A first-look image of the upcoming Firebrand has been released, starring Academy Award-winner Alicia Vikander (The Danish Girl, Ex Machina). The image shows Vikander as Katherine Parr, the last of Henry VIII’s six wives. Jude Law plays Henry VIII alongside a cast of Erin Doherty as Anne Askew, Simon Russell Beale as Bishop Stephen Gardiner and Sam Riley and Eddie Marsan as Thomas and Edward Seymour. Further, cast members include Ruby Bentall, Bryony Hannah and Maia Jemmett. Olivier award-winning Patsy Ferran will play Princess Mary, and Junia Rees will make her acting debut as Princess Elizabeth.
In a blood-soaked Tudor England, Katherine Parr, the sixth and last wife of King Henry VIII, is named Regent while Henry is fighting overseas. Katherine has done everything she can to push for a new future based on her radical Protestant beliefs. When an increasingly ailing and paranoid King returns, he turns his fury on the radicals, charging Katherine’s childhood friend with treason and burning her at the stake. Horrified and grieving but forced to deny it, Katherine fights for her own survival. Everyone holds their breath – for the queen to slip up, for Henry to take her head like his wives before. With the hope for a future free of tyranny at risk, will Katherine submit to the inevitable for the sake of King and country?
Firebrand is the English-language debut of Karim Aïnouz (Invisible Life, Mariner of the Mountains) and is produced by Gabrielle Tana of Brouhaha Entertainment and written by Henrietta and Jessica Ashworth. Aïnouz’s recent films include Invisible Life, which won the Un Certain Regard award at Cannes in 2019 and the documentary Central Airport THF, about Berlin’s Tempelhof Airport, which won the Amnesty International award at the Berlinale in 2018. His latest film Mariner Of The Mountains, premiered at Cannes 2021.
Further creatives include Academy award-winning Hair and Make Up Designer Jenny Shircore, Academy award-winning Costume Designer Michael O’Connor and BAFTA award-winning Production Designer Helen Scott. Following her collaboration with Aïnouz on Invisible Life, the Director of Photography is Hélène Louvart. The casting director is Nina Gold.
FIREBRAND WILL PREMIERE IN COMPETITION AT THIS YEAR’S CANNES FILM FESTIVAL
