Calling all Faraway Tree girlies: we have our FIRST LOOK at Nicola Coughlan as the fairy Silky in the upcoming The Magic Faraway Tree adaptation. I’d briefly forgotten this movie was happening — it feels like a fever dream — but it’s happening! Praise be to Moonface!!!
Now, confession time: when this email slid into my inbox, I felt bambaoozled. Hoodwinked. Why was I being told we had a “first look” at a movie where not only was it just a picture of a tree, but you couldn’t even see the tree. It could have been any tree in any forest anywhere.
Then I took a second look at the image, and realised Nicola-Coughlan-as-Silky was peering through the leaves.
Look at her and those perfect eyebrows. We’re going to be in for a treat.
“She was absolutely amazing and was very passionate about doing it,” director Ben Gregor told The Hollywood Reporter. “She’s an unbelievably perfect Silky.”
Bridgerton minx / perfect breast owner Nicola Coughlan is set to star in the adaptation of Enid Blyton‘s classic, Rebecca Ferguson as Dame Snap, Nonso Anozie as Moonface, Dustin Demri-Burns as the Saucepan Man, and Baby Reindeer breakout star Jessica Gunning as Dame Washalot. It also stars Andrew Garfield as someone called Tim, which as it turns out, is the name of Beth, Joe and Franny’s dad. (Real ones remember when it was Fanny.) Claire Foy will play their mum / Tim’s wife, Polly.
For those who missed the Faraway Tree era of their childhood, it’s about three siblings — Beth, Joe and Franny — who move to the English countryside and discover a magical forest, at the centre of which is a magical tree: the eponymous Faraway Tree. The tree is home to a number of magical and eccentric creatures, including Moonface, whose house at the top of the tree includes a slide to get all the way down the tree again. Crucially — both plot-wise and childhood fantasy-wise — at the top of the tree you can climb through the clouds and into a magical land, which can change with the wind. Sometimes that land may be joyful and delightful, like the Land of Take What You Want (does what is says on the tin), sometimes it can be annoying (like the Land of Know Alls), and sometimes downright terrifying.
The script is from the wholesome mastermind behind Paddington 2 (Simon Farnaby), and the cast also includes some of the upper echelons of British talent, including Jennifer Saunders and Sirs Lenny Henry and Michael Palin.
As for the kids, they’ll be played by Delilah Bennett-Cardy (Beth), Phoenix Laroche (Joe) and Billie Gadsdon (Fran), whom Gregor described as “far from annoying”. Wonderful. Truly great stuff!
We don’t have a release date for The Magic Faraway Tree yet, but I can guarantee I’ll be sobbing in the cinema.
Lead photo: Supplied / Getty.
