Sometimes I wonder about actors choices, I really do. Colin Firth and Rupert Everett have signed up to the St. Trinian's film which will be Ealing Studio's new version of the classic British comedy franchise from the fifties and sixties.

Barnaby Thompson will direct, making his debut, alongside Oliver Parker his regular collaborator. It is written by Piers Ashworth and Nick Moorcroft and apart from Firth and Everett we'll also see Emily Watson and comedian Russell Brand all star in the film.

Watson will play the main teacher, Everett double roles of the cross-dressing headistress and her evil minded brother and Brand will play the local crook called Flash Harry.

According to Variety the cast will also include:

Caterina Murino ("Casino Royale"), Jodie Whittaker ("Venus"), Talulah Riley and Tamsin Egerton; Richard E. Grant and Stephen Fry do cameos.

Oh I hold my head and shake it in despair. Now not content with watching Hollywood churn out remakes, the UK industry has decided to turn on itself and eat its ancestors too. It's not like we have a burgeoning industry crammed with originality.

I predict either blandness or embarassing awfulness. Just remember the revisit to the Carry on franchise, and the one that is still in the works.