Matthew Warchus to direct new Matilda film adaptation
UPDATE: On 5 January 2021, Variety reported that Lashana Lynch is in talks to play Miss Honey in Matilda. She will star in the upcoming James Bond movie No Time To Die, and has previously appeared in Captain Marvel.
Following his Olivier Award-winning directorial work for Matilda at the Cambridge Theatre, Matthew Warchus will direct a new film adaptation of the Roald Dahl story. In the pre-production stage, casting for Matilda will begin later this year, with information on a release date currently unknown.
Matilda returns to the silver screen
According to a casting call, Lucy Bevan Casting will audition children to feature in the second film adaptation of Matilda. In the casting call, they are "looking for girls and boys for the title role and key supporting roles... directed by Matthew Warchus and produced by Working Title Films".
For the role of Matilda, they are looking for a child aged 9 to 11 and no taller than 4'3", with Matilda's classmates to be aged 9 to 13 years old and no taller than 4'10".
Details on casting for adult roles in Matilda are currently unknown.
In the casting call, it states that rehearsals will take place in June 2020, with filming taking place from August to December 2020.
Ralph Fiennes to play Miss Trunchbull
Update (1st May): In a tweet by Daily Mail entertainment reporter Baz Bamigboye, it has been confirmed that Ralph Fiennes will play the role of Miss Trunchbull. He's no stranger to playing film antagonists, playing Lord Voldemort in the Harry Potter film series, but he's also given Academy Award-nominated performances in Schindler's List and The English Patient.
Fiennes' recent West End credits include The Master Builder at the Old Vic, the male titular role in Antony and Cleopatra and Bernard Shaw's Man and Superman, with the latter two staged at the National Theatre.
Matthew Warchus directs Matilda
Warchus will direct the upcoming film adaptation of Matilda, previously directing the Royal Shakespeare Company's musical adaptation which has ran at the Cambridge Theatre since 2011. Currently in his fifth season as artistic director at the Old Vic, Warchus has directed shows including the world premiere of Groundhog Day, Jack Thorne's A Christmas Carol and the 20th anniversary of Art.
He is also an award-winning film director, receiving the best director award at the 2014 British Independent Film Awards for Pride, starring Imelda Staunton, Andrew Scott and Dominic West.
The original film adaptation
The upcoming film adaptation of Matilda will be the second time the story has been told on screen. Mara Wilson starred as the title character in the 1996 film, directed by and starring Danny DeVito as Harry Wormwood, Matilda's father, with appearances by Pam Ferris, Embeth Davidtz and Rhea Perlman.
About Matilda
Matilda tells the story of a young schoolgirl, whose thirst for knowledge sees her take her own destiny, especially when she's bullied by her parents confronted by headmistress Miss Trunchbull. Forming a friendship with her teacher Miss Honey, Matilda takes a stand to change her own destiny, even if she has to be a bit naughty along the way.
Matilda tickets
Matilda is at the Cambridge Theatre.
Matilda tickets are available now.
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