>>764 Just to play devil's advocate, it also could be that in the May 2016 interview Tom was stretching the truth (as we've discussed recently). That said, and to clarify some of my earlier comments about this, I do think it's possible that he and KB have been discussing this possibility for as long as they've been working together. But I don't think Tom would really have been anywhere near ready for the role until now (and it's interesting that Branagh referred to this being Tom's "first time" in this title role - he might be thinking Tom will do it again someday).
>>777 Agree strongly that it's a shame that, if this project was planned pre-Tayto, it's now slightly tainted by his need to restore his reputation. How different would some reactions have been if this had been produced last May?
Welcome back, Coach! Enjoy the beach.
>>764 He doesn't seem to say that in this podcast (I only listened to his segment - minus the singing! - so it could be in another part). Maybe he said it in another interview. Without insider info it's hard to say when this was decided. I personally don't think this was seven or 1+ years in the making. They probably have always talked about doing a stage production together but the very unusual nature of this one (utterly stacked in favor of TH: charity, short run, difficult to review, hot ticket in town) makes me think it is a quickly constructed response to Tayto.
No Yours Truly and LW might be explained by the fact that he didn't do any press. I have a feeling (an awful one!) they'll be back come Nov. promo. Is it time for another board prayer circle? Or an exorcism?
>>769 Unknown, we've all disagreed on this board. We're still here. And we can handle the negative. ;)
>>779 We've talked about how he went from hero to zero with Elle. It was somewhat repeated with the Guardian during Tayto. GQ seems to be his go-to now. How fickle is magazine.
>>784,786 Yep. If only TH could have parlayed Tayto like Taffy did that article.
When I asked how long everyone thought this had been in the planning, I hadn't forgotten the interview last year in which he said he had another Shakespeare project in mind.
I am not sure that this was necessarily that project. It could have been something quite different (maybe it was poor old James Ivory's Richard II, who knows!).
I have to say that I share Anon.'s view that this feels like something of fairly recent date. TH showed relatively little interest in his alma mater previously, and I think these RADA sightings started in spring this year (possibly with the KSI screening there in early March). I wonder if somebody planted the seed then. He has been seen in the vicinity a number of times since.