David Farnor | On 03, Dec 2020

Netflix has unearthed the first trailer for The Dig, starring Ralph Fiennes and Carey Mulligan.

As WWII looms, a wealthy widow (Carey Mulligan) hires an amateur archaeologist (Ralph Fiennes) to excavate the burial mounds on her estate. When they make a historic discovery, the echoes of Britain’s past resonate in the face of its uncertain future‎.

Based on the popular novel by John Preston, the film co-stars Lily James, Johnny Flynn, Ben Chaplin, Ken Stott and Monica Dolan. You can see them in action in select UK cinemas on 15th January on Netflix worldwide on 29th January.

Here’s the trailer:

 

The Dig is available on Netflix UK, as part of an £9.99 monthly subscription.

 

First look: Carey Mulligan and Ralph Fiennes in Netflix’s The Dig

29th October 2020

Carey Mulligan and Ralph Fiennes are heading to Netflix for The Dig, a new British film about a notorious archaeological dig.

The film is adapted from the popular novel by John Preston and charts the momentous discovery of the Anglo-Saxon burial ship at Sutton Hoo, known as “Britain’s Tutankhamun”. Set against the intense backdrop of a Britain on the eve of World War II, the story channels class tensions, love and loss through the eyes of those affected by the dig and its treasures, including Edith Pretty (Carey Mulligan) the widowed landowner of the state the burial mounds are on and Basil Brown (Ralph Fiennes) the amateur archaeologist she hires to excavate their secrets.

With a screenplay by Moira Buffini (Tamara Drewe, Jane Eyre) and Simon Stone (The Daughter) at the helm, the talent behind the camera is just as interesting as the talent in front. But that’s nothing to sniff at either, with the star-studded ensemble including Lily James, Johnny Flynn, Ben Chaplin, Ken Stott and Monica Dolan.

Here’s your first look at them in action:

 

Johnny Flynn, Ben Chaplin, Ken Stott, Monica Dolan join Netflix’s The Dig

16th October 2019

Production is now underway on Netflix’s new original film The Dig, and the movie is rounding out its cast with a wave of British talent.

Johnny Flynn, Ben Chaplin, Ken Stott and Monica Dolan have all joined the cast of the film, which is based on the book by John Preston. Written by Moira Buffini and directed by Simon Stone (The Daughter), it follows a wealthy widow who, as WWII looms, hires an amateur archaeologist to excavate the burial mounds on her estate. When they make a historic discovery, the echoes of Britain’s past resonate in the face of its uncertain future.

Carey Mulligan (An Education, Wildlife) and Ralph Fiennes (The White Crow, The Grand Budapest Hotel) have already signed up to star, alongside Lily James (Rebecca, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again). Now, that impressive trio has been joined by the equally impressive supporting line-up of Johnny Flynn (Emma, Beast), Ben Chaplin (Apple Tree Yard, Mad Dogs), Ken Stott (Café Society, The Hobbit) and Monica Dolan (Eye In The Sky, A Very English Scandal).

The film is produced by Gabrielle Tana for Magnolia Mae Films (Philomena, The Duchess), with #Ellie Wood, Murray Ferguson and Carolyn Marks Blackwoo producing alongside Tana and Remond Morris on board as a co-producer.

The film is currently in production in the UK and will be released worldwide by Netflix in 2020

 

Lily James and Carey Mulligan to star in Netflix’s Dig

7th September 2019

Lily James is in talks to star alongside Carey Mulligan in Netflix’s Dig.

The period drama, which is set at the turn of the Second World War, is based on the true story of a widow who has a hunch that her land contains buried riches – a hunch that turns out to be correct.

The project first started out at BBC Films, reports THR with Nicole Kidman attached in the lead role. Now, it has migrated to Netflix where it is being set up with Carey Mulligan to star as Edith Pretty. She will co-star with Ralph Fiennes as Basil BRown, a local archaeologist who works with her – until museum curators push him out.

Lily James (pictured above in the BBC’s War & Peace) is now in talks to board the project, specifically to play Peggy Preston, an archaeological student. While working on the dig, she becomes disillusioned with the domineering men, but forms a friendship with both Pretty and Brown.

James, like Mudbound star Carey Mulligan, is no stranger to Netflix, having most recently worked on the streaming giant’s adaptation of Rebecca, alongside Armie Hammer and directed by Ben Wheatley.

Dig is directed by Simon Stone (The Daughter) and is produced by Gabrielle Tana (Philomena, The Invisible Woman) producing. Production is expected to begin in 2020.

 

Photo: BBC – Photographer: Mitch Jenkins

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