Audiences are rediscovering medieval/historical period thrillers thanks to the Ridley Scott pic “The Last Duel,” and another semi-similar project is on the horizon. This one focuses on Henry VIII, the King of England, who had multiple wives, and either banished or killed all of them because they couldn’t produce a male heir. The monstrous dude was likely shooting blanks the entire time, but toxic patriarchy, I guess.
The idea of Henry VIII’s relationships with women seems to be perfect fodder for a psychological horror film, as Deadline has revealed that “Firebrand” will be a genre movie that will star the talented duo of Michelle Williams (“Manchester By The Sea“) and Jude Law. Law recently joined the film and will play the ruthless British King and Williams playing his final wife, Queen Catherine Parr.
“Firebrand” will be helmed by Karim Aïnouz (“The Invisible Life of Eurídice Gusmão“), and the script will be penned by “Killing Eve” writers Jessica Ashworth and Henrietta Ashworth, who should help give the project an edge just like their television work.
“Firebrand” will be told from the point of view of Williams’ Parr while living with a despot like Law’s Henry VIII, who attempted to convert the King to be a Protestant as many Protestants at that time were being arrested, tortured, and executed. The era certainly has plenty of horror elements baked into it and even more so for women who should make for an excellent thriller. King Henry’s brutality and the violet nature of the setting should be more than enough to make for a captivating thriller (though one has to wonder if any of these producers look at the dismal box office receipts of “The Last Duel”).
Williams has a busy dance card at the moment. She has on the horizon Kelly Reichardt‘s “Showing Up,” Todd Hayne‘s Peggy Lee movie “Fever,” and most recently, worked on Steven Speilberg‘s semi-autobiographical family drama “The Fabelmans.” Law is equally in demand with projects such as “Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore,” “Peter Pan & Wendy,” and a WWII atrocities drama starring Kate Winslet that he just joined.