Baby Reindeer breakout star Jessica Gunning and Bridgerton frontwoman Nicola Coughlan are the latest additions to the upcoming film adaptation of Enid Blyton‘s The Magic Faraway Tree.
Neal Street Productions, Elysian Film Group and Ashland Hill Media Finance announced the news Thursday following the casting of Andrew Garfield and Claire Foy.
Based on the Faraway Tree series of novels for children, The Magic Faraway Tree follows Polly (Foy) and Tim Thompson (Garfield) and their children, Beth, Joe and Fran, who find themselves forced to relocate to the remote English countryside. “There, the children discover a magical tree and its extraordinary and eccentric occupants,” a plot synopsis reads.
The inhabitants of the tree, capable of transporting visitors to fantastical far-off lands, will be played by Coughlan, who has been cast as woodland fairy Silky, and Nonso Anozie (Sweet Tooth, Ted Lasso) as group leader Moonface. Gunning will star as Dame Washalot and Dustin Demri-Burns (Slow Horses, The Great) as Saucepan Man. Rounding out the cast of the magical denizens of the woodlands will be Mark Heap (Friday Night Dinner, The School for Good and Evil) as Mr. Oom Boom Boom and Oliver Chris (Trying, My Lady Jane) as Mr. Watzisname.
British icons Sirs Lenny Henry, Michael Palin and Simon Russell Beale have also been announced and will play “a trio of mystical wise men from the Land of Know-Alls.”
Adapted by Simon Farnaby (Wonka, Paddington 2), the movie will be directed by Ben Gregor (Britannia, Cuckoo, Black Ops, Fatherhood). Production commences later this month across the U.K.
CEO of Elysian Film Group, Danny Perkins said: “Attracting such talented high-profile individuals to this project is testament to the power of Blyton’s enduring legacy and the continued commerciality of her storytelling. Her work continues to inspire and enchant audiences of all ages, across the world. The Magic Faraway Tree is one of her most timeless, cherished by generations, and we are honored to be bringing her magical world to life with such a fantastic cast.”