Matilda the Musical (complete title: Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical[3]) is a 2022 British musical fantasy comedy film directed by Matthew Warchus from a screenplay written by Dennis Kelly, based on the 2011 stage musical of the same name by Warchus, Kelly, and Tim Minchin, itself based on the 1988 novel Matilda by Roald Dahl. Co-produced by TriStar Pictures, Working Title Films, and Netflix, it is also the second film adaptation of the novel, following the 1996 American film also produced by TriStar. The film stars Alisha Weir as the title character, alongside Lashana Lynch, Stephen Graham, Andrea Riseborough, and Emma Thompson.
A film adaptation of Matilda the Musical was first announced in November 2013, with Warchus and Kelly reportedly attached to return as director and writer, respectively. In January 2020, the project was officially announced, with Minchin also returning to write new songs for the film. Christopher Nightingale, who had written background music for the musical, was also hired to return to compose the film's incidental score. The cast was filled out between January and April 2021, including Weir, Lynch, Thompson, Graham, and Riseborough. Principal photography took place beginning in May 2021 in Ireland.
Matilda the Musical had its world premiere at the BFI London Film Festival on October 5, 2022, and was released in the United Kingdom on November 25, 2022, by Sony Pictures Releasing International through TriStar Pictures. It is scheduled to be released theatrically in the United States on December 9, 2022, and will be available for streaming on Christmas Day 2022, via Netflix. The film has received positive reviews from critics, with praise for Thompson's performance.
Plot[]
In a hospital, Mrs Wormwood disbelieves she is pregnant and in labour. The baby she births is a girl much to Mr Wormwood's dismay, as he wants a boy. Matilda grows into a sweet child who loves reading, despite the neglect of her parents. She visits the mobile librarian Mrs Phelps and tells her a story - in instalments - about an acrobat and an escapologist who have a baby together but who have their lives destroyed by a wicked sister.
Later, the authorities discover that Matilda has not been properly schooled, and teacher Miss Jennifer Honey suggests Matilda be sent to Crunchem Hall. Angry about being fined for not sending his daughter to school, Mr Wormwood tells tyrannical headmistress, Miss Agatha Trunchbull, that Matilda is a horrible child. In retaliation, Matilda mixes green hair dye into his hair tonic.
Arriving at school, Matilda and fellow new student Lavender are warned about the terrible way the students are treated. In Miss Honey's classroom, Matilda solves a complex mathematical equation on the board left there from a class for adults. She also admits reading several books every week. An impressed Miss Honey asks Trunchbull to move Matilda to a class with older children, but Trunchbull refuses to let Matilda be an exception to the rules. At home, when Matilda criticises her father, he rips her library book apart and sends her to bed; the next day, she retaliates by putting glue in his hat so it sticks to his head.
During lunch, Trunchbull accuses Matilda of stealing a slice of her private chocolate cake, but Bruce Bogtrotter accidentally reveals he is the culprit by belching. Trunchbull forces him to eat the entire cake, which is nearly as big as he is, saying he will be forgiven if he eats every last crumb. Bruce's success thrills Matilda, Miss Honey, and the students, but Trunchbull still punishes him by taking him out to the Chokey, a tight, spiked cupboard.
After school, Matilda returns to Mrs Phelps and continues her story: the now-pregnant acrobat is forced to perform a dangerous stunt by her stepsister; she is horribly injured and dies after giving birth to a daughter. The escapologist forgives the stepsister and asks her to help him raise his daughter, but she is secretly cruel to the girl. When the escapologist discovers his daughter locked in the cellar, he comforts her before leaving to confront the stepsister, but never returns.
The next day, Trunchbull forces the children through challenging military-style exercises to crush their rebelliousness. Lavender slips her pet newt into Trunchbull's drinking water, causing her distress. Then Matilda stands up to Trunchbull, and uses her newly discovered telekinesis fuelled by rage to hurl a cup at Trunchbull's head.
Miss Honey invites Matilda to her cottage, where Matilda learns that the escapologist and the acrobat were Miss Honey's parents, and the evil stepsister is Trunchbull. Miss Honey tries to warn Matilda that Trunchbull is more dangerous than she realises. Matilda goes to the Chokey and uses her telekinesis to destroy it. Returning home, Matilda learns that her father has cheated the Mafia and the family will be fleeing to Spain.
When the children return to school, Trunchbull forces Miss Honey's class to spell words correctly or be locked in a new Chokey. She has Lavender spell a tricky, made-up word, prompting the other children to purposely misspell words in rebellion. Trunchbull then reveals that she made a multitude of new Chokeys for every single child to be put in. Matilda uses her telekinesis to write on the blackboard pretending to be the ghost of Miss Honey's father. She tells her to give Miss Honey back her house or else. When Trunchbull refuses, a vast number of chains attack her but she resists. Finally, Matilda ties Trunchbull's hair into pigtails (much to her horror), and uses them to throw her out of the school. Miss Honey tells Trunchbull never to return, and takes back the keys to her father's house. After Trunchbull runs away, the students sing and perform a dance routine about revolting (with its double meaning in play) while destroying Trunchbull's statue.
