Best known for playing the brusque, candid Dr. Gregory House on the his medical drama "House," Hugh Laurie shows a softer side in the forthcoming "Mr. Pip." The adaptation of the best-selling novel by Lloyd Jones is coming to American cinemas, and today we have an exclusive clip from the movie. Directed by Andrew Adamson ("The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe," "Shrek"), and co-starring newcomer Xzannjah Matsi, the film tells the story of Mr. Watts, an Englishman in the tropical village in Bougainville, who reads "Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens to the children of the island, transporting their imaginations to a different world, all while a civil war draws closer. In the scene below, Mr. Watts introduces himself to his class, and lays out his modest hopes of sharing with them what knowledge he has. The winner of New Zealand Film & TV Awards for Best Actor and Best Actress,...
- 10/27/2014
- by Kevin Jagernauth
- The Playlist
Mr. Pip is one of those novels that I have seen on the shelf at Barnes & Noble, picked up several times, and never actually got around to buying. In the finest tradition of movies making me want to read the book they are based on, the recent trailer for Andrew Adamson’s Mr. Pip adaptation looks really inspiring, not least because it stars Hugh Laurie. And who does not love Hugh Laurie?
Hugh Laurie plays Mr. Watts, a white teacher who begins teaching Dickens to the poor of the island of Bougainville. One of his pupils, Matilda (Xzannjah) is inspired by the lead character Pip of Great Expectations as a source of hope and escape from the violence that surrounds her. But a misunderstanding with the local army because of the book leads to greater violence, when Pip is mistaken for a secret rebel leader.
The trailer makes a lot of the relationship between Mr.
Hugh Laurie plays Mr. Watts, a white teacher who begins teaching Dickens to the poor of the island of Bougainville. One of his pupils, Matilda (Xzannjah) is inspired by the lead character Pip of Great Expectations as a source of hope and escape from the violence that surrounds her. But a misunderstanding with the local army because of the book leads to greater violence, when Pip is mistaken for a secret rebel leader.
The trailer makes a lot of the relationship between Mr.
- 5/1/2013
- by Lauren Humphries-Brooks
- We Got This Covered
The long-running drama series House may not have been at its best when it finally came to an end in May of 2012, but it was at least doing one valuable service: putting Hugh Laurie on television once a week. But while not being able to witness his brilliance weekly is a bummer, the show being over does open the door for Laurie to pursue more film work. For example, the upcoming drama Mr. Pip, which just released its first trailer on the Paramount New Zealand YouTube page. Based on the novel by Lloyd Jones and adapted and directed by Andrew Adamson (The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe), the film is set in Papua New Guinea where a young girl becomes inspired by the lead character in Charles Dickens' novel Great Expectations, which she learns about from a white teacher named Mr. Watts (Laurie). Unfortunately,...
- 5/1/2013
- cinemablend.com
An international trailer for writer/director Andrew Adamson's Mr Pip has been released and can be watched using the player below. Based on the Lloyd Jones novel, the drama stars Hugh Laurie, Xzannjah, Healesville Joel and Eka Darville. In 1991, a war over a copper mining in the South Pacific tore the island of Bougainville apart. In 14 year-old Matilda's tiny village, the reclusive "Popeye. (Hugh Laurie) offers the children escape into Dickens' "Great Expectations." But on an island at war, fiction can have dangerous consequences. A release date has not yet been set for the film.
- 4/26/2013
- Comingsoon.net
Living under the shadow of the Papa New Guinean civil war, a young girl (her name is Matilda) forms a unique bond with an eccentric schoolteacher, over their shared love for Charles Dickens' Great Expectations. Directed by Andrew Adamson (Shrek, The Chronicles of Narnia), and titled Mr Pip, the film is based on the award-winning novel by New Zealand author Lloyd Jones. It's named after the chief character in Dickens' novel. Mister Pip is the story of a girl caught in the throes of war on the island of Bougainville. It is through the guidance of her devoted but strict Christian mother and teacher that Matilda survives but more importantly,...
- 4/25/2013
- by Tambay A. Obenson
- ShadowAndAct
Hugh Laurie is in talks to join the upcoming Disney sci-fi project starring George Clooney.
The former House actor is in line to join the mysterious film, to be directed by Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol's Brad Bird.
