The biopic genre never dies and one of its favorite subthreads is "famous author". Enter Domhnall Gleeson who will portray A.A. Milne in as yet untitled film about the man behind Winnie the Pooh and the Thousand Acre Woods, his wife (Margot Robbie) and their son Christopher Robin (Will Tilston) who would be immortalized in the Winnie the Pooh books. The film just began principal photographer in the UK.
Here's the first photo of the star in character.
More photos, a note from the press release, and comments after the jump...
As the press release puts it:
The UNTITLED A.A. MILNE PROJECT film gives a rare glimpse into the relationship between beloved children's author A. A. Milne (Domhnall Gleeson) and his son Christopher Robin, whose toys inspired the magical world of Winnie the Pooh. Along with his mother Daphne (Margot Robbie), and his nanny Olive (Kelly Macdonald), Christopher Robin and his family are swept up in the international success of the books; the enchanting tales bringing hope and comfort to England after the First World War. But with the eyes of the world on Christopher Robin, what will the cost be to the family?
That's a potentially interesting less-explored angle for a biopic if the focus is on a boy who becomes famous due to his father's art and how that affects him.
The Fox Searchlight film reunites the director and cinematographer of My Week With Marilyn Simon Curtis and Ben Smithard, and joining them are costume designer Odile Dicks-Mireaux (who talked to us about her work on Brooklyn recently), and the Oscar nominated hair and makeup designer from The Revenant, Siân Grigg.
These early photos are lovely, don't you think?
P.S. One teensy worry we hold and this isn't meant as a knock against either actor or this film in particular: Domhnall Gleeson (who has six movies scheduled for 2017) and Margot Robbie (coming off an explosive three film year) have both officially entered the danger of zone of 'Cast First. Worry About the Role Later.'
We've seen this with countless actors in the modern era of agency packaging. Once an actor hits a hot streak they're suggested / pushed for literally everything and it generally results in some stinkbombs where the actor in question is just all wrong for the role but they're considered "right" since they're all the rage and therefore how could they be wrong? (The most egregious continuous recent example is probably Chloe Moretz who often is cast in roles that require fragility -- like Carrie and an upcoming The Little Mermaid -- when the actress herself is clearly made of steel and delicate "insecurity" is so far beyond her range, it's living on a different continent altogether)