Mr and Mrs Wormwood come to take Matilda to Spain with them, but Miss Honey asks them if Matilda might stay with her - she also asks Matilda if she wants this (she does). They let Matilda stay, and in return she unsticks her father's hat.
With Miss Honey as the new headmistress, the students rename Crunchem Hall "The Big Friendly School". They renovate the school and add a new playground and a giraffe. Matilda finishes her story for Mrs Phelps, who is overjoyed that Matilda's now true story has a happy ending.
Cast[]
- Alisha Weir as Matilda Wormwood
- Lashana Lynch as Miss Jennifer Honey
- Emma Thompson as Miss Agatha Trunchbull
- Stephen Graham as Mr. Wormwood
- Andrea Riseborough as Mrs. Wormwood
- Sindhu Vee as Mrs. Phelps
- Lauren Alexandra as The Acrobat
- Carl Spencer as Magnus the Escapologist
- Katherine Kingsley as The Evil Stepaunt / Acrobat's Stepsister
- Charlie Hodson-Prior as Bruce Bogtrotter
- Rei Yamauchi Fulker as Lavender Brown
- Meesha Garbett as Hortensia
- Winter Jarrett-Glasspool as Amanda Thripp
- Matt Henry as Doctor
- Karen Mavundukure as Midwife
Production[]
Development[]
Director Matthew Warchus (left) and composer Tim Minchin
On 15 November 2013, it was reported that Matthew Warchus and Dennis Kelly, who served as director and writer, respectively, for the musical Matilda the Musical, based on Roald Dahl's novel Matilda, would return for a film adaptation.[4] In June 2016, Tim Minchin confirmed that a film adaptation of Matilda the Musical was in development, which he said "will probably be made in the next 4 or 5 years".[5] Mara Wilson, who previously starred in the 1996 film adaptation of the novel directed by Danny DeVito, said, "Maybe if they made it into a movie, I could have a cameo, but that's for them to decide."[6] On 27 November 2018, Netflix was revealed to be adapting Matilda as an animated series, which would be part of an "animated event series" along with other Roald Dahl books such as The BFG, The Twits, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.[7] In November 2019, Danny DeVito said that he "always wanted to" develop a sequel to Matilda,[8] adding that a potential sequel could star Matilda's own child, due to Wilson having grown up after the film's release.[8] On 28 January 2020, it was reported that Working Title Films would produce the film, while Netflix will distribute the film via streaming, and Sony Pictures Releasing, who previously distributed the 1996 film through its TriStar Pictures banner, would handle theatrical and home video exclusively in the UK through the same banner.[9][10] It was also confirmed that Warchus and Kelly were still involved with the project.[10] Ellen Kane, who worked with choreographer Peter Darling on the stage production, would choreograph.
Casting[]
Emma Thompson (left) and Lashana Lynch play Miss Trunchbull and Miss Honey respectively.
On 4 May 2020, it was reported that Ralph Fiennes was cast as Miss Trunchbull (the role has conventionally been portrayed on stage by male actors).[11] However, later on 14 January 2021, it was announced that Emma Thompson would play the character instead, with additional confirmations that Lashana Lynch was cast as Miss Honey and Alisha Weir was cast in the title role, after giving what Warchus called "an unforgettable audition." Over 200 children were cast as the rest of the student body of Crunchem Hall.[12] In April 2021 it was announced that Stephen Graham, Andrea Riseborough and Sindhu Vee would be joining the cast as Mr Wormwood, Mrs Wormwood and Mrs Phelps respectively.[13]
Filming[]
Production for Matilda the Musical was set to take place between August and December 2020 at Shepperton Studios, but was postponed to the spring of 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[9][14] The film began principal photography on 3 May 2021 in Ireland.[15]
Music[]
On 15 November 2013, Tim Minchin, who previously wrote songs for the musical, was in talks to create new songs[16] for the film,[4] and in 2020, he was confirmed to do so.[10] To be precise, shortly after the premiere on 5 October, it was revealed that Minchin wrote a new closing number. It was also announced that some of the songs from the stage version will not be included to keep a runtime of 117 minutes. Christopher Nightingale composed original incidental music to underscore the film, just as he did onstage.