The project was previously titled 1952, before being renamed Tomorrowland last month.
Laurie would play the film's antagonist if he were to join, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Lost's Damon Lindelof has co-written the project's script along with Jeff Jensen.
Since leaving House last year, Hugh Laurie has starred in ensemble drama The Oranges and an adaptation of Lloyd Jones's Mister Pip.
Tomorrowland is scheduled to be released on December 19, 2014.
Little is known about the film's plot, with Brad Bird posting a photograph of an archive box labelled '1952' on his Twitter account last month.
It contained items including Technicolor film, old photographs of Walt Disney, a history of Nasa titled Model Research,...
The former House actor is in line to join the mysterious film, to be directed by Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol's Brad Bird.
The project was previously titled 1952, before being renamed Tomorrowland last month.
Laurie would play the film's antagonist if he were to join, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Lost's Damon Lindelof has co-written the project's script along with Jeff Jensen.
Since leaving House last year, Hugh Laurie has starred in ensemble drama The Oranges and an adaptation of Lloyd Jones's Mister Pip.
Tomorrowland is scheduled to be released on December 19, 2014.
Little is known about the film's plot, with Brad Bird posting a photograph of an archive box labelled '1952' on his Twitter account last month.
It contained items including Technicolor film, old photographs of Walt Disney, a history of Nasa titled Model Research,...
- 2/13/2013
- Digital Spy
From Andrew Adamson, the director who brought us the first two "Shrek" and "Narnia" movies, "Mr. Pip" is a rather feeble attempt at more serious subject matter than talking lions and animated ogres. A literary adaptation of a coming-of-age story, with links to Charles Dickens’ classic "Great Expectations," the film leaves you with the wish that Adamson would stick to fantasy -- at least in that world there’s some fun to be found. Based on the best-seller by New Zealander Lloyd Jones, the story of "Mr. Pip" takes place in Bougainville, a cinematically untouched island close to Papua, New Guinea. Considering themselves to be different than their more powerful neighbors, the locals of Bougainville rebell and fall under a blockade, essentially becoming prisoners in their own homes. Amidst all the natives, a lone white man wearing a red nose drags about a local lady on a cart. Why is he there?...
- 9/11/2012
- by Nikola Grozdanovic
- The Playlist
Readers of Lloyd Jones’ much-acclaimed 2006 novel may be the only viewers who have the patience to sit through this badly botched and largely incoherent adaptation by director Andrew Adamson, a veteran of the “Shrek” and “Narnia” franchises. Working from his own screenplay, Adamson even fails to provide much of an entry point for this based-on-true-events story, which takes place on a remote South Pacific island whose inhabitants’ resistance to mining exploitation led to civil war in Papua New Guinea in the early 1990s. The action centers on the bond between Matilda (Xzannjah), a 12-year-old islander, and Mr. Watts (Hugh Laurie), her town’s sole white resident. After reluctantly becoming the community’s schoolteacher, Watts uses the words of “Great Expectations” to inspire the children (and later their parents) in the face of the hardships they suffer due to the island’s blockade by government forces. Segments...
- 9/11/2012
- by Jason Anderson
- Indiewire
Living under the shadow of the Papa New Guinean civil war, a young girl forms a unique bond with an eccentric schoolteacher, over their shared love for Charles Dickens' Great Expectations. Directed by Andrew Adamson (Shrek, The Chronicles of Narnia), and titled Mr Pip, the film is based on the award-winning novel by New Zealand author Lloyd Jones. It's named after the chief character in Dickens' novel. The novel's synopsis suggests that the young girl (her name is Matilda) is the film's main character: Mister Pip is the story of a girl caught in the throes of war on the island of Bougainville. It is through the guidance of...
- 8/16/2012
- by Tambay A. Obenson
- ShadowAndAct
Last week brought with it a great first look at Hugh Laurie in Mr. Pip, and having just had our first look at Ralph Fiennes in Mike Newell’s Great Expectations adaptation, we’ve now got three more new images from Andrew Adamson’s upcoming film similarly headed to the Toronto International Film Festival next month.
Adamson, the Oscar-nominated writer-director behind Shrek and The Chronicles of Narnia, is directing from his own script, adapting the original award-winning novel by Lloyd Jones.
