So whilst we wait for Spielberg’s version of West Side Story there’s news of Matilda the musical now to be a movie. Sony Pictures U.K. and Tristar Pictures have announced that Matilda will be released across the U.K. and Ireland exclusively in cinemas on 2nd December 2022 for Christmas and Netflix will release the film in the rest of the world in December 2022.
With over 300 million books sold to date, and one book sold every 2.5 seconds, Roald Dahl stories continue to grow in popularity. Matilda remains one of Roald Dahl’s most beloved titles, now translated into over 50 languages, with over 18 million copies sold worldwide. The book was adapted for film in 1996 and a stage musical adaptation by The Royal Shakespeare Company debuted on the West End in 2011 before touring the world including 1,555 performances on Broadway. The musical has received widespread critical acclaim, especially in the UK, winning seven Olivier Awards, including Best New Musical, as well as five Tony Awards.
Matilda the movie will be the film adaptation of the multi-award-winning and massively successful stage musical, inspired by the iconic Roald Dahl story. If you’re not familiar with the stage musical it tells the tale 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.
Newcomer Alisha Weir will play as Matilda alongside a stellar cast including BAFTA and Academy Award® winner Emma Thompson as Miss Trunchbull and Lashana Lynch as Miss Honey. Stephen Graham and Andrea Riseborough will play Matilda’s parents Mr. and Mrs. Wormwood, and Sindhu Vee joins the ensemble cast as librarian Mrs. Phelps. Tony® and Olivier Award winner Matthew Warchus, who directed Matilda The Musical for the West End and Broadway, will direct the film adaptation which will be produced by Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner of Working Title & Jon Finn, and Luke Kelly of The Roald Dahl Story Company. The screenplay is adapted by Dennis Kelly with original music and lyrics written by Tim Minchin.
