Alongside Lashana Lynch and newcomer Alisha Weir

Emma Thompson is to play Miss Trunchbull in the screen version of Tim Minchin’s Matilda, it was announced last night.

Netflix also confirmed that Captain Marvel’s Lashana Lynch will play the endearing teacher Miss Hone, with newcomer Alisha Weir in the title role.

Minchin tweeted: ‘Lashana Lynch and Emma Thompson are gonna sing my songs. I confess I'm having a bit of a moment.

‘As is Alisha Weir, but you probably don't know her so well.’

He wrote the music and lyrics for the show, based on Roald Dahl’s classic story, with a book by Dennis Kelly. Kelly is adapting the script of their theatre show for the screen with Matthew Warchus, who directed the stage musical, also doing the honours for the new production.

Warchus said: ‘Matilda will be an imaginative and fresh retelling of the award-winning musical, Matilda, featuring talented young newcomers, alongside established stars. I look forward to introducing this beloved and powerful story to a new generation of fans around the world.’

It had previously been reported that Ralph Fiennes had originally been attached to play Trunchbull, continuing the tradition of the villainous role being  played by a man.

The Matilda movie will be released in cinemas in the UK before landing on Netflix.

Published: 15 Jan 2021