Dakota not cast in CHARLOTTE DOYLE

July 16, 2008

Danny De Vito to direct CHARLOTTE DOYLE drama w/Pierce Brosnan & Morgan Freeman.

IT'S BEEN SIX YEARS since Danny De Vito climbed into the director's chair. Six years since DEATH TO SMOOCHY, the disstrously received but actually pretty-gosh-darn-funny Ed Norton/Robin Williams comedy that tanked at the box office. But now the little big man is back. He’s signed on to direct a cracking cast – Morgan Freeman, Pierce Brosnan, Saoirse Ronan – in an adaptation of the best-selling book, The True Confessions Of Charlotte Doyle, an adventure for young adults about a young girl who makes a daring transatlantic crossing from England to America in 1830, only to find herself torn between a mutinous crew and a tyrannical captain. Ronan – so impressive, and Oscar-nominated, in ATONEMENT – will play the title character. We’re not sure if Brosnan or Freeman will play the captain, but all will be revealed in time. De Vito won’t be appearing in the film, which starts lensing in September. But he’ll hope that this movie is as successful as MATILDA, his last foray into kids’ movies.

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TERRIBLE NEWS! This feels like THE GIRL WHO LOVED TOM GORDON all over again. Some loyal Dakota fans may recall back in '04 the infamous Steven King novel that was rumored to be a Dakota project and then inexplicably canceled. I have always felt that TOM GORDON represented Dakota's greatest missed opportunities (Well, aside from playing Alice in the canceled Spielberg ALICE IN WONDERLAND). If this article is to believed, and it does contain at least one factual error, once again it appears that Dakota has bailed on what I thought was her perfect project. This is the one Dakota movie I was most looking forward. CHARLOTTE DOYLE is a wonderful book and an excellent part for a young girl. I am very disappointed that Dakota turned down this project, its a very physical role, I should have liked to have seen Dakota dress in 19th century frilly dresses, and then climb the rigging in her bear feet! I am sure Soairse Ronan will do a fine job she is a wonderful actress.