Who is in the mood for a big, fat British period drama?A slew of British film royalty are joining the cast of Tom Hooper's 'The King's Speech,' according to the UK's The Guardian. The Tom Hooper-directed film chronicles the early life of Queen Elizabeth II's father King George VI, who was afflicted with a stutter.
Helena Bonham Carter, Australian Guy Pearce, Timothy Spall and revered stage performer Michael Gambon will join Colin Firth in the period drama currently in production in the UK. Firth plays the lead, the shy second son of George V, known universally as "Bertie." George V, who was King during the Second World War, was thrust onto the world stage after his brother Edward VIII (who will be played by Pearce) abdicates the throne to marry American divorcee and socialite Wallis Simpson.
Already on board is veteran Australian actor Geoffrey Rush, who plays the King's speech therapist, Lionel Logue. Logue helps the reluctant monarch overcome his speech impediment. Actress Jennifer Ehle has signed on to play Logue's wife, Myrtle. Curiously, Derek Jacobi, famous for portraying on 'Masterpiece Theater' another speech-challenged reluctant monarch -- Tiberius Claudius Drusus -- was also announced as a new addition to the luminous cast. Jacobi will play Dr Cosmo Lang, the Archbishop of Canterbury.
The film will be produced by Iain Canning and Emile Sherman of See-Saw Films and Gareth Unwin of Bedlam Productions. The Weinstein Company, which is no stranger to opulent British period dramas, has North American distribution rights.
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