Joining the film adaptation of Enid Blyton’s classic children’s book, The Magic Faraway Tree, is British star Jennifer Saunders, adding to a roster of renowned actors. Hiran Abeysekera (known for The Life of Pi and The Father and the Assassin) and Pippa Bennett-Warner (Gangs of London and See How They Run) are also set to feature alongside Andrew Garfield, Claire Foy, Nicola Coughlan, and Jessica Gunning, who were previously announced.
The film, which is currently in production thanks to Neal Street Productions, Elysian Film Group, and Ashland Hill Media Finance, is based on Blyton’s popular Faraway Tree series. It centers on Polly (Foy) and Tim Thompson (Garfield) who move their family, including children Beth, Joe, and Fran, to a remote part of England. There, they encounter a magical tree and its whimsical inhabitants, according to the plot summary.
Saunders, famed for Absolutely Fabulous and Shrek 2, will play the role of the children’s stern Grandma. Abeysekera, an award-winning actor, is cast as the Angry Pixie, while Bennett-Warner will portray Hannah, Grandma’s assistant. The Thompson children will be brought to life by newcomers Delilah Bennett-Cardy (ITV’s Tom Jones), Billie Gadsdon (Cruella), and Phoenix Laroche (The Velveteen Rabbit).
Producer Pippa Harris expressed excitement about the casting, noting that these talented actors will infuse the film with charm and depth. Also confirmed are British legends Sirs Lenny Henry, Michael Palin, and Simon Russell Beale, who will play mystical figures from the Land of Know-Alls.
The movie, adapted by Simon Farnaby (Wonka, Paddington 2) and directed by Ben Gregor (Britannia, Cuckoo), has yet to announce its release date.