“Living under the shadow of the Papa New Guinean civil war, an eccentric schoolteacher (Hugh Laurie) forms a unique bond with a young girl (Xzannjah) over their shared love for Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations, in director Andrew Adamson’s (Shrek, The Chronicles of Narnia) lusciously beautiful adaptation of the award-winning novel by Lloyd Jones.”
Starring alongside Laurie will be newcomer Xzannjah, with Kerry Fox starring as Laurie’s wife,...
Adamson, the Oscar-nominated writer-director behind Shrek and The Chronicles of Narnia, is directing from his own script, adapting the original award-winning novel by Lloyd Jones.
“Living under the shadow of the Papa New Guinean civil war, an eccentric schoolteacher (Hugh Laurie) forms a unique bond with a young girl (Xzannjah) over their shared love for Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations, in director Andrew Adamson’s (Shrek, The Chronicles of Narnia) lusciously beautiful adaptation of the award-winning novel by Lloyd Jones.”
Starring alongside Laurie will be newcomer Xzannjah, with Kerry Fox starring as Laurie’s wife,...
- 8/2/2012
- by Kenji Lloyd
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
The brilliant Hugh Laurie will be making his return to the big screen for the first time since the end of House with Mr. Pip, confirmed as making its world debut at the Toronto International Film Festival this September.
Until now, all has been fairly quiet with the project since its original announcement, but now we’ve got our first look at Laurie in the lead alongside his co-star, Xzannjah Matsi.
“Living under the shadow of the Papa New Guinean civil war, an eccentric schoolteacher (Hugh Laurie) forms a unique bond with a young girl (Xzannjah Matsi) over their shared love for Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations, in director Andrew Adamson’s (Shrek, The Chronicles of Narnia) lusciously beautiful adaptation of the award-winning novel by Lloyd Jones.”
Andrew Adamson, the Oscar-nominated writer-director behind Shrek and The Chronicles of Narnia, is directing from his own script, adapting the original novel by Lloyd Jones.
Until now, all has been fairly quiet with the project since its original announcement, but now we’ve got our first look at Laurie in the lead alongside his co-star, Xzannjah Matsi.
“Living under the shadow of the Papa New Guinean civil war, an eccentric schoolteacher (Hugh Laurie) forms a unique bond with a young girl (Xzannjah Matsi) over their shared love for Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations, in director Andrew Adamson’s (Shrek, The Chronicles of Narnia) lusciously beautiful adaptation of the award-winning novel by Lloyd Jones.”
Andrew Adamson, the Oscar-nominated writer-director behind Shrek and The Chronicles of Narnia, is directing from his own script, adapting the original novel by Lloyd Jones.
- 7/24/2012
- by Kenji Lloyd
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Hugh Laurie has certainly mastered the role of pill-popping doctor… but classics-loving mentor? That's one part he has yet to play.
Until now.
Because director Andrew Adamson has tapped the "House" star to play the title character in "Mr. Pip," an adaptation of best-selling novel by Lloyd Jones, Deadline reports.
Laurie will play Mr. Watts, the last white man left on the war-torn island of Bougainville, Papua New Guinea, who reopens a school and reads his favorite novel, "Great Expectations," to the students, thereby inspiring a gifted 14-year-old name Matilda.
"From the first words of the novel, and the first image of the screenplay, I was hooked on 'Mr. Pip,' Laurie mused. "It's an immensely touching, unique, yet completely unsentimental story of love. It is unlike any script I have read, or any story I have ever heard."
In other words, he liked it.
"Plus, I get to go...
Until now.
Because director Andrew Adamson has tapped the "House" star to play the title character in "Mr. Pip," an adaptation of best-selling novel by Lloyd Jones, Deadline reports.
Laurie will play Mr. Watts, the last white man left on the war-torn island of Bougainville, Papua New Guinea, who reopens a school and reads his favorite novel, "Great Expectations," to the students, thereby inspiring a gifted 14-year-old name Matilda.
"From the first words of the novel, and the first image of the screenplay, I was hooked on 'Mr. Pip,' Laurie mused. "It's an immensely touching, unique, yet completely unsentimental story of love. It is unlike any script I have read, or any story I have ever heard."
In other words, he liked it.
"Plus, I get to go...
