Netflix had earlier declared its intention to adapt several of Roald Dahl’s popular children’s books into Netflix Original series and films. Taking the first step in that direction, it today announced that it is adapting Matilda, more specifically Matilda The Musical, the long-running London and Broadway musical, into a Netflix Original Film, in association with the production company, Working Title.
Matilda is a Roald Dahl story about a young girl, the titular Matilda, who is a precocious and gifted girl, who fights back her unkind parents and spiteful, kids-hating principal with her gifted power of telekinesis.
Actor Ralph Fiennes, who played the evil magician Lord Voldemort in the Harry Potter films franchise, will play the character of the mean and hateful Principal Trunchbull from the book. Though Trunchbull is a woman in the book, the London and Broadway play features the character as a man. Netflix’s adaptation will do the same.
Netflix is basing its Matilda more on the musical play rather than Roald Dahl’s original work. It has roped in the show’s original director Matthew Warchus who to helm the adaptation. Dennis Kelly, who won a Tony for adapting the novel for the first play, is writing the screenplay of the Netflix production as well. Netflix hopes to premiere the movie next year, that is in 2021.
Besides Matilda, Netflix also plans to adapt Roald Dahl’s popular Charlie And The Chocolate Factory and The BFG for its platform.
Stay tuned to Binged.com for further updates on this story.
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