For any Nineties babies, Matilda was a right of passage.
Both Roald Dahl's children's book about an incredibly intelligent but neglected child with a penchant for books and telekinesis, and the Mara Wilson-starring movie made young girls everywhere yearn for Miss Honey as their teacher and fully embedded Miss Trunchbull in their nightmares.
Following on from the 1996 film, a hit musical was made in 2011 eventually showing in London's West End and winning seven awards at the 2012 Olivier's.
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Now, it's time for another adaptation, fusing the two together to bring Matilda The Musical to Netflix.
Here's everything we know about the Matilda musical?
Who is in the cast of Netflix's Matilda Musical movie?
In early January 2021, The Hollywood Reporter claimed that British actor Lashana Lynch was set to join the cast as Miss Honey before Netflix confirmed the news.
Lynch has risen to fame over the past couple of years with her roles in Captain Marvel (portraying Brie Larson's superhero character's best friend, the single mother-cum-fighter-pilot Maria Rambeau) and the latest James Bond film, No Time To Die, in which she portrays the first Black and female 00 agent.
Speaking to ELLE UK in 2020 about her approach to choosing parts, Londoner Lynch told us that everything she does is for her culture.
'As a Black woman, a Londoner and an immigrant, I’m never going to be comfortable choosing a role that is going to make my culture question anything. I’ve taken it on as my responsibility to ensure that my generation and those coming after me know that there was a point at which something happened for the first time.'
Along with the confirmation of Miss Honey, the streaming platform also confirmed in a tweet who would play Matilda: 11 year-old newcomer Alisha Weir.
Though in 2020, it was rumoured that Miss Trunchbull could be played by Harry Potter alum Ralph Fiennes (though, famously the scary headmistress was played by a woman - like in the 1996 film it was actress Pam Ferris - men have played the character in the stage adaptation) Netflix quashed this rumour also announcing that Miss Trunchbull would be played by the illustrious Emma Thompson.
With critically-acclaimed acting credits ranging from numerous period dramas (Howard's End, Sense and Sensibility) to beloved roles in Harry Potter and Love Actually, we have no doubt that Thompson will make a perfect Trunchbull. An icon taking on an iconic role, shall we say?
Is there a Matilda musical trailer?
Yes, and you can watch it at the top of this article.
In June 2022 Netflix gave fans a teaser for what's to come from the musical, including catchy songs and beloved characters such as Honey, Mr and Mrs Wormwood (played by Line of Duty's Stephen Graham and Andrea Riseborough), and librarian Mrs Phelps (comedian Sindhu Vee).
'Matilda Wormwood. Criminals like you need a real lesson,' an almost unrecognisable Thompson tells the protagonist before we see Trunchbull's pigtail swinging in the playground.
When will Netflix's Matilda musical Be Released?
Fans have been left rather confused with the film's release date, as it was released worldwide on Netflix on December 25 on Netflix after those in the US received a limited theatrical release on December 9, 2022.
However, it won't appear on UK and Ireland's Netflix until summer 2023, according to Sony.
Reports about the upcoming film adaptation first circulated in January 2020.
The film is based on off Tim Minchin's acclaimed musical adaptation of Roald Dahl's book, which debuted in 2011 in the West End. The film is being directed by Matthew Warchus and written by Dennis Kelly.
We'll continue to update this article as soon as we have more information.
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Olivia Blair is Entertainment Editor (Luxury) at Hearst UK, working across ELLE, Esquire and Harper's Bazaar. Olivia covers all things entertainment and has interviewed the likes of Margot Robbie, Emma Stone, Michaela Coel and Ryan Gosling over the years.
