While Daniel Radcliffe makes his first post-'Harry Potter' starring role in the horror film "The Woman In Black" this weekend, Hermoine is also looking to shed her Hogwarts image. Emma Watson has been making small steps in defining herself outside the wizard franchise, taking a throwaway role in "My Week With Marilyn" as well as a more substantial part in the upcoming "The Perks Of Being A Wallflower." But this next role will be her biggest test yet, though she has a familiar friend to help her out.
Watson has joined 'Harry Potter' director David Yates' drama "Your Voice In My Head." The film is an adaptation of screenwriter Emma Forrest's memoir of the same name, a candid account about her battle with self-destructive behavior and how she was saved by a compassionate psychiatrist. Watson will play Forrest, while a big name is being sought to take the part of the doctor and apparently heavyweights like Tom Hanks and George Clooney are on Warner Bros list. But it should be said those two guys are on everybody's list for everything all the time, so don't be surprised if neither of those names come to pass either.
This is definitely a big step in a new direction for both Yates and Watson, stepping away from the special effects heavy franchise for a much more intimate character based story. Whether or not Watson has the chops to carry this kind of movie, we'll soon see, but Yates — more than anybody else — is probably the best judge of what she can bring, and clearly he thinks she has much more to offer. No word yet on when it will roll, but should all the pieces fall into place, it will be Yates' next film. [Deadline]
Watson's a good kid, but I'm doubting her ability for this specific part. The book is all about interiorization, inner turmoil and shifts in emotions, sometimes subtle and fleeting, sometimes with manic highs and depressive lows … and Watson's decent, at most. If they were going to aim for a young-looking 20 year-old actress… Saoirse Ronan would have been perfect. Imogen Poots, Andrea Riseborough, Mia Wasikowska, Romola Garai, Felicity Jones also have the ability to portray such a complex, messy character. So many worth actresses!
Sigh, hopefully Yates will do a great job at coaxing a good performance out of his lead actress.
Good for her! More Watson, less all those other annoying 20 something year olds that are trying and failing at becoming the next big thing.