We guess tomorrow really is another day. Next month, St. Martin’s Press plans to publish a prequel to Gone With the Wind that’s fully authorized by the Margaret Mitchell estate. This is only the second official spinoff of GWTW, following Alexandra Ripley’s widely castigated 1992 novel Scarlett. And this one is all about Rhett — or, as the title says, Rhett Butler’s People. Donald McCaig, who wrote the Civil War novel Jacob’s Ladder, has supposedly been toiling on it for 12 years.
But the new book got us to wondering about the inevitable film adaptation — or, as was the case with Scarlett, the TV miniseries. (By the way, that one featured Timothy Dalton as Rhett and Joanne Whalley-Kilmer, as she was then known, in the title role.) Which contemporary actors would you cast as America’s ultimate star-crossed lovers, Rhett Butler and Scarlett O’Hara? The poll lines are open…
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George Clooney as Rhett – that’s easy. Clooney has his own self confident sexiness that he wouldn’t have to “pretend” to be Rhett. It would come naturally.
Scarlett? You’d have to get an unknown. There is no known young actress that exudes charisma and charm like Vivian Leigh. Besides, if it’s an established star, I’d be comparing her the whole time to the original Scarlett.
Clooney and Ashley Judd. But an unknown would work too.
Stephanie, you totally got to my suggestion first. The first two people that immediately came to mind were George Clooney and Ashley Judd. I’ve long thought they would be able to play the characters if (shudder) there was ever a remake made of the original movie (which happens to be my all-time favorite film ever). But, if it’s a GWTW-prequel, does that mean Scarlett will have a part?
Jessica Simpson and Tom Cruise.
it is surprising to see how well this story has developed. along with the new GWTW musical, this book seems to be heralding the return of the antiquitated, pompous soap.
george clooney and a freshly botoxed nicole kidman with her hair dyed dark.
Hhmm, George Clooney! I have never thought of him before, but he would be damn perfect. I can’t even think of anyone else who would have Rhett’s good looks, but be all man at the same time. You could also go for Clive Owen, or someone of that category. Still really attractive, but not tradtionally so. I have the same problem with a Scarlett casting. You want someone pretty & feminine, but with harsh features. So, when I think of the pretty actresses with acting chops, Keira Knightley, Natalie Portman, Kate Beckinsale, I feel they are too soft featured. Maybe Angelina Jolie…she could embody Vivien Leigh’s both frail, smallness and her cold, vixen appeal. I love Gone with the Wind, and feel it was perfectly cast. I’d be real wary to see it cast today! Though, it may be nice to get a little more of the sex in the movie that’s in the book!
You all forget that this is a PREquel, which means the characters are younger than Scarlett and Rhett at the beginning of GWTW. So Scarlett is probably a teenager and Rhett is probably 20s or 30s. So for Rhett becase of the youth I nominate Michael Rosenbaum (Lex on Smallville) with some scruff and hair added appropriately of course. I think the girl who won America’s Next Top Model a few years ago, Yoanna, has the look but she’s probably taller than Lex Luthor, so that doesn’t work. Perhaps Mischa Barton could really stretch to pull off a spoiled brat like Scarlett? smirk.
Justin Chambers for Rhett (man, that would be so good!), and maybe Julia Stiles as Scarlett.
George Clooney is truly the only acceptable Rhett/Gable subsitute. I don’t care if he’s supposed to be younger. We’ll live. If forced to go younger, I’d have to say Matthew MacFadyen, the 2005 Mr. Darcy.
Sorry ya’ll, … at the beginning of GWTW Scarlett was 16 near Atlanta, if this was about Rhett (who grew up in Charleston) – she won’t be making an appearance. And anyone who thinks Clooney can pull off a Clark Gable is completely off-base – you need someone to be smooth AND sharp-witted at the same time (Clooney is too smooth in my book). Jonathan Rhys-Myers would be my first choice for a young Rhett.