- 4/15/2011
- by Elizabeth Durand
- NextMovie
When you’re rumoured to be the best paid actor in television (now that Charlie Sheen is devoted to spreading the gospel of “win” across America) and have become an unlikely sex symbol in your late forties, employing this relatively new-found superstardom on the big-screen can be more than a little tricky. Although onetime Stephen Fry sidekick Hugh Laurie had a movie career prior to the phenomenon that was his portrayal of a misanthropic medic (including the likes of Stuart Little and Maybe Baby), he failed to bring the revelatory small screen gravitas he has acquired since he became Gregory House to the cinema. Laurie’s one major live-action role since his trans-Atlantic success was David Ayer’s perfectly adequate, but rather unloved, Street Kings.
Now the former presidents of the Footlights is set to try again in an adaptation of Commonwealth Writer’s Prize winning novel Mr Pip by New Zealander Lloyd Jones.
Now the former presidents of the Footlights is set to try again in an adaptation of Commonwealth Writer’s Prize winning novel Mr Pip by New Zealander Lloyd Jones.
- 4/15/2011
- by Ben Szwediuk
- Obsessed with Film
House star Hugh Laurie is set to star in the movie adaptation of author Lloyd Jones' celebrated 2006 book Mr. Pip.
The Brit will play an ambitious Charles Dickens-loving teacher trying to open a school on the war-torn South Pacific island of Bougainville.
Jones' novel was among those shortlisted for the prestigious Booker Prize.
Shrek director Andrew Adamson will start shooting the film in New Zealand next month.
The Brit will play an ambitious Charles Dickens-loving teacher trying to open a school on the war-torn South Pacific island of Bougainville.
Jones' novel was among those shortlisted for the prestigious Booker Prize.
Shrek director Andrew Adamson will start shooting the film in New Zealand next month.
- 4/14/2011
- WENN
Anyone with sense enough to read these words will love Hugh Laurie. Upper class twit of the new wave of British comedy in the early 80s, he escaped with Stephen Fry to star in their own comedy series as well as appearing in three series of Blackadder and became, again with Fry, the epitome of Jeeves and Wooster and has found an indecent amount of fame as an American doctor in House MD.
I can’t remember seeing Laurie in anything approaching a leading role on the big screen for a long time, IMDb is taking me back to 2000′s Maybe Baby (when he played a character named Sam Bell – perhaps Moon is the unofficial sequel to this?) or Stuart Little the year before. He’s a talented dramatic actor, particularly when playing against type (at least against what his tpe was before his tenure in House), and today’s...
I can’t remember seeing Laurie in anything approaching a leading role on the big screen for a long time, IMDb is taking me back to 2000′s Maybe Baby (when he played a character named Sam Bell – perhaps Moon is the unofficial sequel to this?) or Stuart Little the year before. He’s a talented dramatic actor, particularly when playing against type (at least against what his tpe was before his tenure in House), and today’s...
- 4/14/2011
- by Jon Lyus
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Wanted: An actress willing to rock out with Tom Cruise and an actor hoping to have a fairy tale experience with Kristen Stewart.
Hollywood could have very well posted a sign for that today, as two huge roles opened up yet again. After rumors that Hugh Jackman would be stepping in to play the Huntsman in "Snow White and the Huntsman" after Viggo Mortensen dropped out, The Wrap put the kibosh on that reporting that the star won't take the part. Kristen Stewart is still in negotiations to play Snow White in the film.
Meanwhile, "Rock of Ages" may have picked up Russell Brand, they lost Amy Adams, according to Deadline. The actress, who already has a bevy of projects lined up, including the "Superman" and "Muppets" reboots, would have played Cruise's love interest in the 80's music Broadway extravaganza.
Check out the rest of Thursday's (April 14) biggest casting news,...
Hollywood could have very well posted a sign for that today, as two huge roles opened up yet again. After rumors that Hugh Jackman would be stepping in to play the Huntsman in "Snow White and the Huntsman" after Viggo Mortensen dropped out, The Wrap put the kibosh on that reporting that the star won't take the part. Kristen Stewart is still in negotiations to play Snow White in the film.
Meanwhile, "Rock of Ages" may have picked up Russell Brand, they lost Amy Adams, according to Deadline. The actress, who already has a bevy of projects lined up, including the "Superman" and "Muppets" reboots, would have played Cruise's love interest in the 80's music Broadway extravaganza.
Check out the rest of Thursday's (April 14) biggest casting news,...
