We now have our first official piece of casting news for Netflix’sMatilda the Musical, and, it is a strange one.No Time to Diestar and Voldemort himself, Ralph Fiennes, will play the tyrannical headteacher Miss Trunchbull in this take on the hugely popular stage musical version ofMatilda.
ThisMatildaadaptation for Netflix will be based on the musical stage play version of Roald Dahl’s classic story in which a young bookworm prodigy battles with her parents and nemesis headmistress Miss Trunchbull. Sony is all set to release the feature theatrically in the UK.
The originalMatilda The Musicalstage play also features the character of Trunchbull being played by a man, which should help the casting ofRalph Fiennesmake a little more sense for those who have only seen the 1996 family comedy.
The stage musical take on the storyhas been running in London since 2011 and had a successful run playing on Broadway between 2013 and 2017. The show’s original director Matthew Warchus, whose previous credits include the 2014 biographical dramaPride, is on board to direct the adaptation.
Writer Dennis Kelly, who won a Tony for adapting the novel, will be penning the screenplay. The musical was developed by Australian comedian Tim Minchin, who composed the music and lyrics for the production, which will no doubt make the leap from stage to screen along with everything else. The show won several Tony awards and Minchin began to plan a movie adaptation of his production. At present, a shoot date for theNetflixoriginal has yet to be set.
Despite it being slightly jarring at first, Ralph Fiennes is an inspired choice to play Miss Trunchball. The actor is certainly no stranger to playing the role of the villain, having most notably portrayed another magical child’s nemesis in theHarry Potterfranchise. He has also lent his voice for bad guy duty as Lord Victor Quartermaine in the delightfulWallace and Gromit in The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, as well as playingHades, a serial killer named “The Tooth Fairy”, and the foul-mouthed gangster Harry Waters in the black comedyIn Bruges. So, Fiennes has more than enough experience to throw on a wig and shout at some school children.
The 1996 film, based on Dahl’s children’s book, has become a treasured cinematic possession for many, and rightfully so.Matildafollows a precocious young girl named Matilda, who discovers she has telekinetic abilities. She uses these abilities to play pranks on her cruel, unloving parents and the sinister headmaster of her school, Miss Trunchbull. The story was adapted by Nicholas Kazan and Robin Swicord and directed by Danny DeVito, who also happened to star in the film as Matilda’s father. The film’s cast included Mara Wilson, Rhea Perlman, Embeth Davidtz, Paul Reubens, and Pam Ferris.
Matildais just one of many Roald Dahl adaptations to be heading to Netflix, as it was previously announced that there are plans to bring a myriad of his stories to the streaming service, including an animatedWilly Wonkaseries as well as new takes onThe BFG,The Twits,Charlie and the Great Glass Elevatorand more.
