 Early rumors regarding casting included Richard Burton (I) (qv)  and Elizabeth Taylor (I) (qv) as Bill and Nancy, and either  Laurence Harvey (I) (qv) or Peter Sellers (qv) as Fagin; though  eventually Ron Moody (qv) was asked to reprise his stage role.  Jack Wild (I) (qv) had played one of Fagins boys in the London  production, but was now old enough to play the Artful Dodger.  Shani Wallis (qv) finally won the role of Nancy nearly a year  after first auditioning when she demonstrated an acceptable Cockney  accent 