In The News
Emma Watson Meets Napoleon?
WatsonThere is news today regarding a possible new role today for actress Emma Watson. The Hollywood Reporter has a new article online this morning saying the actress is due to appear in the movie “Napoleon and Betsy,” where Emma will play the part of “Betsy Balcombe, a young, impetuous noblewoman trapped on the isolated British Isle of St. Helena who falls in love with Napoleon, who is in exile on the island.” The trade paper says that Emma is taking over for actress Scarlett Johansson, who stepped aside as the part skewed younger,” however Johansson will still remain aboard the project as producer of the film.
The report notes that Emma Watson, who is currently filming Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, and will return again as Hermione Granger for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows films will film this new role in between Potter films in the fall of this year. There is no word on additional cast members for Napoleon and Betsy, but the paper indicates this film is to be written and directed by Benjamin Ross. We are working to obtain additional confirmation about this new project for Emma Watson, and will update when we can.
Thanks Andy.
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Reuters also have the story, and they are pretty reliable. If it’s true, then good for her!
Go, Emma! I’d love to see her in yet another role. I loved Ballet Shoes, I thought she was great—real emotion, excellent acting, and look ing unbelievably beautiful, especially when she was made up for the movie scene. She looked like a little Marilyn Monroe. Well, here’s hoping!
Sweet! Can’t wait to see it. I also loved her in Ballet Shoes :)
I hope it’s true, cause Emma would be perfect! I read the book, and it was great. She was awesome in Ballet Shoes, and here is another chance to prove that she can do different roles.
This is awesome! So that means that we would probably see her in some love scenes?! That would be fun to watch. I liked Ballet shoes too! I hope this is true! Who plays Napoleon?!
Good for her! Soooo she’ll be playing someone her age or a tad older?
Hey guys, I just realized this is based on the book “Betsy and the emperor” facepalm But in the novell she falls in love with an English officer, not Napoleon. She befriends Napoleon (which seems more logical considering Betsy has just finished school and old General Bonaparte is, well, old). Are they going for a new angle or something?
Wasn’t Betsy meant to be about 14? I’m surprised Scarlett was ever cast in the role, but I’m also surprised that Emma is, though I suppose to cast a 14 year old in a sexual role nowadays would be suspect, so Emma’s a better bet!
Anyway good for Emma. She’s going to be busy with that and Tales of Despereux.
Even though her official site hasn’t been updated with this news yet, Reuters UK and Empire Online now has the story, which gives it A LOT more credibility than if it was just tabloids and online gossip sites. If it is true, then GOOD LUCK to Emma and I hope it helps her to improve as an actress. The only way she can get better is if she takes varied roles frequently and works with different people. St Helena is a beautiful island off the west coast of Africa and it’s still a British colony so it the culture will be a mixture of British with a slight Africa feel to it.
I think it was based on a novel called “The Last Love”.
Fantastic! I hope it’s true! I’d love to see her really stretch and grow. Now, Rupert just needs to decide on a project (apparently he’s considering parts) and the trio will all be busy! I just hope this doesn’t mean less promotional press for HBP.
^ Agree about Rupert but he tends to prefer light-hearted or comedy roles so perhaps it’s harder for him to find suitable roles in the space of time they have between HP films. HBP will do fine but it’s what Tolkein would call “the deep breath before the plunge” so it doesn’t need to have as much fanfair around it as the last films for HPDH.
I saw Emma in “Ballet Shoes” too and thought she was great.
If this is true, GOOD for her!
Don’t you think it’s funny that in Ballet Shoes her character played Napolean’s sister in a romantic film? Perhaps that’s where they got the idea of casting her from. She looks the part more than Scarlett as she’s still got a young look about her features.
Here’s a picture of the real Betsy. Sorry, but I’m a history buff..
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://ameliefr.club.fr/betsy-Balcombe.gif&imgrefurl=http://ameliefr.club.fr/Betzy-Balcombe.html&h=160&w=160&sz=18&hl=en&start=18&um=1&tbnid=mx1mYrwE8QixcM:&tbnh=98&tbnw=98&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dbetsy%2Bbalcombe%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dsafari%26rls%3Den%26sa%3DG
^ In Ballet Shoes Pauline plays King Charles II’s sister Henrietta, not Napolean’s sister. I honestly think there are two main reasons why Emma has been chosen for this: 1. She’s VERY marketable because of her HP connection. 2. She’s a W.I.P – a work in progress. She’s not the finished article so directors can mould her and teach her lots. Lots of directors like the challenge of being able to work with a young actor whom they can coach along the way.
So all-in-all this is a very good project for Emma and I hope she signs the contract and does this.
@Anne is confused What do you mean by “sexual role”?
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Leaky Poll
Moving the HBP film to July 2009 is:
- Completely unforgivable83 (39%)
- Annoying, but I'll get over it81 (38%)
- Not something I care about.9 (4%)
- Cool; who wants to go to the movies in the winter anyway?5 (2%)
- Awesome! I get to save $10 until next year.14 (6%)
- Awesome! I get to save $10 because now I'm skipping this movie!9 (4%)
- I've made a Facebook group, started a protest, called my local councilman, staged a sit-in, started a boycott, and organized a million-fan march because we won't stand for the - wait, what was this about again?10 (4%)
If it’s true, that’s great!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!