Variety has announced one of Keira Knightley's next projects — a movie titled Never Let Me Go. And yet, even though the movie's plot description is completely the same as that of the Kazuo Ishiguro novel by the same title, neither Ishiguro nor the novel is mentioned in the article, as though the film is not an adaptation of this book. Hmmm . . .
Produced by Fox Searchlight, the film is described as a sci-fi thriller revolving "around a trio who grew up in a boarding school with no contact or knowledge of the outside world until they discover they are clones grown for the sole purpose of organ donation." That definitely matches the plot of the never-mentioned book, so I have to assume they're related somehow.
If so, I'm picturing Knightley as Kathy H., the reflective main character. She's thoughtful and wistful — both characteristics I associate with Knightley — and the sci-fi elements of the book are relatively subtle, so it shouldn't pull Knightley too far out of her comfort zone. I thought the book told a beautiful and haunting story, but I'm not 100 percent sold on it as a movie — what about you? If you've read the book, could you see Knightley in the role?
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I LOVE this book! I could see her doing a great job as the main girl. I wonder who the guy will be.
1I absolutely loooooved this book and think that Keira would make a pretty good Kathy. I'm also pretty excited to hear that she's doing a film that isn't a period piece.
I wouldn't consider the book a "sci-fi thriller," though. I think it's a drama that just happens to take place in a dystopian society. There are sci-fi aspects to the story, but it's not a full-on sci-fi story by any means. It was mostly character-driven. I hope they don't make the film into a sci-fi special effects movie.
2Actually, I could see Keira playing Ruth more than I can see her playing Kathy. But I still think she'd be good as Kathy.
3I think its very very fishy that the neither the book nor the author are mentioned. I mean, come on.
4I've never read the book, but it sounds like something I might like...also can't picture Keira doing anything other than her usual period dramas, but it will be nice to see her outside of her comfort zone. I think she's a wonderful actress, and I'd defintiely like to see (and read) this.
5i think that it's great that she's got a new type of movie in the mix - since she's always doing period pieces which she's GREAT at. i can't wait to hear more about this film and who else is going to be in it
6that book is easily the most disturbing book I have ever read.
7i didn't the book was disturbing, just really slow and dull. i thought it would've been better with the subject material. i hope the movie's much better.
8If this is based on that novel, I can so easily see her playing Ruth, but I think she can pull off Kathy. I wonder who'll play Tommy...
I think that the book was a good read, it's haunting and contemplative, and not fast-paced necessarily and I think considering the situation/circumstances, the author finished it realistically (although I wish for a different one).
9Oh Carey Mulligan and Andrew Garfield are also signed, so I'm assuming that Mulligan is Ruth while Garfield is Tommy.
10I've never read the book but the description makes me want to. Weird that they didn't mention the movie's ties with the book... maybe they will soon.
11this sounds a lot like the Island, with Ewan and Scarlett, except at a boarding school.
12I never saw The Island but it looked like a big-budget action film. This is totally not.
The book was released the same year as The Island, though.
13Hmm. Could be worse. Though I saw Kathy as more of a round-faced blonde.
14Yeah, it has somewhat similarity to the concept of The Island (never seen it but the preview of it), BUT, not really.
15It's not an action-oriented..or so I think (I dunno how they're going to make the movie into).
Love good sci-fi movies. Hmmm. So pretty excited for this one.
cannot wait
16i never heard of this book but sounds interesting i'm adding it to my reading it after i finish the SHopaholic series ;p
17for me the movie had a lot more to do with adolescence / what should be adolescence for clones. i definitely wouldn't be so quick to call it a sci-fi thriller; it was more haunting than frightening.
18A quick Google search reveals that it's on Time's 100 All-Time novels list (1923-2005). Given that "Never Let Me Go" came out in the same year as this list it seems likely they just wanted a representative from that year. That said, it still seems interesting enough to queue up on the reading list
19It'll be interesting to see how they differentiate this movie from bringing to many parallels from The Island.
20Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't this done already as the Ewan McGregor film, "The Island"?
21The book is absolutely devastating – I never imagined they’d make a movie out of it, esp in the wake of the more big-budget action mess that was The Island.
Part of me would prefer they kept away from the novel – its so subtle and rich, which is Ishiguro’s style.
But yeah, its very very odd that the article doesn’t even mention the novel at all. Very suspicious.
22She is the perfect actress for this movie. When i was reading the book, thought her. PERFECT CASTING
23She is the perfect actress for this movie. When i was reading the book, thought her. PERFECT CASTING
24I mean, though of her
25Everyone keeps mentioning The Island - the book came out the same year as that movie, so it is NOT a knockoff. And The Island was a big budget special effects movie, and this book is NOT the same.
26I was gonna say, sounds a lot like The Island...
but nevermind
27I JUST bought this book because I read an interview where Joss Whedon and Tahmoh Penikett mentioned it in relation to Dollhouse. What weird timing.
28Wait, you mean she's not playing a prudish British girl from the 19th or early 20th century? Shocking.
29They mentioned this book in relation to DollHouse? How is it related?
30Nevaeh1978: I don't think that they are really related. I think it is just that they both feature young folks sequestered away and pampered, but they only exist for others' benefit--but I haven't read NLMG yet.
31Keira's so talented she can handle anything. And it is nice not to see her in a period piece.
32This movie has already been made. It was called "The Island," starred Ewan McGregor and Scarlett Johannsen, and bombed in America. Ring a bell to anyone else?
33I LOVE Kazuo! I wrote my undergrad thesis on him.
It is definitely NOT the island. He's a beautiful, beautiful writer. "Remains of the Day" and "The Unconsoled" are my favorite books of his.
If they ripped off his idea, they'd better be paying him royalties.
PS
34Kazuo Ishiguro's new book, "Nocturnes" comes out in May
PS
He is seriously a wonderful writer
35There is two other movies like this that I know of:
36'Gattaca' and 'The Island'
I really don't think we need another one, 'Gattaca' and 'The Island' probably got the idea off 'Never Let Me Go' anyway.
On the other hand, Keira Knightley is in it so I will watch it anyway, it will be cool to see her do something other than period pieces, maybe she's widening her horizon's a bit considering she also has Last Night to be realesed later this year.
Look forward to it, I haven't read the book or anything, actually I had never heard of 'Never Let Me Go' until recently but does anyone else think that it might have the same eerie feeling as 'The Hole' with Keira and Thora Birch?? I mean this is probably going to be somewhat better but hopefully you know what Im saying! =]
I read Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro; it is one of the greatest novels I have ever read. Although my friend disagrees, and believes it to be a scab of 'The Island', I still think that this book is fantastic. I can so see Kiera Knightly playing Kathy H. In my mind, someone like Luke Wilson would characterise Tommy well.
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