Fans in the United Kingdom can now rejoice as Matilda the Musical has finally arrived on Netflix UK, following a highly anticipated release in cinemas last year.
Netflix made an impressive £370million deal with the Roald Dahl Story Company (RDSC), securing exclusive acquisition rights to Dahl’s treasured works. The various adaptations planned include Wes Anderson’s The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Matthew Warchus’s Matilda The Musical.
Based on the stage musical, this film adaptation features an original score by the Tony-nominated Tim Minchin. Bringing the characters to life on the big screen are Emma Thompson, as the formidable Miss Trunchbull, Lashana Lynch, as the kind-hearted Miss Honey, and Alisha Weir as the extraordinary Matilda.
Danny DeVito brought Dahl’s magical tale to life in 1996 with his adaptation of Matilda, one of the most beloved renditions of the piece. The film starred Mara Wilson as Matilda Wormwood, Pam Ferris as the terrifying Miss Trunchbull, and Embeth Davidtz as Miss Honey, Matilda’s kind-hearted teacher who later adopts her.
While Matilda The Musical was released in cinemas across the UK, it was launched on Netflix worldwide except for the UK. The delay in its Netflix release was due to the deal between Sony Pictures and Netflix, which included an exclusive theatrical run through Sony in the UK.
This unique situation had its pros and cons. While some critics in the US lamented the limited cinematic release, UK fans were disappointed to miss out on the Netflix premiere until the summer of 2023. The frustration among audiences reached such heights that Tim Minchin, the film’s composer, was at the receiving end of their grievances.
Acknowledging the fans’ discontent, Minchin took to social media to address the situation. He explained that the decision was beyond his control. Minchin emphasised the advantages of watching the film in a cinema, stating, “The large format and excellent sound do justice to the incredible detail of the work.”Now, with Matilda the Musical finally available on Netflix UK, viewers can revel in the magic of Roald Dahl’s timeless story from the comfort of their own homes. And if musicals are not your jam, you can always find your way back to the 1996 original, also in the Netflix library.
