The life of Princess Diana of Wales will be hitting the big screen, starring Kristen Stewart, with several foreign markets picking up the project, despite several fans speaking out about the casting.
Spencer, directed by Pablo Larrain (Jackie), has closed deals in UK, France, Italy and Benelux (STX Entertainment), Germany and Switzerland (DCM), Australia/NZ (Roadshow), Latin America, Spain and Portugal (Sun), South Korea (Green Narae) and Japan (Tohokushina), according to Deadline.
The film is slated to start production in 2021, with distributor FilmNation selling foreign distribution rights to practically every market at Cannes, except China.
Speaking out: The life of Princess Diana of Wales will be hitting the big screen, starring Kristen Stewart, with several foreign markets picking up the project, despite several fans speaking out about the casting
Neon and Topic Studios obtained the domestic distribution rights for North America during the Cannes Virtual Market last week.
The story will be set over the course of one of Diana’s final Christmas holidays with the royal family at the Sandringham Estate, when she decided her marriage to Prince Charles wasn’t working.
The film’s title refers to Princess Diana’s maiden name, with Larrain directing from a script by Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight.
Marriage: The story will be set over the course of one of Diana’s final Christmas holidays with the royal family at the Sandringham Estate, when she decided her marriage to Prince Charles wasn’t working
Maiden name: The film’s title refers to Princess Diana’s maiden name, with Larrain directing from a script by Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight
Spencer was also picked up by Scanbox in Scandanavia, Elevation in Canada, Central Partnership in CIS/Baltics, Forum in Eastern Europe, Italia in the Disney for Pan Asia Pay TV, Shaw for Singapore, Spentzos in Greece/Cyprus, Impact Films India in India and Pakistan, Lev in Israel, FilmArti in Turkey, Empire in South Africa, Moviecloud in Taiwan and M Pictures in Thailand.
The story will follow how she decided to take another path from the one she was on, that would have eventually put her in line to be the Queen of England.
Larrain spoke to Deadline about the story, revealing it’s the anti-thesis to the modern-day fairy tale.
New path: The story will follow how she decided to take another path from the one she was on, that would have eventually put her in line to be the Queen of England
Fairy tale: Larrain spoke to Deadline about the story, revealing it’s the anti-thesis to the modern-day fairy tale
‘Usually, the prince comes and finds the princess, invites her to become his wife and eventually she becomes queen. That is the fairy tale,’ he began.
‘When someone decides not to be the queen, and says, I’d rather go and be myself, it’s a big big decision, a fairy tale upside down,’ he added.
‘I’ve always been very surprised by that and thought it must have been very hard to do. That is the heart of the movie,’ the director said.
Princess: ‘Usually, the prince comes and finds the princess, invites her to become his wife and eventually she becomes queen. That is the fairy tale,’ he began
Heart: ‘I’ve always been very surprised by that and thought it must have been very hard to do. That is the heart of the movie,’ the director said
When the casting was announced in June, many fans took to Twitter to express their displeasure at the 30-year-old Stewart playing Diana.
‘Kristen Stewart playing Princess Diana? When Florence Pugh exists?’ tweeted Twitter user @fictionaljake.
Twitter user Kasey Oresick mentioned that Stewart, ‘has the personality of a potato,’ adding that ‘Margot Robbie would’ve been a better choice to play Princess Diana.’
Displeasure: When the casting was announced in June, many fans took to Twitter to express their displeasure at the 30-year-old Stewart playing Diana
Tweets: ‘Kristen Stewart playing Princess Diana? When Florence Pugh exists?’ tweeted Twitter user @fictionaljake
Margot would be better: Twitter user Kasey Oresick mentioned that Stewart, ‘has the personality of a potato,’ adding that ‘Margot Robbie would’ve been a better choice to play Princess Diana’