Jennifer Saunders (Absolutely Fabulous, Shrek 2) has been added to the cast of ‘The Magic Faraway Tree.’
Saunders takes on the role of the kids’ ruthless Grandma. Additional supporting roles include Laurence Olivier Award-winner, Hiran Abeysekera as the Angry Pixie, one of the magical denizens of the woodland, and Pippa Bennett-Warner as Grandma’s assistant, Hannah.
Newcomers Delilah Bennett-Cardy, Billie Gadsdon and Phoenix Laroche will play the Thompson children.
Based on The Faraway Tree series of novels for children, the story follows Polly and Tim Thompson 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.
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The inhabitants of the tree, capable of transporting visitors to fantastical far-off lands, will be played by Nicole Coughlan (Bridgerton, Derry Girls) who is cast as beloved woodland fairy Silky, Nonso Anozie (Sweet Tooth, Ted Lasso) as self-appointed group leader Moonface, Jessica Gunning (Baby Reindeer, The Outlaws) 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.
Adapted by BAFTA Award-winner Simon Farnaby (Wonka, Paddington 2), the movie will be directed by Ben Gregor (Britannia, Cuckoo, Black Ops, Fatherhood). Production will commence later this month across the UK.
Academy Award-nominee Pippa Harris and Nicolas Brown of Neal Street Productions will produce, along with Danny Perkins of Elysian Film Group, and Jane Hooks. Executive Producers include Ashland Hill Media Finance’s Simon Williams, Joe Simpson and Jonathan Bross and Palisades Park Pictures’ Tamara Birkemoe.
Principal photography began recently, with filming taking place on location across the South of England and at Shinfield Studios, Reading.
