No, no, it’s not a remake of that Chevy Chase movie with a new female star, and it’s not a reimagining of Ralph Ellison’s seminal novel, but Felicity Jones has snapped up an intriguing role in Ralph Fiennes‘ The Invisible Woman. Baz Bamigboye and The Playlist are reporting that Jones has just signed on for the role of Nelly Ternan in the film, mistress of Charles Dickens, which Fiennes will next direct on the heels of his most recent project, Coriolanus. The film is an adaptation of Claire Tomalin‘s non-fiction book of the same name, with a script by tremendously talented Shame and The Iron Lady screenwriter Abi Morgan. The book centers on the real life romance of young Nelly (who was just eighteen when she took up with Dickens) and the writer (who was forty-five and married). Escandalo! Jones reportedly beat out the latest version of the in-consideration shortlist of up-and-coming young actresses, including Carey Mulligan, Abbie Cornish (who continues to appear on these types of lists, and has yet to land a plum role besides the already critically-maligned W.E., which is a damn shame), and Imogen Poots. While Fiennes was once looking to take on the Dickens role, he has since decided to cast someone else, so that should be the next bit of casting information to hit the ‘net.

If you’re the kind of person who loves the classics and believes they should be left unspoilt, maybe just go get a sandwich or something. Step outside for a moment. Write a letter to a loved one or throw some darts in your garage. Just don’t read this news post. Because according to Variety, Twilight-er Ashley Greene will make the jump to leading lady in Olivia Twisted, a – you got it – modern take on Dickens’s “Oliver Twist.” There will be a few changes, but the nitty gritty is that Olivia will be 1) female (obviously) 2) the leader of a group of criminals in a 3) street turf battle and 4) not a child. This wouldn’t be the first futzing with that the character has seen. It most famously got music to sing along with in Oliver! but fans might simply appreciate that Greene hasn’t been cast as an anthropomorphic orange cat. On the other hand, it’s tough to understand what is exactly Twistian about this adaptation since it changes the character considerably. Oddly enough, the Swedish television mini-series Olivia Twist already saw the main character changed into a young girl (and featured Michael Nyquist from the Dragon Tattoo movies), but Olivia Twisted sounds like something with vodka product tie-ins and Hot Topic t-shirts ready for print. But look on the bright side! I’m sure it will be as subtly clever and politically acute as Dickens intended! Now someone go grab everyone who went out for a sandwich [Due to Content Scraping and Theft, we have been forced to try abbreviated feeds. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and woud very much appreciate you clicking through to view the full article on FilmSchoolRejects.com]

Amidst the many things from stage to screen keeping him busy, Ralph Fiennes will be cuddling up to Charles Dickens for two film projects. According to The Daily Mail, he’ll be taking a second shot at directing with The Invisible Woman – a film telling the story of the author’s affair with an 18-year-old girl (when he was at the ripe young age of 45). He’s been meeting with actresses like Imogen Poots, Abbie Cornish and Felicity Jones, but the entire project is still in its earliest phases. There’s always the possibility that he’ll act while directing (like he did with Coriolanus), but at this stage it’s unlikely that he’ll star as Dickens. While he’s aiming to shoot that next Spring or Summer, he’ll be facing Dickens first this Fall as he plays Abel Magwitch in Mike Newell’s adaptation of Great Expectations. More Fiennes is never a bad thing, and if he can deliver on the directing front with the same power he did in his first outing, he may start hearing his name up for awards for work behind the camera as well as in front of it. In the short term, though, it looks like he’ll be responsible for a new resurgence in Dickensian work. Apparently Voldemort is extremely well-read.

Will Disney’s A Christmas Carol worm it’s way into your hearts and homes and become as much of a holiday staple as rum balls and spotted dick are now? Rob Hunter answers this and more…