Two-time Oscar winner Emma Thompson has joined Netflix Matilda the musicalwith the actress set to play the tyrannical headmistress Miss Trunchbull, a role Ralph Fiennes had previously played. The newcomer Alisha Weir has now also been won for the lead role of the talented bookworm that gives the title. Thompson and Weir join in No time to die and Captain Marvel Star Lashana Lynch, who pledged to play Miss Honey, the kind, inspiring teacher who becomes Matilda’s friend and confidante after taking the gifted boy under her wing.
💫 * Alisha Weir as Matilda * 💫
Emma * Emma Thompson as Miss Trunchbull * 💫
💫 * Lashana Lynch as Miss Honey * 💫
That’s magic. This is MATILDA. The musical adaptation by director Matthew Warchus comes to Netflix. pic.twitter.com/CcTbItI8TV
– NetflixFilm (@NetflixFilm) January 15, 2021
These Matilda The adaptation for Netflix is based on the musical stage version of Roald Dahl’s classic story, in which a young bookworm child prodigy fights with her parents and the hostile headmistress Miss Trunchbull. Sony is ready to release the feature in theaters in the UK.
Emma Thompson is one of the most famous British actresses and known for roles like Love actually, Rescue Mr. Banksand both the Harry Potter and Nanny McPhee Franchise company. Thompson has received numerous Academy Award nominations and the Best Actress award for her role in Howard’s End and Best Adapted Screenplay for working on the 1995 adaptation Sense and sensitivity, in which she also played.
Agatha Trunchbull, also known as Miss Trunchbull (or sometimes even just “The Trunchbull”), is the Headmistress of Crunchem Hall Primary School and the main antagonist of Matilda. A despicable tyrant at the highest level, The Trunch rules over her students with an iron fist, resorting to terrible methods to realize her idea of discipline.
Played with serenity by Pam Ferris in the 1996 adaptation by director Danny DeVito, Miss Trunchball is not the role Emma Thompson is usually associated with and should provide a refreshing take on the literary villain. As for Alisha Weir, the central role of Matilda will undoubtedly be a breakout role for the young offspring.
The hugely popular incidental music version of Roald Dahl’s story, on which the Netflix film is based, has been running in London since 2011 and was successfully played on Broadway between 2013 and 2017. The show’s original director, Matthew Warchus, whose previous credits include the 2014 biographical drama Proudis on board to control the customization for Netflix.
The author behind the musical stage production of MatildaDennis Kelly, who won a Tony for adapting the novel, will write the script. The musical stage play was developed by Australian comedian Tim Minchin, who composed the music and lyrics for the production, which will undoubtedly make the leap from stage to screen along with everything else. During its run, the show has won multiple Tony Awards and received critical acclaim.
Matilda is just one of many Roald Dahl adaptations coming to Netflix. An earlier announcement revealed plans to bring a variety of his stories to the streaming service, including animation Willy Wonka Series as well as new recordings The BFG, The twits, Charlie and the big glass elevator and more. This comes to us with the kind permission of Netflix Twitter.
Topics: Matilda the Musical, Netflix, Streaming