After watching Florence Pugh perform exceptionally well in Ari Aster’s Midsommar, it looks like we are in for a treat with her upcoming Netflix thriller The Wonder.
Directed by Sebastian Lelio, the film is based on the popular novel by Emma Donoghue. It is set in 1862 Irish Midlands and inspired by the infamous 19th-century phenomenon called “fasting girls”. The film shall follow the eleven-year-old Anna O’Donnell, who remains absolutely fit and fine despite her abstinence from eating.
Pugh stars as an English nurse named Lib Wright who brings O’Donnell to a small village and puts the latter under her constant observation. Soon, O’Donnell becomes a rural legend and tourists, and townsfolk amass to get a glimpse of this miraculous survivor.
Based on a screenplay by Donoghue, Lelio and Allice Birch, besides Pugh, the cast includes Tom Burke, Elaine Cassidy, Niamh Algar, Toby Jones, Kila Lord Cassidy, among others.
Pugh will soon be seen in Marvel’s Black Widow and finished filming for Don’t Worry Darling by Olivia Wilde. Production for The Wonder has recently commenced.
The director of Netflix UK features, Fiona Lamptey, recently shared her thoughts about the film. She spoke of how “incredibly excited” she was to be working with “such outstanding talent on a unique female lead story” and explained how it is their “key commitment” to create “opportunities for the UK and Irish talent like Florence in ambitious, distinctive stories of scale”.
Lelio revealed that “bringing the powerful novel The Wonder by Emma Donoghue to the screen not only offers me the chance to portray the collision between reason and faith, individual and community, obedience and rebellion but also to explore my own interpretation of what a ‘period’ film can be.”
The director further added, “I couldn’t be more thrilled that the magnetic and courageous Florence Pugh will play our fierce female lead. I am also excited to be reunited with Ed Guiney and Element, to have the privilege to work with Tessa Ross and House, and honoured that Netflix has chosen The Wonder as their first UK Features endeavour.”
The Wonder is set to stream on Netflix in 2022.
