Nicola Coughlan, Nonso Anozie and Jessica Gunning have joined the cast of the upcoming adaptation of Enid Blyton‘s “The Magic Faraway Tree.”
Coughlan (“Bridgerton”) will portray the woodland fairy Silky, joined by Anozie (“Ted Lasso”) as Moonface. Gunning (“Baby Reindeer”) takes on the role of Dame Washalot, with Dustin Demri-Burns (“Slow Horses”) as Saucepan Man. Mark Heap (“Friday Night Dinner”) will play Mr. Oom Boom Boom, and Oliver Chris (“Trying”) Mr. Watzisname.
The film, based on Blyton’s beloved “The Faraway Tree” series, follows the Thompson family as they move to the English countryside and discover a magical tree. The fantastical tree’s residents transport visitors to distant lands, setting the stage for a series of whimsical adventures.
Adding to the star-studded cast, British icons Lenny Henry, Michael Palin and Simon Russell Beale will portray mystical wise men from the Land of Know-Alls. Previously announced cast members include Claire Foy and Andrew Garfield.
Adapted by BAFTA winner Simon Farnaby (“Wonka”), the film will be directed by Ben Gregor (“Britannia”). Production will commence later this month across the U.K.
The film is produced by Oscar nominee Pippa Harris (“1917”) and Nicolas Brown (“Britannia”) of Neal Street Productions, along with Danny Perkins (“Greatest Days”) of Elysian Film Group and Jane Hooks (“Golda”). Executive producers include Ashland Hill Media Finance’s Simon Williams, Joe Simpson and Jonathan Bross and Palisades Park Pictures’ Tamara Birkemoe. Ashland Hill Media Finance is fully financing. Palisades Park Pictures is handling worldwide sales, with CAA Media Finance co-repping U.S. rights.
Blyton’s books remain actively in print and have been translated into over 35 languages, selling over 500 million copies worldwide, making her the most translated children’s author in the world. In the U.K. alone, over 3.5 million copies of her books are sold annually. “The Faraway Tree” series remains one of her most popular, having sold over 30 million copies to date and continuing to sell over half a million copies each year.
CEO of Elysian Film Group Danny Perkins said: “Attracting such talented high-profile individuals to this project is testament to the power of Blyton’s enduring legacy and the continued commerciality of her storytelling. Her work continues to inspire and enchant audiences of all ages, across the world. ‘The Magic Faraway Tree’ is one of her most timeless, cherished by generations, and we are honored to be bringing her magical world to life with such a fantastic cast.”
Joe Simpson, Ashland Hill Media Finance managing partner, added, “This dynamic and talented cast are perfect to breathe life into the characters from Enid Blyton’s unfading and enduring classic children’s tale. I have no doubt they will fill the screen with wonder and magic in this elevated, high-concept family adventure.”
