Thanks to a truly joyous Oscar season campaign for his stellar performance in Can You Ever Forgive Me?, Richard E. Grant is at the peak of his popularity – and he’s just bagged a particularly intriguing role. Warp Films is working on an adaptation of hit Brit musical Everybody’s Talking About Jamie – the based-on-a-true-story stage show about a teenager in Northern England (Sheffield in the story, Newcastle in real life) who is determined to attend his year 11 prom in drag, to the disapproval of the school.
Ahead of the film’s shoot, which kicks off in just over a week in Sheffield, the cast has been revealed – with Grant taking the scene-stealing role of seasoned drag queen Loco Chanelle, aka Hugo. Yes, expect to see Withnail in a wig and heels in the near future. Also cast in the film is Catastrophe star and writer Sharon Horgan, taking the role of Jamie’s unsympathetic teacher Miss Hedge, with BAFTA-winning Happy Valley actor Sarah Lancashire also on board to play his kind-hearted mum Margaret. In the lead role is unknown actor Max Harwood, found in an open casting call, with Shobna Gulati set to reprise her stage role as Jamie’s best friend Ray.
Behind the camera will be stage show director Jonathan Butterell, reuniting with writer Tom MacRae and music composer Dan Gillespie Sells. Everybody’s Talking About Jamie doesn’t have a release date yet, but seems likely to arrive in 2020 – and if that’s simply too long to wait, here’s a video of Richard E. Grant practicing his tap dancing in heels. You’re welcome.
Keep up to date with all the latest movie news, click here to subscribe to Empire on Great Magazines and have the latest issue delivered to your door every month.