Emma Watson Replaces Scarlett "Too Old" Johansson In Film

Emma Watson, aka Hermione from the "Harry Potter" films, landed a plum role in an upcoming movie after Scarlett Johansson was deemed overage:

"Harry Potter" heroine Emma Watson is attached to star in the period romance "Napoleon and Betsy," replacing Scarlett Johansson who was deemed too old for the role.

Watson, 18, will play Betsy Balcombe, a young, impetuous noblewoman trapped on the isolated British island of St. Helena who falls in love with Napoleon, who has been exiled there.

Johansson, 23, is still serving as a producer. The indie project comes from writer-director Benjamin Ross.

Watson is known for her role as Hermione Granger in Warner Bros.' "Harry Potter" films, and is completing filming on the sixth installment, "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince."

With filming of the last chapter, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," scheduled to commence in early 2009, Watson hopes to shoot "Napoleon and Betsy" in the fall.

In other Watson news, she turned 18 this week, on April 15. Along with that birthday came access to her substantial "Harry Potter" money: about $20 million in earnings:

Emma Watson, the actress who has played Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter films since she was 12, gained access to a cool £10.5 million worth of earnings after coming of age this week...

Her parents are reported to be among a select, but growing, band of mothers and fathers taking steps to ensure that their wealthy teenagers don't blow their fortunes on sex, drugs and rock'n'roll by enrolling her in an intensive three-day financial education course run by the private bank Coutts.

Comments

[LeftLeanWing]

In The First Wives Club, Goldie Hawn's character states that there are three ages for women in Hollywood "Babe, District Attorney and Driving Miss Daisy"

[MTiffany]

Yeah, but that was the 90's. Now the three ages for women in Hollywood are "Tween Hooker, One-Too-Many Abortions Hooker, and Anne Coulter"

[Sumocat]

All the knowledge of the world at our fingertips and no one else bothered to look up the age of the role?

"The exiled emperor and a 14-year-old English girl: now it's a Hollywood affair"
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2006/apr/02/film.filmnews

Yeah, in real life, the girl met Napoleon when she was 14. Nothing controversial about wanting someone under 20 to play that role.

[trinity]

Emma has access to her $20 million on her 18th birthday, by her 20th, she'll be broke and on some stupid reality show.

[Pennsylvanianne]

Both she and her parents are too smart to let that happen. And besides, she is not a resident of Hollywood, which encourages young people to self-destruct as a kind of sideshow.

[eXcommunicate]

Um, the role calls for an 18 year old. What is the problem here? Scarlett Johansson will have plenty of roles to play.

[RanTheMan]

The fact that Johansson comes off older than she is, is a testament to he ability and maturity.

Besides, I'm tired of watching American actors faking British accents, and vice versa.

Watson is better for the role for that reason, more than the "age" thing.

[woundedduck]

...and don't forget her huge tomatoes. Those lend maturity, too.

[urbanscorpio88]

I am too shocked. Emma cant hold a candle to Scarlett and she can't act either, anyone seen the Harry Potter films, where she over acts everything.

[JGatsby]

Well, its pretty subjective but I think Emma does just fine in Harry Potter and while I agree that Scarlett is quite beautiful I don't think she is that great of an actress. She was awful IMHO in The Black Dahlia. The only movies I thought she excelled in were Ghost World and Lost in Translation, both when she was still a girl.

[MikeDu]

Scarlett in those two Woody Allen films... Sorry, it seemed she couldn't act her way out of a paper bag! Ms. Johanson's 'problem' is she hasn't got the chops to be a 'star' and she hasn't got the range to be a character actress. She's mostly famous because she was busty when she was 18. that's a career path several now-forgotten actresses have followed.

[gurukalehuru]

Lighten up, folks. The powers that be apparently decided that 23 was too old to play an 18 year old. Makes sense to me.

[lowry99]

it is a touch ironic, considering that Scarlett was playing...­what was it? I think a 23 year old in "Lost in Translation" when she was 18!

[AnnArky]

correction: 18 "is too young". 23 is mature.

[AnnArky]

Correction: 23 is Too Young. In other words, Emma Watson is too young/green to play anything Scarlett would obviously excel at.

[Maplebird]

Ah, welcome to Hollywood, where you can be washed up before age 25 (but only if you are female - if you're a guy, you can milk it until you're in your fifties, no problem).
We need some movies that show women of all ages for who they are - smart, sexy, funny, colourful and amazing people. I cannot think of such a movie in recent memory, which is why I don't go to the movies anymore: I am not represented there. I cannot see any of myself reflected on that screen, and it bothers the hell out of me. Things have got to change before I set foot in a theatre anytime soon.

[BigCheese]

OK grandma, lemme see if I have this straight..­.

1. Scarlett Johansson is a "washed up" actress because she is to old to play an 18 year old character.

2. You're not familiar with any recent films that feature older women as smart, sexy, funny, colourful (and don't forget AMAZING!) because you don't go to the theater any more.

3. The reason you don't go to the theater is because Hollywood doesn't make movies about characters that are exactly like you. Great stories, fine craftsmanship and thought-provoking ideas don't enter the equation. You just want stories about you.

4. You would consider going back to the theater if movies with these characters did exist, but of course, you would never know if it did happen since you don't go to the theater.

Frankly, I'm shocked that Hollywood isn't taking your demands seriously. Perhaps you just haven't complained enough. I recommend starting an online petition.

[JaneaneTheAcerbicGoblin]

23 is too old? Man, this world is more fucked up that I imagined.

[wilhelmR]

23 and she is too old? What a crazy world!