The upcoming movie Firebrand shows a darker side to the marriages of the notorious King of England, Henry VIII. Based on Queen’s Gambit, the historical fiction debut of Elizabeth Fremantle, Firebrand is a psychological thriller focusing on Henry VIII’s last wife, Catherine Parr. The Brouhaha Entertainment film is set to be the English-language feature debut of award-winning director Karim Aïnouz, with the screenplay crafted by Killing Eve writers Jessica Ashworth and Henrietta Ashworth. Rather than depicting the royals stereotypically, Firebrand offers a modernistic look at the historical accounts.
Previous Henry VIII-centric films have centered on his more controversial wives, like Catherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn. Catherine Parr has been portrayed onscreen before, in films like Henry VIII and His Six Wives, and shows like The Tudors, which stars Vikings’ Jonathan Rhys Meyers. However, not much focus has been given to the wealthy widow specifically. This is exactly what Aïnouz plans to change with Firebrand.
In an interview with Deadline, Aïnouz has discussed how underrepresented Catherine Parr was in history, compared to Henry VIII’s controversial reign and long list of relationships. For him, Parr is a “woman who deserves a portrait.” Consequently, he intends to shift the focus away from the former king’s abuses and scandals. Instead, Aïnouz seeks to bring this character to the big screen through a reimagined yet still realistic period piece. While there is currently little known about Firebrand, here are updates about its story, cast, and release date.
Firebrand details the last months of Catherine’s time as the Queen of England. Right from the start, the relationship has been considered unstable due to the King’s deteriorating health. Despite this, Catherine proceeds with the royal marriage, choosing the Tudor monarch over Sir Thomas Seymour. By following the likes of the beheaded queens Catherine Howard and Anne Boleyn, who haunts Princess Diana in Spencer, she potentially risks her life for her agenda. Amidst the rise of arrests and executions of Protestants, she embarks on a dangerous manipulation of her position as Queen Consort. As a Protestant, she hopes to convert both the pro-Catholic Henry VIII and the entire kingdom into her faith. Catherine’s story is then highlighted in Firebrand, where her nightmarish tales of surviving a monster and thriving amidst the circumstances are related.
As of writing, only two actors have been confirmed for their roles in Firebrand. Jude Law plays King Henry VIII. He is most recently known for portraying Dr. John Watson in the Sherlock Holmes series, young Albus Dumbledore in the Fantastic Beasts franchise, and Yon-Rogg in Captain Marvel. Meanwhile, Michelle Williams was originally set to star opposite Law, with her casting announced in July 2021. However, as of March 2022, Alicia Vikander has replaced Williams as Catherine, playing the last of Henry VIII’s six wives in Firebrand. Her latest projects include Tomb Raider, The Glorias, and The Green Knight. Both actors are no strangers to the historical genre, as they previously worked together in the 2012 film Anna Karenina.
As Deadline reports, Firebrand is slated to begin production by late 2022. Should that be the case, the film will probably be ready for premiere by late 2023 or early 2024. As the release date nears, more information regarding Firebrand will surely be made available to the public.
