How many times can you adapt a classic piece of literature before it is considered overkill? I would have to say three, but apparently Mike Newell did not get the memo. His new film is the seventeenth filmed version of Charles Dickens’ GREAT EXPECTATIONS (that includes TV miniseries). Why should we give this one a chance? Because Newell enlisted some names from the Harry Potter universe.
Newell directed HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE which introduced Ralph Fiennes as Lord Voldemort. Add to that POTTER alums Helena Bonham Carter and Robbie Coltrane, as well as Jason Flemyng, Holliday Grainger, Ewen Bremner, Jeremy Irvine, and Sally Hawkins and you have quite the cast.
It is hard to tell from these photos whether the film is taking a queue from the upcoming Joe Wright film ANNA KARENINA where he tries something completely unique or if this will just be a standard period piece. In that first photo above, Fiennes almost looks like a double for Hugh Jackman in LES MISERABLES.
GREAT EXPECTATIONS has no domestic release date yet, but opens in England and Ireland November 30, 2012.