Putting Southern authenticity aside:
Rhett – Gerard Butler, Daniel Craig, Ralph Fiennes, Eric Bana. I don’t think Clooney would work. He’s too much of a “nice” guy
Scarlett – Marion Coitillard, Carice van Houten, Ashley Judd, Mary Louise Parker, Evangeline Lilly
Ashley – Patrick Wilson, Ryan Gosling
I don’t see any current actors or actresses living up to Vivien Leigh or Clark Gable. Maybe Clooney, but I wish we’d leave it alone, personally.
Clearly, Britney Spears is begging to be cast in the role of Scarlett. Or am I thinking of the role of Belle Watling.
Carrie is right-LEAVE IT ALONE!!
Since they are supposed to be young in the film, Zac Efron and V. Hudgens. That way you know it’ll suck
Why remake it?????? jeeze we are remaking everything!
Why do they insist on doing this kind of stupidity? It’s perfect just the way it is. It’s like trying to rewrite the last supper. Oh wait, they already did that with DuhVinci Code. And we all know how lame that turned out.
Leave it alone!! Rhett and Scarlett don’t give a damn.
I’ll uphold the meme: Scarlett was in her teens (nineteen, is my memory) in the opening of GWTW. If this is a prequel, she should probably be played by no one older than Dakota Fanning. Actually, Scarlett is probably nowhere in this prequel: it’s probably Belle Watling.
At the opening of GWTW Scarlett (according to the book) is 16 years old..so if this is a prequel she has to be even younger than that..there will be no Scarlett/Rhett interaction as they don’t meet until GWTW..what’s the point? I guess they can elaborate on Rhett’s strained relationship with his father in Charleston..and the night he “ruined his reputation”..but other than that, I think this is just a mistake altogether. These are Margaret Mitchell’s characters..only she can write them to their true potential. So if we’re going to cast the 16-or less year old Scarlett, I’d say cast an unknown..same goes for the 20 something year old Rhett. Or better yet, JUST DON’T DO IT! Vivien Leigh and Clark Gable OWN those roles!
Clooney is the first guy I thought of, but if its younger I’d go with Jake Gyllanhall and Rachel McAdams
Clooney is the first guy I thought of, but if its younger I’d go with Jake Gyllanhall and Rachel McAdams
My first thought was Clooney but I’m not sure he would work in a prequel. I thought maybe Jude Law. He has a certain air about him and with his hair darkened it could work.
Clooney. Rachel McAdams. Ryan Gosling. Ethan Hawke. Anne Hathaway. Reese Witherspoon.
Not that ANYONE could ever hope to compete with the originals, and it doesn’t even matter re. who would play Scarlett b/c she’d be too young to appear in a pre-quel anyway, BUT- some of these suggestions are insane. Julia Stiles? UGH! Give me a break, to whomever said that- did you not see the movie?
The ONLY way this would work is if it truly is Rhett Butler’s PEOPLE — focus on his family prior to the Civil War, with Rhett a very minor character. Then you can cast anyone in the other roles — how about Russell Crowe as his father, Nicole Kidman as mom? I think there was a sister, too ??
George Clooney!!?? Are you people insane??
George Clooney is 40+ years OLD! Rhett was 36 in GWTW, and if this is a prequel, he has to be even younger! I would prefer it if they NOT even tarnish the GWTW legacy even more, but if you had to cast a Rhett, pick an unknown. What’s the point in casting Scarlett? She won’t interact with Rhett (they met in GWTW), she was 16 at the beginning of that movie, so she’d be even younger in this one.
I’m liking what KayRay said about Rhett being a minor part and focus on his family in Charleston. Cast Clooney as Rhett’s father and you may have something to work with.
New information – the book covers the years of 1843 – 1872, so it covers both “prequel” years AND RETELLS GWTW FROM RHETT’S PERSPECTIVE. (WTF???!!! WHY???) Prequel OK, there were lots of tantalizing bits of info in GWTW about Rhett’s sordid past, getting kicked out of the Charleston social scene and all. Could make a very interesting story. But retell from his perspective??? I don’t want to read something akin to Rhett Butler in a psychiatrist’s chair… would totally destroy the character for me.
And as to the new Scarlett — UGH. Maybe Kate Beckinsale. Maybe Penelope Cruz if she could possibly adopt a REAL southern accent. I still say Jonathan Rhys-Meyers is the only young Rhett I could even consider at this point.
But overall, WTF????