Rebecca Ferguson, star of Dune AND Mission Impossiblewill star alongside Andrew Garfield, Claire Foy, Nicola Coughlan, Jessica Gunning and Jennifer Saunders in the film adaptation of Enid Blyton's beloved children's classic The Magic Tree Far Away.
Ferguson has joined the cast as Dame Snap, the director of the story and one of Blyton's most iconic villains.
From Neal Street Productions, Elysian Film Group and Ashland Hill Media Finance, The Magic Tree Far Away is currently recovering.
Based on the Distant tree series of children's novels, the film 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 tree's inhabitants, capable of transporting visitors to distant, fantastical lands, will be played by Coughlan, who has been cast as woodland fairy Silky, and Nonso Anozie (Greedy, Ted Lasso) as the leader of the group Moonface. Gunning (Baby Reindeer) will play Dame Washalot and Dustin Demri-Burns (Slow horses, The Great) like the pot man. Saunders (Absolutely fabulous, Shrek 2) was cast as the children's ruthless grandmother.
Director Ben Gregor (Britannia, Cuckoo, Covert Operations, Paternity) said: “Rebecca is a commanding presence on screen, one of the finest actresses of her generation and will be an electrifying addition to our film.”
Ferguson's Casting The Magic Tree Far Awayadapted by Simon Farnaby (Paddington 2), adds to his ever-growing film slate, which includes the upcoming Peaky Blinders film with Cillian Murphy and Mercy with Chris Pratt.
Ashland Hill Media Finance is fully funding The Magic Tree Far AwayPalisades Park Pictures is handling worldwide sales, with CAA Media Finance co-representing U.S. rights.