Greek director Yorgos Lanthimos has been working behind the camera since the mid-’90s. He directed his first feature-length picture, “My Best Friend,” in 2001. He went on to direct “Dogtooth” in 2009, “The Lobster” in 2015, and “The Killing of a Sacred Deer” in 2017. But with “The Favourite,” a black comedy set in the early twentieth century that he directed in 2018, Lanthimos became a household name.
The film features Olivia Colman, Emma Stone, and Rachel Weisz and was co-written by Deborah Davis and Tony McNamara. With ten nominations, including best actress for Colman, “The Favourite” was a major contender at the 89th Academy Awards (via The Guardian).
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Lanthimos has a new project in development for Searchlight Pictures and Film4 that could surpass “The Favourite” (and all of its post-release success). According to Deadline, the new movie will be called “Poor Things,” and it will be adapted from Alasdair Gray’s 1992 novel of the same name.
A handful of “The Favourite” crew members, including Lanthimos, will reunite for this project. McNamara will first turn Gray’s novel into a screenplay. Emma Stone, star of “The Favourite,” and founder of Fruit Tree Films, will also be involved in the film in both a starring and producing capacity (via Collider).
When is the Release Date of Poor Things?
According to thedigitalfix, There has been no announcement of a release date for “Poor Things” as of yet. However, 2022 is listed as the release year on IMDb, so that helps narrow it down a bit.
We can turn to Lathimos’s most recent picture, “The Favourite,” for a sense of when this might be released next year. Joe Alwyn joined Nicholas Hoult, Emma Stone, Olivia Colman, and Rachel Weisz in “The Favourites” ensemble cast in March of 2017. (via The Hollywood Reporter).
A few months later, as reported by IndieWire, production had wrapped. At long last, the picture had its world premiere in September 2018 at the Venice Film Festival, followed by a broader distribution in November 2018.
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Now that some names have been assigned to “Poor Things,” the casting process can be considered complete. Seeing as how this is Yorgos Lanthimos’ follow-up to his critically acclaimed full-length debut, “The Favorite,” Searchlight Pictures and Film4 will no doubt be aiming high during the awards season for their latest collaboration.
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Based on this data and the release schedule of the prior movie, “Poor Things” could debut at one or more autumn film festivals in 2022 before its eventual theatrical distribution that same year.
Who is in the Cast of Poor Things?
In the beginning, “Poor Things” was linked to Emma Stone. Production Weekly broke the news of her hiring in February of 2021.1 (via The Film Stage). The lead role of Belle Baxter will be played by the Academy Award winner. Currently, Stone may be seen in Disney’s upcoming live-action origin film “Cruella,” and she has several upcoming projects, such as a sequel to “Cruella” and the Showtime comedy series “The Curse” (via IMDb).
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After Stone’s inclusion, many other notable actors joined the cast of “Poor Things.” By March 2021, Willem Dafoe had been tapped for the role (via Deadline). The seasoned actor, who is best known for his portrayal of Norman Osborn in 2002’s “Spider-Man,” has recently been in “The Lighthouse” and will soon be seen in “The French Dispatch,” a film directed by Wes Anderson.
- Emma Stone as Bella Baxter
- Kathryn Hunter as Swiney
- Margaret Qualley
- Suzy Bemba
- Wayne Brett as Priest
- Mark Ruffalo as Duncan Wedderburn
- Willem Dafoe as Dr. Godwin Baxter
- Jerrod Carmichael as Harry Astley
- Ramy Youssef as Max McCandless
- Christopher Abbott as Sir Aubrey de la Pole Blessington
Although it was not known in March what role Dafoe would play, the IMDb page for “Poor Things” reveals that he will play Dr. Godwin Baxter, the man responsible for reviving Stone’s character.
According to Deadline, Ramy Youssef was signed a month after Dafoe. Youssef has gained fame as the show’s creator and actor of the hit Hulu series Ramy. Despite having made two earlier appearances in full-length features, Youssef’s role in “Poor Things” will be his first significant cinematic performance, as documented by IMDb.
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Back in April, not much was known about Youssef’s personality, much like Dafoe’s. However, on the film’s IMDb page, he is listed as “Max McCandless,” suggesting he may play the horrible husband of Belle Baxter (whose name is Archibald McCandless in Gray’s book).
By May of 2021, Marvel Cinematic Universe star Mark Ruffalo had also joined the cast (via The Wrap). Since September of 2021, Christopher Abbott has joined the cast (via Deadline). Abbott, a former cast member of HBO’s “Girls,” has since co-featured in the Hulu series “Catch-22” with George Clooney and starred in several independent films, such as the psychedelic upcoming releases “Black Bear” and “Possessor” (via IMDb).
What is the Plot of Poor Things?
The February 2021 report from The Film Stage calls “Poor Things” a “Frankenstein reworking,” a description also found on the Goodreads page for Alasdair Gray’s 1992 novel. This and the fact that Victoria McCandless, a free-spirited and extremely sensual lady who drowns herself to escape her violent husband, are both hints that “Poor Things” is set in the Victorian era and that she is the story’s protagonist.
After this, an oddball scientist named Godwin Baxter revives her. As a result, Victoria is now known as Bella Baxter, and her brain has been replaced by that of her unborn child. Through Bella, Godwin realizes his scientific potential, but his happiness is short-lived when Bella’s jealous husband finds out about their relationship.
Mark Ruffalo Joins Yorgos Lanthimos’ ‘Poor Things’ With Emma Stone, Willem Dafoe https://t.co/GlIi31zX6R
— Variety (@Variety) May 21, 2021
Ultimately, Goodreads describes the book as “a humorous political allegory and a thought-provoking conflict between the demands of males and the freedom of women.
Whether or not the film stays true to Gray’s novel remains to be seen, but it’s evident that there’s enough material to work with. Intriguing as it is, the film version of “Poor Things” has us on the edge of our seats.
Conclusion
You can expect Yorgos Lanthimos’ usual style of madness from the Poor Things narrative. After committing suicide by drowning, Bella has a brain transplant. Still, her unborn child provides the brain, and her father’s operation transforms her into a Frankenstein-like creature.
This tale was created by the Scottish author Alasdair Gray. His book is built in a very obtuse way, delving into issues of perception and the perpetuation of abuse due to institutional breakdown. Bella is compelled to take such drastic measures by her violent husband. For more details visit our website Jerseyshorevibe.com
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