The film's soundtrack album, containing both the songs and Nightingale's score, was released worldwide on 18 November 2022 digitally and 9 December 2022 on physical CD.[1]
- Musical numbers
| No. | Title | Performer(s) | Runtime |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Miracle" | Doctor, Mrs Wormwood, Mr Wormwood and Company | 5:09 |
| 2 | "Naughty" | Matilda | 3:08 |
| 3 | "School Song" | Hortensia, Prefects and Children | 3:22 |
| 4 | "The Hammer" | Miss Trunchbull, Children and Miss Honey | 3:23 |
| 5 | "Chokey Chant" | Children | 1:24 |
| 6 | "Bruce" | Children | 2:41 |
| 7 | "When I Grow Up" | Children, Miss Honey and Matilda | 3:41 |
| 8 | "I'm Here" | Matilda and The Escapologist | 3:42 |
| 9 | "The Smell of Rebellion" | Miss Trunchbull | 4:42 |
| 10 | "Quiet" | Matilda | 3:58 |
| 11 | "My House" | Miss Honey and The Escapologist | 3:24 |
| 12 | "Revolting Children" | Bruce, Hortensia and Children | 2:54 |
| 13 | "Still Holding My Hand" | Miss Honey, Matilda, Children and Company | 4:18 |
Release[]
Matilda the Musical had its world premiere at the BFI London Film Festival on 5 October 2022, and was released in the United Kingdom by Sony Pictures Releasing through its TriStar Pictures banner,[9][17] on 25 November 2022. The film is set to be released in the United States and internationally on 9 December 2022, before streaming on Netflix on Christmas Day 2022.[9][18] Sony Pictures and Netflix are also distributing the film's home media release in the UK, which is to be out in Summer 2023.[9]
Sing-Along version[]
The film will have a sing-along edition in cinemas across the UK for a limited time, from Christmas Day 2022.[19]
Critical reception[]
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 90% of 27 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.90/10.[20] Metacritic assigned the film a weighted average score of 67 out of 100 based on 8 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[21] Robbie Collin of The Telegraph wrote Thompson's portrayal of Trunchbull is "a deranged villain to remember".[22] The Guardian critic Peter Bradshaw stated "the gleefully sly comedy kindred spirits of Thompson and Minchin come together to form the film’s bedrock of naughtiness".[23]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Major, Michael (5 October 2022). "MATILDA THE MUSICAL Movie Soundtrack to Be Released in November". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
- ↑ Roald Dahl's Matilda The Musical (7 September 2022). Retrieved on November 25, 2022.
- ↑ MPA Ratings.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Gilbert, Ryan (November 15, 2013). Tony Winner Dennis Kelly to Pen Screenplay for New Matilda Movie Musical Adaptation.
- ↑ Tim Minchin Reveals Plans for MATILDA US Tour, Film?.
- ↑ Frequently Asked Questions : Mara Wilson Writes Stuff.
- ↑ “Netflix's new Roald Dahl animated series 'reimagines' Matilda and Willy Wonka”. The Mirror. Retrieved 9 March 2019
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Danny DeVito "Always Wanted" to Make Matilda 2, Shares Sequel Idea ComicBook, November 25, 2019. Retrieved June 16, 2022
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 Wiegand, Chris (January 17, 2020). New Matilda movie in works from director of West End musical.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Masters, Kim (January 28, 2020). Netflix, Sony Team for 'Matilda' Movie Based on Stage Musical (Exclusive).
- ↑ Wiseman, Andreas (May 4, 2020). Ralph Fiennes Attached To Play Miss Trunchbull In Netflix & Working Title's 'Matilda'.
- ↑ Emma Thompson, Newcomer Alisha Weir to Star in Netflix 'Matilda' Adaptation (en) (2021-01-14).
- ↑ Stephen Graham, Sindhu Vee, Andrea Riseborough Join 'Matilda' Cast (April 2021).
- ↑ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Harms, Talaura (19 July 2021). "Netflix Halts Production for Matilda Musical Adaptation Amid U.K. COVID-19 Outbreak". playbill.com. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
- ↑ Matilda - Production Listing (March 15, 2021).
- ↑ MATILDA THE MUSICAL Soundtrack Music Songs Complete List (2022) (en-US) (2022-11-25).
- ↑ Earl, William (June 9, 2021). 'Matilda' Musical Film Adaptation Set for U.K. Theatrical Run in 2022.
- ↑ 'Matilda' Trailer: Emma Thompson Is Unrecognizable as Monstrous Miss Trunchbull in Roald Dahl Musical (15 June 2022).
- ↑ Roald Dahl's Matilda The Musical – (Sing-along) (16 November 2022). Retrieved on November 26, 2022.
- ↑ Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical.
- ↑ Matilda (2022). Red Ventures.
- ↑ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Emma Thompson gives Matilda The Musical a deranged villain to remember". The Telegraph. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
- ↑ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical review – all-singing, hall-dancing adaptation is by the book brilliance". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
External links[]
- Matilda the Musical at IMDbLua error in Module:EditAtWikidata at line 36: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
- Matilda the Musical on NetflixLua error in Module:EditAtWikidata at line 36: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).Lua error in Module:WikidataCheck at line 28: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
Template:Roald Dahl Template:Matilda Template:Tim Minchin