Disney Plus doing Jilly Cooper's Rivals

[countrylifer]

This is just the best news. I've been waiting for an adaptation of Rivals since I first fell in love with the bounder Rupert C-B in circa 1997.

But the question is who will play him? I can't think of anyone off the top of my head who can fill those boots - any suggestions?

Ooo will have to make dsd set up her Disney account on the living room tv. Or show me how to get it (technology isn't my strong point, I only can work Netflix because my dd set it up)

I think they need to rework the story a little, especially the ages otherwise it's a bit ick in the 2020's (we were more naive in the 1990's)

I'm thinking Daniel Craig but 15 years younger ... not sure who ..,

I also thought of Colin Farrell for Declan. Alex Pettyfer for Rupert maybe?

My next door neighbour would make a perfect Valerie Jones. She's not an actor but she'd just need to be herself...

I'd hate to cast this! Everyone will already have created images of the characters and they'll be so different! Still can't wait tho!

I've been watching Station Eleven and Mackenzie Davis would be a good Taggie. She's very tall and willowy and pretty.

I've just finished re-reading Polo for the 7,536th time which sort of overlaps the Rivals timescales so this is AMAZING news.

I'm going to enjoy fantasy casting!!

Mackenzie Foy would be a really good Taggie, if she can do a decent Irish accent.

Did Taggie have an Irish accent though? Maybe just Declan? It's been ages since I've read it however so my memory isn't great. I think I might have to dig my copy out again

You may be right - I think the family had lived in London for ages hadn’t they? So maybe she’d sound more English. Mackenzie Foy is American though so would need an accent either way!

I am so so so excited about this!

This is my 50 shades of grey.

I can see I’ve found my people.

last yr a friend of a friend (scriptwriter) turned down a Jilly Cooper adaptation. He wouldn’t say which. We were absolutely livid with him.

this is great news. I cannot wait. Who will be Bas? Marty Glukstein? Dame Enid? Wesley Emerson? Billy & Janey? Eeeeek

id kill to be the casting director. Or productions designer. That’s what I’d love to do. Even props.

I wish Julie Andrew’s could be Mrs Makepiece

Tom Ellis as Bas
Sheridan Smith as Lizzie Vereker
Keeley Hawes as Monica Baddingham

I still can't think of a Rupert!

@AgathaMystery To be fair I think we’d be happy to do the tea and mop the floors!

Fern Britton always gives me Lizzie Vereker vibes

I agree with PP about James Norton for RCB and Jodie Comer for Cameron.

what about Holliday Grainger for Aggie although possibly too old now?

Or Daisy Edgar Jones for Aggie?

Good shout

Is Paul Bettany good looking enough to be Rupert, do you think?

This is very exciting news.

I hope they have a big disclaimer at the start ‘Attitudes displayed in this programme reflect the values and opinions of another time which some people may find utterly shocking. This programme contains scenes of misogyny and all sorts of other terrible things, but we don’t care because it’s fucking ace’ and then stick to the novel as closely as possible.

Damien Lewis could be Declan. With Maud's hair.

I thought of him but I don't think he's quite handsome enough.

He could certainly curl his upper lip in a delicious sneer, though.

Millie Brady (aethelflaed) from Last Kingdom as Taggie?

Oooh I like that Taggie idea. Great news - only hope JC herself is getting some £££, so many happy hours reading her books.

@theMedicinalPorpoise - yessss
Clive Owen!