Still no release date for “Effie Gray”; cast may not have been paid

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For months the fate of Emma Thompson’s film Effie Gray has been in limbo. The film’s makers are currently embroiled in litigation with Gregory Murphy, a playwright who claims that Thompson drew inspiration from his play The Countess. This has lead to the cancellation of the film’s premiere at the Cannes Film Festival last May. Now, the Telegraph has reported that a line in the terms and conditions of the contracts of the film’s actors may have prevented them from being paid for their performances.

The article explains that the line in question “stated that ‘the talent’ would be remunerated ‘largely by way of profit share, rather than standard substantial upfront fees’. When Sir Alec Guinness entered into an arrangement of this kind for Star Wars, it made him a multi-millionaire, but, getting on for three years since it was filmed, I fancy that the members of Effie Gray‘s cast are unlikely to be laughing all the way to the bank.

However, the article does state that

“Donald Rosenfeld, the film’s producer, insists that all the actors have been paid ‘in full’. Spokesmen for Robbie Coltrane and Russell Tovey – who are both in the cast – declined to talk about their arrangements. David Suchet’s agent said, however, that she ensured he got his money up front.”

Effie Gray tells the story of John Ruskin and his unconsummated marriage to his teenage bride, Euphemia “Effie” Gray. Ruskin was arguably the most influencial art critic of the Victorian era; he also served as art master to Alice Liddell, the real-life inspiration for Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There.

The screenplay for Effie Gray was written by Emma Thompson (who portrays Lady Eastlake and also produced the film) and stars Greg Wise as Ruskin, Dakota Fanning as Effie, and Potter alumni Robbie Coltrane and Julie Walters.

First it was Emma Watson’s newest film Noah causing controversy, and now the film of another Potter alumna is causing a stir. Are you interesting in seeing Effie Gray if/when it hits theaters? Let us know below!