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Movies & TV

09th Jul 2018

Here’s your first look at the dementedly dark new comedy from the director of The Lobster

Rory Cashin

The majority of that movie’s cast have reunited for this new one.

Director Yorgos Lanthimos is a bit of a unique genius when it comes to dementedly dark comedies, as anyone who has seen The Lobster or The Killing Of A Sacred Deer can testify to.

Colin Farrell must also enjoy his work, but he hasn’t returned for a third collaboration here, although most of his Lobster co-stars do appear in the first official teaser for The Favourite, including Olivia Colman (Hot Fuzz, Tyrannosaur), and Rachel Weisz (The Mummy, The Bourne Legacy).

They’re joined by Emma Stone (La La Land, Easy A), Nicholas Hoult (X-Men: First Class, About a Boy), and Mark Gatiss (Sherlock, The League Of Gentlemen).

The official synopsis is as follows:

Early 18th century. England is at war with the French. Nevertheless, duck racing and pineapple eating are thriving. A frail Queen Anne (Olivia Colman) occupies the throne and her close friend Lady Sarah (Rachel Weisz) governs the country in her stead while tending to Anne’s ill health and mercurial temper.

When a new servant Abigail (Emma Stone) arrives, her charm endears her to Sarah. Sarah takes Abigail under her wing and Abigail sees a chance at a return to her aristocratic roots. As the politics of war become quite time-consuming for Sarah, Abigail steps into the breach to fill in as the Queen’s companion.

Their burgeoning friendship gives her a chance to fulfil her ambitions and she will not let woman, man, politics or rabbit stand in her way.

Sounds great!

The Favourite arrives in Irish cinemas on 1 January 2019. Here’s the trailer:

Clip via FoxSearchlight

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