Stop the presses! The Fanning sisters — yes, both Dakota and Elle — have dropped out of the film adaptation of Jodi Picoult's novel My Sister's Keeper. Now Abigail Breslin will play the role of Anna (previously given to Elle), the girl who sues her parents for medical emancipation. Sofia Vassilieva is in talks to take Dakota's role of Kate, Anna's sick older sister.
According to Variety, "Sources said Dakota Fanning balked at a request that she shave her head for the role and both sisters withdrew abruptly."
Hooray for Abigail Breslin! There was some uneasiness about the Fannings playing these sisters in the first place, and now, well, Dakota can keep her hair and we can see Breslin take this role and run with it. This project, which is dear to many hearts due to the sentimental subject matter, deserves good casting choices.
Now all we need is someone to replace Cameron Diaz as the girls' mother. Who would you choose for that role?
Kookai
Claudie Pierlot
Roberto Cavalli
Couldn't they give her one of those bald cap things? They look pretty real nowadays!
1To expect a 13 year old girl to shave her head is a bit out there... I mean it's one thing to ask Natalie when she's in her 20's or Demi in her 30s to shave her head... but a tween!!?? That's extreme. I'm sure they'll find some confident tween that'll be up for it and I'll have TONS of respect for her doing that at such an awkward age
2Damnit. They would've been FANTASTIC in that film. I love the book.
I didn't like the idea of Cameron Diaz as the mother, anyway. She isn't a serious enough actress.
I'm not sure who I would choose. I'd have to give it some thought...
3i see both sides of this one.
having been bald at ten due to chemo i can understand fanning's reticence to do this. whoever plays kate will likely spend some time with my generational counterparts in an oncology setting. loss of hair is just a part of being sick and probably an important part of researching kate's character.
however, it is just hair, and even though it took a little time for me when i was 10 to understand i eventually did. i was provided a wig to wear to try and maintain my hairstyle and i only wore it for a few weeks and at the request of others when i was around my classmates. otherwise i never wore it.
4Oh poor Cameron! She can be great in dramatic roles: Being John Malkovich, Gangs of New York. I haven't read the book though, so I don't know who'd be a good replacement. Seems like Cameron would've been a fitting mother for the blond Fanning's. Maybe not as good for Abigail and Sofia. Additionally, I have a hard time believing Dakota dropped out due to a head shave, certainly SHE had read the book. All in all, it'll be interesting to see how this movie turns out.
5oh, mom actresses... i forgot that part.
kate winslet would be good in the role. laura linney, toni collette (nice little miss sunshine reunion), mena suvari is too young but maybe... what about mira sorvino? catherine keener, charlize, carrie ann moss, hillary swank...
basically anyone but cameron diaz. even bring back ally mcbeal over cam!
6Eh, I'm kind of over the Fanning hype anyway- she can't be in *everything*! I really like Sofia Vassilieva on Medium, she reminds me so much of my own dtr. So now I really want to see this!
7i agree with the bald cap thing...but oh well. at least now the actresses playing the main roles are around the proper ages of the characters in the book. now if only they could get cameron diaz to quit the film...
8I agree with a lot of your picks, ovenmitt. I think Kate Winslet would be the best out of all of the actresses you mentioned!
9I agree that for this movie Abgail and Sofia are a better fit. As for Cameron's replacement I think Kate Winslet was an excellent suggestion, as well as Toni Collette... I also think Brooke Shields or Reese Witherspoon would do well
10Ovenmitt, did your wig come from Locks of love?
I donated to them
a couple of years ago and will do it again when my hair is long enough and I am ready for a hair style change again. They're wonderful. 
11Well, I'm glad it seems she really is allowed to be a little girl to an extent. That's such a little girl thing to do!
12This book was amazing, and I hope the screen adaptation does it justice.
13Oh, yes, Laura Linney and Kate Winslet would be fantastic!
14cameron diaz isn't motherly enough. I hope they do this book justice
15God I hope this movie gets scrapped entirely. Whether it's the Fannings or Abigail Breslin and the other girl, they've made the girls waaaay too young. The new actresses are an improvement, but I think for the story to make any sense at all (forget just being true to the book) the girls have to be 14 and 16. Making them younger just makes the emancipation idea absurd, and cuts out a lot of the great coming of age stuff there was in there.
16wow - is thatAbigail in the picture? she's grown up quite a bit. i think this is fantastic news and i might actually watch the movie now! i like the suggestion of laura linney
17Kate Winslet, Cate Blanchett, Rachel Weisz, truly great and accomplished dramatic actresses.
18I am so in the dark about this project.
19I can't really blame Dakota for not wanting to shave her head though.
With all the marvelous Hollywood make up I'm surprised its an issue.
Umm, and I love nyaradzom's selections. Especially Kate or Cate!
20Really, Dakota? You don't want to have your head shaved? Really? You're an actress. And if you won't commit to the character, then you certainly shouldn't play it.
