Jeremy Irons
 

I about fainted when I got an email yesterday from Jeremy Irons, a hero of mine. I'd written his agent and proposed that he coordinate and star as the aging king in two epics centered on our translations of the Beowulf and the Psalms of King David. He's interested. Well, I was watching The Man in the Iron Mask, marveling over the performances of Irons, Byrne, Malkovitch, Depardieu. Even young diCaprio rose to the occasion, and I'd had a couple drinks, so cold called him. We'll see if anything comes of it. I'll keep you posted.

That's brilliant, Tim!

Duncan

This could be amazing. Keep us posted on developments!

Awesome! I love Jeremy Irons.

What A Voice That Boy Has!

Way to go Tim.

I hope this works out. I'm a longtime fan of Irons, too. Good luck!

He's an amazing actor. I hope this works out for you.

Susan

Wow, best of luck with this!

I'm not in the habit of sending letters to celebrities. Evidently this got through his agent and his staff so swiftly the reply took eight days--across the pond. Alan and I became aware of Jeremy Irons and Anthony Andrews when we watched Brideshead Revisited in 1982. I think the reigning kings of English Drama, Sirs Hopkins, Jacobi, and McKellan, are too old to slay a dragon. I think Branagh is too young, but I think Mr. Irons is just right.

Watching my inbox. Brothers and sisters, aim high!

The two most recent film Beowulves were pretty disappointing. It would be great if you could incite a good one.

Intriguing, Tim. If Irons doesn't work out, rethink Branagh, who is ruggedly middle-aged now. I wonder if you have seen him in the "Wallender" episodes on PBS.

Yes, Irons would be great. He's certainly come on since Brideshead days. (Mind you, he was too old even then for the undergraduate scenes, although Anthony Andrews was fine.) Let's hope this works out, Tim!

No no no no no to Branagh!! Ugh.

Nemo

To Nemo: I LOVE Kenneth Branagh--so there!

To Tim: OMG--this is brilliant, Tim. I think Jeremy Irons is pretty fantastic too.

Huge congrats on the e-mail! And all my fingers and toes are crossed for you. Hope it all works out.

Charlotte

Coincidentally, Tim, my uncle may be after Jeremy to play old King Caspian in the next Narnia film, The Silver Chair.

Seems like he is ripe for playing old kings!

Let me know how you go - we could co-ordinate film sets!!

Cally

Nice to see Jacobi mentioned. He's an astoundingly good actor that, for some reason, you don't hear much raving about ( or at least I haven't). Anthony Andrews is sublime also. Highly recommend him in "The Scarlet Pimpernel" to any & all who haven't seen it.

(or is that whom? doesn't sound right...)

I'm with Nemo on Branagh, although his Hamlet is hilarious.

You want hilarious, try his Frankenstein.

Nemo

Irons would be worthy of your words, Tim. Best of luck!

Don

I love that movie! De Niro and Tom Hulce were great, and Branagh was good, too. It was faithful to the novel, a direct NO! to the iconic hands-stretched-out Karloff nonsense. Not that it was Karloff's fault. Director's fault.

I'll admit I'm not terribly fond of Branagh's tendency to whisper (on film), but by and large he's a fine actor.

I love Branagh's Hamlet because it's hilarious. I liked Branagh's Olivier too.

I like Branagh, but I just can't see him playing an eighty-two-year-old Geatish king.

Impressive aim!

Just because it was faithful to the book doesn't make it a good movie, William. It seemed no more than an excuse for KB to take his shirt off. I think he is a 'spitter' in the worst sense. I've never liked him in anything. Even the great Robert Altman couldn't make me stomach him. I've learned my commercial film lesson: if Branagh is in it, or if Steven Spielberg directs it, I don't bother to see it.

Nemo

There seems to be a consensus that Irons is the man for both jobs. But who should play young David and young Beowulf? He'd have to be tall, beautiful, and a hell of an actor to hold his own with the old kings.

Sounds like me, Tim.

Karl Urban, who played Eomer in LOTR.

I like Branagh, and I especially liked his Hamlet. So there.

Congrats, Tim. Now, who's gonna play you in the Tim Murphy biopic?

David R.

To your first sentence: no kidding? In the case of Frankenstein, which has been the source of many bad- to- mediocre films and an iconic character that have little relation to the novel (many people no doubt still think the monster's name is Frankenstein), faithfulness to the novel is important, because there are profound ethical, social, even theological points made in the narrative which should be transferred at least to some degree to a film based on it. At least that's my opinion.

I thought the film was very good. I enjoyed it, I've watched it several times, mostly for De Niro's amazing performance, his change from innocent/benevolent character to monster. I won't argue with you about Branagh, though, since he's not the reason I like the movie so much. But, I'd take my shirt off as often as I could if I looked like him.

You don't like Spielberg's films either? Wow.

Let's see: tall, beautiful: Jim Caviezel fits the bill, but at 44 he may be too old already. And I haven't seen enough of his work to judge his acting ability, though I loved him in Gibson's Passion, despite the fact that I can't watch signigifant amounts of that film. The opening scene, in the garden, is amazing.

I'm also a fan of Jeremy ("Boris") Irons. Perhaps I shouldn't have been shocked when I read that he is not a fan of Downton Abby, despite his never having seen it, as he admits, but then most liberals show disfavor at most modern productions that are not multicultural. Had Jeremy watched the first year he would have witnessed how the show's writer, Julian Fellows, threw a bone to his constituency by having the eldest daughter of Lord Grantham be caught in flagrante delicto with the Turkish ambassador's son. Okay, he did die of a heart attack at it, but at least it was a bone thrown, however scarce the meat.
Tim, you don't suppose you could try to convince Jeremy to produce a biopic about Boris Karloff with him portraying this iconic actor of horror films?
Anyway, here's the link to the page where Jeremy mentions Downton Abby:

http://www.eonline.com/news/378923/j...to-ford-fiesta

Ah, before I forget, tonight at 9 central on PBS: Shakespeare Uncovered, with host Ethan Hawke, part of a series.

I seem to recall Irons being an anti-Stratfordian. Or am I wrong about that? It was an interview on Charlie Rose, I believe. Not that it matters.

The Beowulf is largely narrative. There are some great set speeches, Hrothgar's Homily, The Lay of the Last Survivor, The Old Man's Lament, Wiglaf's and Beowulf's own speeches. But largely the story is told in narration. My dream narrators would be Derek Jacobi or Ian McKellan. Patrick Stewart could also do fine. All classically trained actors who came up through the Old Vic, as did Mr. Irons. If I can't get them, I'd do it myself. The narrator would largely be off stage (where I belong, being neither tall nor beautiful.) But as those of you know who have listened to my recordings, I have a big instrument, and obviously, I know the rhythms and alliterations of our Beowulf better than any actor.

Nothing might come of this, but what fun if it did!

David's role has to encompass the shepherd boy annointed by Samuel and Saul's young general. Then of course Irons steps into the role. It might require three actors. David Anthony, I agree you'd be perfect if you were not mesomorphic, rather than ectomorphic like Irons, and fifty years younger. You're certainly beautiful and you'd not require my services as meter coach.

And, of course, congratulations, Tim. :D

Timmo, you'd better start designing your red carpet dress, no? This is major kudos stuff! I can just hear Alan gurgling with glee...

I could wear makeup.

It's harder to see how you would get a drama out of the Psalms (as distinct from Samuel 1 and 2) than out of Beowulf. How do you visualize it?