Butler to star in Burns movie(??)

There seem to be conflicting reports, so I'm not sure if this is "official" or not...

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/scotland/article5581288.ece

Butler to star in Burns movie
The long-awaited film based on the life of Scotland’s favourite son is to start filming this year
Stuart MacDonald

A biopic of Robert Burns, starring the Scots actor Gerard Butler, will begin shooting in Scotland this year.

The £5m production, which has been beset with financial difficulties, will begin filming following the launch of a government-backed campaign to raise funding.

Glasgow-born Butler, 39, has starred in blockbusters including The Phantom of the Opera and 300. The script has been written by Greenock-born Alan Sharp, who penned Rob Roy, the 1995 blockbuster starring Liam Neeson.

The film, which will be directed by Vadim Jean, a French film-maker, and produced by James Cosmo, a Scots actor, will be shot on location in Edinburgh and Burns’s native Ayrshire.

Most of the budget, which includes investment from Scottish Screen, is already in place. The remainder will be raised by signing up 250 “subscribers” to the project.

Each will commit a sum to the project in the same way that investors backed the publication in 1786 of the famous Kilmarnock Edition of Burns’s poetry. The success of the collection convinced Burns to stay in Scotland rather than emigrate to Jamaica, as he had planned.

Alex Salmond, the first minister, will host a dinner at Edinburgh Castle in May to help raise funds.

The film, titled Burns, will be the first big-screen biopic of the poet since the 1930s. It will focus on his love affairs with his wife Jean Armour and Agnes McLehose, also known as Clarinda, an Edinburgh society hostess.

“Robert Burns is rightly regarded as Scotland’s favourite son,” said Salmond.

“It would be great for Scotland if Burns could be immortalised in modern film, particularly as we mark the 250th anniversary of his birth this year and celebrate his genius through Scotland’s Year of Homecoming.”

I sure hope this is really going to happen. We all know what a beloved project this is for Gerry. I hope it happens for him.

It's funny, at my church today this man made an announcement about the Scottish Society having a Robert Burns dinner or something coming up in my city. The man held up the cutest little outfit his baby son was going to wear. Try to picture a sweater and little kilt small enough for a four-month-old, and you will go "awwww" like we all did.

Posted on Just Jared:

http://justjared.buzznet.com/2009/01/25/gerard-butler-robert-burns/#comments

I'm not too excited about Julia Stiles being on this project. I think they should have used any of a number of talented UK actresses.

Edit to add: I found the article that Just Jared is quoting -- It is from 2004!!! So Julia Stiles may not be on this project. Check the updates on the official website for more.

Here's the BBC article:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2004/12/08/gerard_butler_the_phantom_of_the_opera_interview.shtml

Here's the official website link:

http://www.robertburnsmovie.com/press.htm

And lastly here's an article and video of Scotland's First Minister, Alex Salmond, who has pledged his support for the film. He reads part of the official press release (released today) with a quote from Butler.

http://news.stv.tv/entertainment/71975-butler-to-star-in-burns-movie/

And Evil Twins has signed so I guess it's a done deal. Yay!

Well good for him, I say.

Something I've been mulling and writing about through the day...who do you think should play the female roles in Burns, besides us, of course?

Bea Arthur.

DK,

The beautiful, ravishing Pilar Aquarius would be perfect in the role of Clarinda.

What are you trying to say, Leo?

Forget Clarinda....I want to play the part of Robert's kilt.

What?

pamelajane wrote:

Something I've been mulling and writing about through thel day...who do you think should play the female roles in Burns, besides us, of course?

Good question, PJ. To be honest to the era, character and social setting, I really think it must be a scotswoman. No-one, unless gifted linguistically, can just throw on the type of accent that Jean Armour would have possessed. Some of his women/admirers would have been upper class but not all.

Speaking for myself though, I can provide good looks .... miming I mean!

I would love to see a Scotswoman play the part. Maybe Bea can be an "extra" in the film.

Ooops and the part of Rabbie's kilt should definitely go to DK!