21Rachel Weis. Definitely. That's my choice. I think she'd do a fantastic job.
22Good for her, I wouldn't shave my head either.
23Um, bald cap? Hello?
24Don't get me wrong, I love Abigail, but aren't all these girls too young? How old were the sisters in the novel? I thought they were around 13 and 16? These girls look more like 11 and 12 to me. Am I wrong?
Glad to see the Fannings out. I have nothing against Elle but Dakota is everywhere and I"m tired of her.
25I guess the majority haven't caught on yet...Abigail Breslin is the new Dakota Fanning. Dakota Fanning USED to be everywhere in...since 2006 she's only had 3 movies, and she only has 2 set for 2008. Breslin on the other hand had 8 projects in 2006, and 3 movies scheduled for 2008...just saying...it's pretty evident that one is just replacing the other...will be saying the same about a new little girl in 2009!!!
26Yeah, why wouldn't a 13 year old girl want to shave her head for a movie, when her bank account is already full.
27Their ages: Abigail Breslin is 11 (will be 12 in April). Sofia Vassilieva is 15.
28I can't believe Dakota wouldn't shave her head. Isn't she the one that was in a movie and raped? I'd rather shave my head then do that.
29Also, why did she take her sister out with her?
30Thank goodness! The Fannin sisters were not right for the roles at all! And Abigail is an amazing actress. Cameron Diaz just needs to get out of the role of the mother.
and are they sticking to the ages of the characters in the book?
31i still think the casting's a bit young. if abigail breslin plays the younger sister, then you'd need someone in their mid to late teens to play the older sister.
32I agree about trepidations about Cameron. But she was good in Being John Malkovich. I thought she also did a good job in Vanilla Sky, though not many people liked that movie. For this role, it would probably help to be a mother in real life, though. Anyways, I'll just wait and see before I say anything negative about her performance.
33GOOD for Dakota for not shaving her head! Kudos.
I have never understood why actresses do that for parts when they can blatantly use caps and make-up tricks to simulate the look of a bald head.
Actresses shaving heads for parts is unnecessary. Its just an attention thing.
34has any one seen that funny SNL skit about how dakota is so much smarter/mature/seasoned than abigail?
really puts into perspective how much of a good actress she is, and how unfair it was the abigail beat her to an oscar nod.
35Wooow. Dakota will play a character who gets raped, but she won't shave her head for a part?
Anyways, Abigail is a better actress. I'm glad both Fannings have been ousted.
36I love that the Fannings are out...never liked it (they didn't seem old enough or too young and overly mature). I think that Rachel Weiz or Laura Linney would be great...or Kate Winslet. Cameron just seems so young.
I hope they don't screw this book up.
37I can't blame her! I wouldn't want to shave my head at that age either. It sounds like she didn't know about getting shaved up front?? At least she isn't clamouring after all the money she can get!
38Abigale Breslin is talented to the MAX. I am very excited she is going to do something so powerful that will very likely reach a large audience. And I understand Dakota Fanning's choice to not shave her head. That is a drastic commitment and challange that not everyone is up for, epsecially someone who is so young. It was a wise choice for her to skip this project than to do it half-way.
39Dakota will play a character who gets raped, but she won't shave her head for a part?
Let's be frank here, although Fanning played a character that was raped in "Hound Dog", Fanning was not actually assaulted for the part, it was simulation. In the case of this movie the actress is required to ACTUALLY shave her head, NOT simulate head shavings...two totally and completely different things.
40This was one of the worst-written books I have ever read. I can only assume this will be one of the few movies that I might enjoy more than the book!
It would have been cute to have two sisters play the roles of sisters. I don't know why but I kind of doubt the only issue here is a shaved head.
41I really like Abigail Breslin so good for her.
42Exactly Bee, I don't get why people are so surprised she doesn't want to shave her head. SHE'S 13! What 13 year old girl would *really* want to shave her head?! She doesn't need the money, and at 13 shouldn't be expected to commit to a role if she doesn't want to.
43I don't want to knock Abigail, but I don't see wheres she's been so "wow". Any recommendations? I've seen Little Miss Sunshine.
I would have preferred the Fannings. Not a fan of Breslin altho that Sofia girl looks cute.
Anyways, I hope whichever one of them it is enjoys needlessly shaving their head!
44I see Kate Winslet as the Mom................ she was incredible in Little Children, a mom role.
45Wow, this is stirring quite the controversy!
46I agree that Kate Winslet would be amazing as the mother. I also love that Abigail Breslin is now it the movie! I can't wait until it comes out!
47You would think that they could do something with makeup so that she wouldn't have to actually shave her head
48I was thinking the same thing, kari.
49i am reading the book now! I did not know they were making it into a movie. I love Abigale she will go a wonderful job. It will be a new role for her. ( I am kinda over dakota)
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