Everybody’s Talking About Jamie film: Richard E. Grant, Max Harwood to star
Richard E Grant and Max Horwood are set to star in Everybody’s Talking About Jamie (Tommaso Boddi/Getty)
The film adaptation of hit drag musical Everybody’s Talking About Jamie has landed some serious star power, with Oscar nominee Richard E. Grant joining the cast.
The West End hit, based on the real-life story of a Sheffield teenager who dreams of becoming a drag queen, is the latest musical project to land a big-screen adaptation.
Filming on the project is set to begin this month with a brand new cast.
Richard E. Grant, Sarah Lancashire, Sharon Horgan join Everybody’s Talking About Jamie film cast
Acting newcomer Max Harwood will play the title role of Jamie New stepping into the role currently played on stage by Layton Williams.
Oscar-nominated Can You Ever Forgive Me? actor Richard E. Grant will play Jamie’s drag mentor Hugo, whose alter-ego is drag superstar Loco Chanelle.
Happy Valley star Sarah Lancashire has landed a role as Jamie’s mum Margaret New, while original West End star Shobna Gulati will reprise her role as family friend Ray.
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Jamie’s school teacher Miss Hedge will be played by Pulling star Sharon Horgan.
The musical’s director Jonathan Butterell is returning to helm the film, which features music from The Feeling’s Dan Gillespie Sells and Tom MacRae.
Jonathan Butterell, Tom MacRae and Dan Gillespie Sells said in a release: “Who would have thought when Jamie Campbell first put on his prom dress, that seven years later we would have brought together the best of British and Irish acting talent to tell his story.
“As well as launching a brand-new star in Max Harwood to play Jamie himself, we’re so thrilled to welcome Sarah, Richard, and Sharon to the Jamie family. Now the party’s really getting started.”
Richard E. Grant watched a lot of Drag Race to prepare
Butterell told the Daily Mail he is excited for fans to see Richard E. Grant’s transformation for the role.
He said: “It is extraordinary, that vision of Richard.
“By the time he’s got heels and a wig on he’s about 8ft tall. I had to go to the art department and ask if the ceiling in his dressing room scenes is high enough.
“Richard’s loving it. It’s something he’s never done before.
“He has now watched, I think, a thousand million episodes of RuPaul’s Drag Race to learn how the kids are doing it, and also studying the story of the drag queens of the late Eighties and Nineties.”
Original West End star John McCrea with the cast of Everybody’s Talking About Jamie
The project is being produced by New Regency, Warp Films and Film4.
Yariv Milchan, New Regency’s Chairman, said: “We are incredibly excited to be bringing this poignant story to screen and are fortunate to be working with such an immensely talented group of actors and filmmakers.
“We know Jamie’s story will resonate with audiences on a critical and commercial basis.”
The original West End show will continue.
The show has featured some high-profile names from the world of drag, with RuPaul’s Drag Race winner Bianca Del Rio currently playing the role of Hugo.
Drag Race judge Michelle Visage has also previously appeared in the production as Miss Hedge.
Despite the show’s success in the UK, it is still yet to make the leap to Broadway.