- 4/14/2011
- by Aly Semigran
- MTV Movies Blog
Andrew Adamson, director of Shrek 2 and the first two Narnia movies, has set his sights on Lloyd Jones' novel Mister Pip. He has already written the script based on the book about " the last white man left on the war-torn island of Bougainville, Papua New Guinea, who reopens a school and reads his favorite novel, Great Expectations, to the students," and will produce and direct the film. He's got Hugh Laurie of House fame set to play the lead character. The director told THR [1] he sparked to the novel immediately, reading the book on a long flight and leaving the plane determined to make the film. There are a host of investors, most of which are from New Zealand, which is part of why the film is shooting there as well as on location in Bougainville. Here's a recap of the novel, and take note that despite Andrew Adamson's relatively kid-friendly past,...
- 4/14/2011
- by Russ Fischer
- Slash Film
Hugh Laurie (House) has been cast in an adaptation of the best-selling New Zealand author Lloyd Jones novel Mr. Pip. Andrew Adamson, Shrek 2 and Chronicles of Narnia, has written the screenplay and will direct and produce the film.
Laurie will play Mr. Watts, the only white man on a foreign island who volunteers to teach school as the natives defend their land from invaders. He reads the students Charles Dickens’ classic novel, Great Expectations, linking especially with a 13-year old girl, Matilda.
Lloyd Jones’ 2006 book, Mr. Pip was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize.
Adamson, who first optioned the film rights, said:
I read Mr. Pip on a transatlantic flight and, by the time of landing, knew I would make this film. It’s a testament to Lloyd’s wonderful novel that it has captured the hearts of Hugh, Robin, Leslie and an incredible group of like minded collaborators.
Laurie will play Mr. Watts, the only white man on a foreign island who volunteers to teach school as the natives defend their land from invaders. He reads the students Charles Dickens’ classic novel, Great Expectations, linking especially with a 13-year old girl, Matilda.
Lloyd Jones’ 2006 book, Mr. Pip was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize.
Adamson, who first optioned the film rights, said:
I read Mr. Pip on a transatlantic flight and, by the time of landing, knew I would make this film. It’s a testament to Lloyd’s wonderful novel that it has captured the hearts of Hugh, Robin, Leslie and an incredible group of like minded collaborators.
- 4/14/2011
- by Nikola Mraovic
- Filmofilia
Deadline is reporting Andrew Adamson will direct “Mister Pip,” a film adaptation of the Lloyd Jones novel. The film has actor Hugh Laurie attached to play Mr. Watt, the last white man on the war-torn island of Bougainville. Here is the novel’s plot summary on Wikipedia: “On a small copper mining island of Bougainville all the teachers, along with most of the other residents fled while one white man, Mr. Watts, stays on the island and becomes the teacher for many of the remaining native children of the island. Mr. Watts reads to the children from Charles Dickens’s novel ‘Great Expectations.’ The children of the island, including the main character, Matilda, are fascinated by the young orphan boy, Pip, and his travels through London.” Adamson has previously directed many films including, “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe,” and “Shrek.” The film’s production...
- 4/14/2011
- LRMonline.com
Hugh Laurie ("House," "Blackadder") is set to star and Andrew Adamson ("Shrek," "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe") is attached to direct an adaptation of Lloyd Jones's novel "Mister Pip" for Eyeworks New Zealand, Agio Capital, Olympus Pictures and Focus Features International reports Deadline.
Laurie will play Mr. Watts, the last white man left on the war-torn island of Bougainville. Asked to open a school there, he reads the kids his favorite novel, Great Expectations. He bonds with the children over the book, which sheds some perspective on their own difficult lives.
Adamson, Leslie Urdang, Dean Vanech and Robin Scholes will produce. Adamson adapted the script and shooting will begin in New Zealand next month.
Laurie will play Mr. Watts, the last white man left on the war-torn island of Bougainville. Asked to open a school there, he reads the kids his favorite novel, Great Expectations. He bonds with the children over the book, which sheds some perspective on their own difficult lives.
Adamson, Leslie Urdang, Dean Vanech and Robin Scholes will produce. Adamson adapted the script and shooting will begin in New Zealand next month.
