So now Gwynnie can call Anthony "Antony" all over again.

I saw Ian McKellen's Lear last year in London. Fabulous. The nude scene was not gratuitous. I think Anthony Hopkins will do a great Lear. He is a fantastic actor and is now old enough to play Lear. However, I am not convinced that Keira Knightley has the chops to play Cordelia. And Gwyneth Paltrow, well, she can do anything! I look forward to seeing it.

i agree with dukegirl's assessment of Anthony hopkins and Gwyneth Paltrow. I think they are both good choices for this. as for Keira Knightly - i guess she is okay for this, but i don't know.

btw: i just watched season 3 of "slings and arrows" the Canadian tv series that ended in 2006 about a theatre company who does shakespearean plays...it stars Paul Gross(Due south), Mark McKinney (kids in the hall), and has also starred Rachel McAdams in the first season and Sarah Polley in the 3rd season. anyway, the 3rd season had a portrayal of King Lear with Sarah Polley as Cordelia and I thought she was fabulous! Everyone should seek out this 3 season series - lots of great Canadian actors and some interesting plays with a lot of behind the scenes drama! it sure made me appreciate the theatre and made me want to go out and see a play!

Tdamji - thanks for the heads up about 'slings and arrows'!

Keira Knightley does not strike me as a Cordelia type. And I'm sick of seeing her in every "classic" that gets made. I can't totally see Gwyneth as Reagan. She'll be wonderul.

*can* see Gwyneth....

Ugh, Kiera always looks so flipping blank. We get it, you're the pouty ingenue, we're over it!

She's always doing period movies isnt she.

I love Anthony Hopkins...so talented. On the other hand, I have this irrational hatred for Gwen....not sure why but I cannot stand her.

I'm happy with the casting all around. As much as I hate to admit it, Gwyneth is good with Shakespeare, and it will be interesting to take a villainous turn. And I like Keira and Anthony too. Very exciting!

i'm so excited about this! i wish i could have seen sir ian when he was onstage but i will happily settle for this. sir anthony and gwyneth were fabulous together in "Proof" and i'll expect nothing less from this. keira won me over in "Pride and Prejudice" so i'll give her the benefit of the doubt. may i rashly suggest tilda swinton or miranda otto for goneril?

Yeah Whip, Gwen's whole "Antony" thing is so pretentious!

Tdamji: I tried watching Slings and Arrows and did not get past season 1, episode 2. Most everyone seems to love this series. I don't know what is wrong with me. I know that I am supposed to like it!

I just read King Lear a couple months ago and I was wondering if they were going to make a movie out of it. I'm sure they already have made a movie or TV movie out of it, but not in recent years, at least not to my knowledge. I could picture Keira playing Cordelia (but really? another period-esque piece?) but I can't see Gwyneth playing Regan. I wonder who would play Edgar, Edmund, Gloucester...its probably going to be a rated R movie if they include [SPOILER ALERT] Gloucester's eye-gouging scene.

P.S. Goneril is the ugliest name I have ever heard of, especially for a girl.

I think keira knightley will do a really good job on this movie i hope next year it wins a oscar and she wins best actress.

dukegirl - the first 2 episodes of each season are not great, but they get better, trust me! season 3 - the first 4 episodes were not great, unfortunately! and the opening/closing...ugh! i have to skip past the awful songs, but the whole series IS worth seeing!! (just maybe get past the first 2 episodes of each season).

Oh Christ, not those two.
Anthony Hopkins is awesome. Gwyneth was awful in Shakespeare in Love, and Keira Knightley... there is nothing to be said about that girl.

I love Keira!!! And Gwynneth too, but I completely agree that Keira is the Pouty Ingenue and Gwynneth is ridiculously pretentious. It's like no one has ever had a child before...

But I love them. Some actresses you can both love and hate. Hate their stupidity, love their style...

i think keira will make a great little sister in the play she is a list star and this will make her even more famous. and good luck keira on my fair lady.

yayayayayayayayayayayayayayayayayayayayay just another movie of her's i cannot wait to see!