What is Firebrand about?
Firebrand will follow the life of Catherine Parr, the sixth and final wife of King Henry VIII. Henry's wives preceding Parr included Catherine of Aragon (divorced), Anne Boleyn (beheaded), Jane Seymour (died), Anne of Cleves (divorced), and Catherine Howard (beheaded).
When Parr married Henry, hope in the stability of their marriage was lacking—not least because of Henry's previously violent and selfish nature, but also because his health was quickly deteriorating.
But Parr had another agenda. As a protestant, she hoped to covert pro-Catholic Henry, thus converting the Kingdom itself. The film will see her attempt to navigate the marriage, and to capitalise on her position as a Queen Consort.
Who is in the cast of Firebrand?
Michelle Williams will lead the film as Catherine Parr, while Jude Law will play her on-screen husband, King Henry VIII, per Deadline.
Speaking about their casting, director Karim Aïnouz said, "Jude got how complex this guy was, not a loveable character but as a most powerful man of his time. And Michelle immediately came to mind."
Others in the ensemble cast are yet to be announced. However we do know that joining Aïnouz in the film's production are scriptwriters Jessica and Henrietta Ashworth, who were both behind the successful series Killing Eve.
When will Firebrand be released?
While pre-production is underway, it's understood filming wont begin until 2022, per The Hollywood Reporter. With this in mind, we might have a bit of a wait before the film is released—fingers crossed for sometime next year.
What has been said about Firebrand?
Aïnouz told Deadline that Firebrand will bring to life a story that hasn't had much air time, despite Henry's violent past already a well known part of the British Monarchy's history.
"There has been much depicted on the king and the wives that perished. It’s important to look at someone who turns out to be stronger than the forces around them. This is a modernistic look at the classic trope of the woman trapped in a castle with a monster," he said.