- 4/14/2011
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
Shrek director Andrew Adamson has lined his next film to follow on from The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian. And while this time he won’t be flitting off to a fantastical land, he will be sticking with the themes of literature and kids, locking in Hugh Laurie to play the main character in Mister Pip.Adamson has adapted Lloyd Jones’ novel and has been planning to direct it for a while now. He’s snagged the support of Focus Features and locked in a budget to start shooting next month.Laurie, usually to be found mocking his team as Dr Gregory House on the medical drama series, will play Mr Watts, the last white man left on the war-ravaged island of Bougainville, part of Papua New Guinea. To help the local kids, he opens a school and starts reading his favourite book – Great Expectations – to the students.The experience...
- 4/14/2011
- EmpireOnline
Hugh Laurie will be stepping out of his TV-based comfort zone a little bit in the near future, as Deadline reports that the House actor will be starring in Mister Pip, under the direction of Andrew Adamson. The movie is an adaptation of the Lloyd Jones novel of the same name, and production is expected to begin in New Zealand next month. Eyeworks New Zealand, Agio Capital and Olympus Pictures are all financing, while UTA Independent Film Group will “put together the pieces.” Meanwhile, Focus Features International is handling the – you guessed it! – international rights.
Adamson is responsible for directing the first two films in both the Shrek and Narnia series, and this seems to be very different than those effects-heavy films. Laurie will be playing Mr. Watts, one of the story’s main leads. The plot of the book can be found below, thanks to Amazon:
“When the conflict...
Adamson is responsible for directing the first two films in both the Shrek and Narnia series, and this seems to be very different than those effects-heavy films. Laurie will be playing Mr. Watts, one of the story’s main leads. The plot of the book can be found below, thanks to Amazon:
“When the conflict...
- 4/13/2011
- by Nick Newman
- The Film Stage
Poor Hugh Laurie. Here’s an actor so convincing in his performance every week on House, M.D., he’s often associated with being just as cranky and biting as the show’s titular character.
When it was reported by Deadline that Laurie was set to appear in director Andrew Adamson’s big screen adaptation of Lloyd Jones’ Mister Pip, nowhere in his character’s description do the words “snippy,” “mean-spirited” or “sarcastic” come up. In other words, Laurie, who is actually trained as a comedic actor, seems to be putting an end to any typecasting.
Alas, the Golden Globe-winning...
When it was reported by Deadline that Laurie was set to appear in director Andrew Adamson’s big screen adaptation of Lloyd Jones’ Mister Pip, nowhere in his character’s description do the words “snippy,” “mean-spirited” or “sarcastic” come up. In other words, Laurie, who is actually trained as a comedic actor, seems to be putting an end to any typecasting.
Alas, the Golden Globe-winning...
- 4/13/2011
- by Aly Semigran
- EW.com - PopWatch
From curmudgeonly doctor to gentle volunteer teacher?
Hugh Laurie has been cast in the film adaptation of Lloyd Jones' 2006 book, "Mr. Pip," Deadline reports. Laurie will play the Mr. Watts, the only white man on a foreign island who volunteers to teach school as the natives defend their land from invaders. He reads the students Charles Dickens' classic novel, "Great Expectations," connecting especially with a 13-year old girl, Matilda.
Andrew Adamson, "Shrek" and "Chronicles of Narnia," will direct.
Laurie, a major British comedy star before coming to the United States, has done much of his recent big screen work in animated films. He provides for E.B.'s father in "Hop," and featured in "Monsters vs. Aliens." He had a supporting role in "Street Kings" with Keanu Reeves and Forest Whitaker in 2008.
For more, click over to Deadline.
Hugh Laurie has been cast in the film adaptation of Lloyd Jones' 2006 book, "Mr. Pip," Deadline reports. Laurie will play the Mr. Watts, the only white man on a foreign island who volunteers to teach school as the natives defend their land from invaders. He reads the students Charles Dickens' classic novel, "Great Expectations," connecting especially with a 13-year old girl, Matilda.
Andrew Adamson, "Shrek" and "Chronicles of Narnia," will direct.
Laurie, a major British comedy star before coming to the United States, has done much of his recent big screen work in animated films. He provides for E.B.'s father in "Hop," and featured in "Monsters vs. Aliens." He had a supporting role in "Street Kings" with Keanu Reeves and Forest Whitaker in 2008.
For more, click over to Deadline.
