James R | On 05, Apr 2021

Andrea Riseborough, Stephen Graham and Sindhu Vee are the latest impressive names to join the cast of Netflix’s co-produced adaptation of the stage musical Matilda.

Written by Dennis Kelly with songs and lyrics by Tim Minchin, the stage show tells the story of an extraordinary girl who, armed with a sharp mind and a vivid imagination, dares to take a stand to change her story with miraculous results. The film is being produced by Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner of Working Title, Jon Finn, and Luke Kelly of The Roald Dahl Story Company with Netflix distributing worldwide except in the UK where TriStar Pictures will initially distribute it theatrically.

Newcomer Alisha Weir will play Matilda, while Emma Thompson will play Miss Trunchbull and Lashana Lynch will play Miss Honey. Now, they’ve got some added company, with Andrea Riseborough and Stephen Graham to play Mrs Wormwood and Mr Wormwood, Matilda’s parents. Sindu Vee will play librarian Mrs Phelps.

 

Emma Thompson, Lashana Lynch to star in Netflix’s Matilda

15th January 2021

Emma Thompson and Lashana Lynch have joined the cast of Netflix’s Matilda.

The film is an adaptation of the Tony and Olivier award-winning musical, written by Dennis Kelly with songs and lyrics by Tim Minchin. It tells the story of an extraordinary girl who, armed with a sharp mind and a vivid imagination, dares to take a stand to change her story with miraculous results. The film is being produced by Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner of Working Title, Jon Finn, and Luke Kelly of The Roald Dahl Story Company with Netflix distributing worldwide except in the UK where TriStar Pictures will distribute theatrically in the UK.

Reports earlier this year suggests that Ralph Fiennes might be in the running to play the fearsome headteacher Miss Trunchbull, but now, Netflix has confirmed that national treasure Emma Thompson has taken the role. Lashana Lynch will play Miss Honey, while newcomer Alisha Weir will play Matilda.

Director Matthew Warchus says: “Matilda will be an imaginative and fresh retelling of the award-winning musical, Matilda, featuring talented young newcomers, alongside established stars. I look forward to introducing this beloved and powerful story to a new generation of fans around the world.”

 

Ralph Fiennes in talks to play Miss Trunchbull in Netflix’s Matilda

4th May 2020

Ralph Fiennes is reportedly in talks to play Miss Trunchbull in Netflix’s upcoming movie based on the musical Matilda.

Roald Dahl’s 1988 children’s novel is a classic favourite among young people and adults alike, with its empowering story of a bookworm prodigy who is mistreated and undervalued by her parents and bullied by her headmistress. In 2011, the book found new life in a stage adaptation by Dennis Kelly with songs and lyrics by Tim Minchin. It has been running in London’s West End ever since, with a stint on Broadway too, where it picked up four Tony Awards.

At the start of the year, THR reported that Netflix was teaming up with Sony Pictures to bring the production to the screen, with Old Vic Theatre artistic director Matthew Warchus – who directed the stage musical, as well as 2014’s Pride – attached to direct and Kelly attached to pen the screenplay.

Now, the project has reportedly found one of its stars, with The Daily Mail and Deadline reporting that Fiennes is in talks to play Miss Trunchbull. It has also been reported by other outlets that Jodie Comer may play Matilda’s teacher, Miss Honey.

 

Netflix and Sony Pictures team up for Matilda musical adaptation

29th January 2020

Netflix and Sony Pictures are teaming up for a movie adaptation of Matilda the musical, reports The Hollywood Reporter.

Dahl’s 1988 children’s novel is a classic favourite among young people and adults alike, with its empowering story of a bookworm prodigy who is mistreated and undervalued by her parents and bullied by her headmistress. In 2011, the book was brought to the stage, adapted by Dennis Kelly with songs and lyrics by Tim Minchin. It has been running in London’s West End ever since, with a stint on Broadway too, where it picked up four Tony Awards. Now, it’s heading to the big screen, reports THR.

Netflix, for its part, is racking up a string of movie adaptations of musicals, including Tick, Tick…Boom! and The Prom. It also has a deal with the Roald Dahl estate to bring the author’s stories and characters to the screen, although this Matilda project is separate to that.

Instead, it steams from Sony’s focus on co-productions with streaming services, as its TriStar division looks to partner with them to make projects that can share costs while maintaining exclusivity on the rights: in the UK, where the musical is a hot ticket, Sony can benefit from theatrical and potentially home entertainment rights, while Netflix can capitalise on a pre-existing brand for streaming in the rest of the world. A similar deal was made between Netflix and New Line for 2019’s Shaft sequel, which streamed worldwide two weeks after its US cinema release, and A24’s Uncut Gems, which will stream on Netflix UK from Friday 31st January, after its release in cinemas in the UK and US earlier this month.

The exact details of the deal are still being hammered out, says THR, with representatives of each company not officially commenting on the news. The project, though, reportedly has a director already lined up, with Old Vic Theatre artistic director Matthew Warchus – who directed the stage musical, as well as 2014’s Pride – at the helm. Kelly will reportedly write the screenplay.

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