Emma Thompson, the Academy Award-winning British actor, and filmmaker Matthew Warchus will be collaborating for a Netflix original film Matilda, based on British author Roald Dahl’s classic story by the same name.
Thompson, also the recipient of a BAFTA Award, will be playing the role of cruel school headmistress Miss Trunchbull. Alisha Weir playing the titular role of a gifted young girl Matilda, while Lashana Lynch from Captain Marvel will be playing Miss Honey, the kind school teacher.
Published in 1988, Matilda 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, says a press release issued by Netflix.
The film will be based on the musical stage play Matilda The Musical, written by Dennis Kelly and Tim Minchin. While Kelly has been brought on board as the screenwriter for the film, Minchin will be composing music and writing lyrics.
💫 *Alisha Weir as Matilda*💫
💫 *Emma Thompson as Miss Trunchbull*💫
💫 *Lashana Lynch as Miss Honey*💫
That's magic. That's MATILDA. Director Matthew Warchus' musical adaptation, coming to Netflix. pic.twitter.com/CcTbItI8TV
— NetflixFilm (@NetflixFilm) January 15, 2021
The musical, that was commissioned by the Royal Shakespeare Company, first premiered at the Cambridge theatre in November 2011, and went on to be presented at Shubert Theatre in Broadway in New York City in 2013.
