The return of The Last Unicorn

It appears that the much beloved animated feature film of the 1980s will finally be re-made into a live action feature film. The story will be based on the original book by Peter S. Beagle, not on the animated film whose screenplay, though written by Mr. Beagle himself, was altered slightly.

Fans will be pleased to learn that actors from the original voice cast plan to bring to life their original roles. Christopher Lee, by now the main man to play famous baddies (Count Dooku in Star Wars Episodes 2 and 3, Saruman in the Lord of the Rings trilogy), will reprise his role as King Haggard. Angela Lansbury, nearly as eternal as Mr Lee himself, will play Mommy Fortuna again. Mia Farrow, who lent her voice to the Unicorn and Lady Amalthea, will not play the young girl Amalthea again (for obvious reasons), but will take up the role of Molly Grue, the lady who has lost her youth yet instinctively recognizes a unicorn when she finally sees one.

Jonathan Rhys-Meyers - many will remember him as the Irish coach with piercing blue eyes in Bend It Like Beckham - will play Schmendrick the Magician, although rumors had pegged him for the endearing role of Prince Lir.

The two main roles remain to be filled. Who will play the Lady Amalthea (no doubt the Unicorn will be created by CGI) and Prince Lir?

All will be revealed when the film opens in December, 2004. This is good news for Lord of the Rings fans - originally, many believed they would spend their days contemplating the chasm left after the trilogy wraps up at the end of 2003. Now, for those who have loved these two classic tales, there will be another film to embrace, another soundtrack to be played again and again, more paraphernalia to be whipped up and another year of anxious waiting.

In the mean time, you can read all about the movie from the official site here.

And if you haven't read the book, now's the time to do so.

Posted by Monoceros at March 6, 2003 1:54 PM