Colin:

"It did occur to me that the Royal family might see it - I know they don't comment on such things but I was very aware that not only would his daughter (Queen Elizabeth II) see it, but the character played by Geoffrey Rush had living family as well."He revealed he put his own political views about the monarchy aside to play King George VI, who was extremely popular with the British public.

"We can't possibly hope to be accurate about things we hope to know about. I would never have a hostile approach to playing a character because you can't play a character in that way, but I'm aware that he's remembered not only by living members of his family who adored him, but also living members of the public who remember him with great affection."

"I don't think anyone remembers him in any other way really, no matter what your feelings are about the establishment of the monarchy. I think he was enormously admirable and I had overwhelming affection for the characters, so I hope that affection and respect came across. I think there's something quietly heroic about him. We'll leave my own political views out of this."

Summary:

The King's Speech is about Lionel Logue (played by Rush), an Australian speech therapist who later became a sought-after Harley Street consultant.

In 1926 the Duchess of York, as the Queen Mother was before her husband assumed the throne in 1937, encouraged the Duke to visit Logue, and then helped him with breathing exercises and tongue-twisters.

Later, Logue coached George VI for the formal language of the 1937 Coronation, telling him to 'take it quietly, Sir'  -  and that slow, measured speech later became a reassuring feature of the King's wartime radio broadcasts.

Cast:

Colin Firth

Geoffrey Rush 

Helena Bonham Carter

Jennifer Ehle

Guy Pearce

Derek Jacobi

Timothy Spall

Michael Gambon

Iain Canning and Emile Sherman of See-Saw Films and Gareth Unwin of Bedlam Prods. are producing. Bedlam's Simon Egan is a co-producer. David Seidler has penned the pic, which has started lensing in the U.K.

The Weinstein Co. will distribute the film in North America and also has rights in a handful of foreign markets.

2 September 2009

Colin Firth to star as King George VI, by Gregg Kilday

Tom Hooper, whose resume includes HBO's "Elizabeth I" and "John Adams" will direct the feature, which shoots later this year aiming for a 2010 release, from a script by David Seidler.

Firth will play GeorgeKing George VI is the latest British royal to get the big screen treatment: Colin Firth has signed on to play the monarch in "The King's Speech," and the Weinstein Co. has snapped up rights for North America and a host of other territories. VI, known as Bertie, the father of the current Queen Elizabeth II, who assumed the throne when his brother Edward VIII abdicated in 1936 to marry Wallis Simpson. The film will focus on his efforts to overcome a nervous stammer with the help of speech therapist Lionel Logue, to be played by Geoffrey Rush. The two actors previously starred together in "Shakespeare in Love."

"Speech" is being produced by Iain Canning and Emile Sherman of See-Saw Films, and Gareth Unwin of Bedlam Productions. Bedlam's Simon Egan will serve as co-producer.

In addition to North America, the Weinstein Co. has acquired rights for Germany, France, Benelux, Scandinavia, China, Hong Kong and Latin America. 

David Glasser, TWC president of international distribution, and TWC president of theatrical films Tom Ortenberg announced the acquisition, their second since Ortenberg joined the Weinstein Co. in January.

Glasser, Michal Steinberg, senior vp, business and legal affairs and acquisitions, and Rhodri Thomas, vp of production and development, negotiated on behalf of TWC. Sherman and Canning negotiated on behalf of See-Saw Films International, together with Libby Savill, head of the film team at London-based law firm Olswang.

With thanks to Nancy

Some information courtesy of The Internet Movie Database.