Tim Minchin’s triumphant Matilda the Musical has been transformed into a movie musical, and Roald Dahl fans don’t have long to wait to watch it.
Based on Roald Dahl’s beloved book, Matilda, the film follows newcomer Alisha Weir as prodigy child Matilda Wormwood, as she joins a new school with an evil headteacher, Miss Trunchball (played by Emma Thompson), who lives by the motto ‘all children are maggots.’
This iconic story is retold with all the stage musical’s hit songs and boasts an effortless cast including No Time to Die’s Lashana Lynch as lovely Miss Honey, and The Walk-In’s Stephen Graham as Mr Wormwood.
After its world premiere in October at the London Film Festival, Matilda the Musical is about to land in cinemas across the UK before it finds a home on Netflix around the rest of the world. Read on to find out when the film arrives.
Matilda musical movie release date
![""]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2022/06/Matilda-musical-movie-Alisha-Weir-915380f.png?quality=90&resize=620%2C413" "\"\"")
Confirmed to be in cinemas for Christmas 2022, Matilda will be released nationwide from 25th November 2022.
The UK and Ireland will be the only territories able to see the film in cinemas as Netflix is distributing the movie across its streaming service throughout the rest of the world on an unconfirmed date in the same month.
The movie first premiered at the London Film Festival in October 2022.
Who stars in Matilda musical movie?
![""]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2022/03/Matilda-musical-west-end-ea9feb3.png?quality=90&resize=620%2C413" "\"\"")
Newcomer Alisha Weir will take on the iconic titular character with a very strong supporting cast that’s comprised of the very best of British acting talent.
Alongside Weir, Emma Thompson, who has two Academy Awards to her name is set to star as the wickedly villainous Miss Trunchbull. Thompson is best known for her appearances in the Harry Potter series and also for her acclaimed work in films such as Howard’s End, The Remains of the Day, In the Name of the Father and Sense and Sensibility.
Speaking recently about her part, Thompson told The Guardian that work aimed at children is “sacred”.
“I read all the time. I was bullied at school, and the books that really spoke to me were the ones where there was real darkness,” Thompson said. “You don’t want to sugarcoat it, but it can’t be too real. It’s got to be frightening, but you’ve got to be able to contain it and get thrilled by it.
“But children see everything. When we’re little, we can feel and see everything, and we know that there’s darkness out there and often we experience it when we’re little. I think making work for children is the most sacred work we ever have, and it has to be our best work, it has to be so good because they need to get the best of us as artists. Then they’ll take that as they grow older.”
Lashana Lynch, one of the fastest rising stars in Hollywood who can be seen in Captain Marvel and the upcoming James Bond movie No Time to Die is down to play Miss Honey, Matilda’s kindly teacher.
![""]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2020/06/save-me-too-stephen-graham-183d72b-scaled.jpg?quality=90&crop=20px%2C14px%2C2521px%2C1679px&resize=620%2C413" "\"\"")
Matilda’s parents, Mr and Mrs Wormwood will be played by Stephen Graham and Andrea Riseborough respectively. Graham, one of the UK’s most versatile actors, can be seen in films such as This is England, The Irishman and Gangs of New York. His TV work includes starring as Al Capone in Boardwalk Empire, a stint on Line of Duty and he can currently be seen alongside Sean Bean in BBC One drama Time.
Riseborough, who received a BAFTA nomination for her portrayal of Margaret Thatcher in The Long Walk to Finchley, has appeared in a vast array of acclaimed movies such as The Death of Stalin, Nocturnal Animals and Birdman.
Rounding out the all-star cast is comedian Sindhu Vee as the librarian, Mrs Phelps. Vee can currently be seen in the acclaimed BBC comedy Starstruck alongside Rose Matafeo and Minnie Driver. She is well-known for her appearances on panel shows such as Richard Osman’s House of Games and Have I Got News For You.
Matilda movie trailer
As detailed above, the latest trailer highlights the musical aspect of the film. Watch below:
The first trailer landed in June 2022 and gave fans a first look at Dame Emma Thompson’s take on the wicked Miss Trunchbull.
“Matilda Wormwood. Criminals like you need a real lesson,” the character tells Matilda as she marches towards her, before we get a preview of Trunchbull’s infamous pigtail swinging scene in the playground.
“See if that child is still alive,” she is heard barking after carrying out the act.
The trailer also gives fans a glimpse of some other classic moments, including Bruce Bogtrotter forcing down a huge chocolate cake and Miss Honey bonding with Matilda at school. Ahh. Watch below:
Is the new Matilda movie based on the musical?
![""]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2020/03/Matilda-57bf46b.jpg?quality=90&crop=52px%2C0px%2C1081px%2C720px&resize=620%2C413" "\"\"")
The previous Matilda movie, released in 1996, was an adaptation of the book as the musical did not premiere until 2010.
This upcoming movie, directed by Matthew Warchus, who also directed the West End and Broadway productions of the show, is based on the hit musical. This will be Warchus’ first film since 2014’s historical comedy-drama Pride.
Dennis Kelly, who also wrote the script for the musical, is on screenwriting duties for the film. Best known for his stage and TV work, Kelly’s one previous film credit is for writing the Jude Law thriller Black Sea.
Will the new Matilda movie be on Netflix?
For audiences outside of the UK and Ireland, Matilda will debut on the world’s most popular streaming service sometime in December 2022.
If you live in the UK and Ireland, Matilda will first receive an exclusive cinema release from 25th November 2022. After that cinema release window, it is not yet known if or when the film will head to Netflix.
Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical will premiere in UK cinemas on 25th November, and will be released on Netflix in the US.
The latest issue of Radio Times magazine is on sale now – subscribe now and get the next 12 issues for only £1. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to the Radio Times podcast with Jane Garvey.