- 4/13/2011
- by Jordan Zakarin
- Huffington Post
Hugh Laurie has signed to star in a film adaptation of best-selling novel Mr Pip. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Shrek 2 writer Andrew Adamson is writing and directing the film. Lloyd Jones wrote the novel, which centres on a man who opens a school in war-torn Bougainville, Papua New Guinea and reads Great Expectations to his students. "From the first words of the novel, and the first image of the screenplay, I was hooked on Mr Pip," said House star Laurie, who recently played a blues show at a small bar in New Orleans. The actor continued: "It's an immensely touching, (more)...
- 4/13/2011
- by By Mike Moody
- Digital Spy
House's Hugh Laurie is set to play the main character in a new film based on the best-selling Lloyd Jones novel Mr. Pip. The big screen adaptation will be written and directed by Andrew Adamson who also worked on Shrek and The Chronicles of Narnia movies.
The film will tell the story of the last white man left on the war-torn island of Bougainville, Papua New Guinea, who reopens a school and reads his favorite novel, Great Expectations, to the students, inspiring a gifted 14-year-old named Matilda.
Here's what the director had to say about the film in a statement:
I read Mr. Pip on a transatlantic flight and, by the time of landing, knew I would make this film. It's a testament to Lloyd’s wonderful novel that it has captured the hearts of Hugh, Robin, Leslie and an incredible group of like minded collaborators.
Laurie went on to...
The film will tell the story of the last white man left on the war-torn island of Bougainville, Papua New Guinea, who reopens a school and reads his favorite novel, Great Expectations, to the students, inspiring a gifted 14-year-old named Matilda.
Here's what the director had to say about the film in a statement:
I read Mr. Pip on a transatlantic flight and, by the time of landing, knew I would make this film. It's a testament to Lloyd’s wonderful novel that it has captured the hearts of Hugh, Robin, Leslie and an incredible group of like minded collaborators.
Laurie went on to...
- 4/13/2011
- by Venkman
- GeekTyrant
House MD's crank protagononist, played by Hugh Laurie, is venturing abroad. Laurie has joined the adaptation of Lloyd Jones' novel Mister Pip, which follows:
...the last white man left on the war-torn island of Bougainville. Asked to open a school there, he reads the kids his favorite novel, Great Expectations. He bonds with the children over the book, which sheds some perspective on their own difficult lives. [Deadline]
read more...
...the last white man left on the war-torn island of Bougainville. Asked to open a school there, he reads the kids his favorite novel, Great Expectations. He bonds with the children over the book, which sheds some perspective on their own difficult lives. [Deadline]
read more...
- 4/13/2011
- by Anna Breslaw
- Filmology
Andrew Adamson is attached to direct House star Hugh Laurie in Mister Pip, an adaptation of the Lloyd Jones novel that Adamson has adapted for the screen. Shooting will begin in New Zealand next month, and Focus Features International has acquired international rights. Laurie will play Mr. Watts, the last white man left on the war-torn island of Bougainville. Asked to open a school there, he reads the kids his favorite novel, Great Expectations. He bonds with the children over the book, which sheds some perspective on their own difficult lives. Adamson will produce with Leslie Urdang, Dean Vanech and Robin Scholes. Eyeworks New Zealand and Agio Capital are co-financing with Olympus Pictures, and the New Zealand Film Commission, Nz on Air and TV3 are also investors. UTA Independent Film Group put together the pieces. Adamson, who co-directed the first two installments of Shrek and directed the first two The Chronicles of Narnia films,...
- 4/13/2011
- by MIKE FLEMING
- Deadline
Hugh Laurie is set to play a lead role in the adaptation of the Lloyd Jones novel Mr. Pip , Variety is reporting. Andrew Adamson is attached to both write and direct the film version. Laurie will play Mr. Watts, a schoolteacher whose student finds an imaginary friend in the character of Pip from "Great Expectations". The official description of the novel is as follows: On a copper-rich tropical island shattered by war, where the teachers have fled with most everyone else, only one white man chooses to stay behind: the eccentric Mr. Watts, object of much curiosity and scorn, who sweeps out the ruined schoolhouse and begins to read to the children each day from Charles Dickens.s classic 'Great Expectations'. So begins this rare, original story about the abiding...
- 4/13/2011
- Comingsoon.net
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