired Oscar-winning costume designer Michael O’Connor, production designer Maria Djurokovic and Rob Hardy to maintain a very impressive behind-the-scenes powerhouse, as if the solid actors aren’t enough for the project.
However, as good as this adaptation sounds, it’s not the only Charles Dickens story circulating around. There will be two adaptations of Dicken’s Great Expectations; one being the BBC TV miniseries staring Ray Winstone and Gillian Anderson, the other being Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire director Mike Newell‘s film, also starring Fiennes, Helena Bonham-Carter and Jeremy Irvine. By the looks of it, it seems that Fiennes just can’t get enough of Dickens.
Filming for The Invisible Woman will begin in London on April 23rd.
Do you think Fiennes will do Dickens justice?