Coinciding with its world premiere at Cannes yesterday, we now have a look at the first official image from Firebrand, the upcoming historical horror thriller starring Jude Law as the infamous King Henry VIII and Oscar-winner Alicia Vikander as his sixth and final wife Katherine Parr.
Firebrand marks the English-language debut of Karim Aïnouz (Invisible Life, Mariner of the Mountains), who is direct from a script by Henrietta and Jessica Ashworth (Killing Eve). The official synopsis reads:
In blood-soaked Tudor England, Katherine Parr, the sixth and last wife of King Henry VIII, is named Regent while tyrant Henry is fighting overseas. Katherine has done everything she can to push for a new future based on her radical Protestant beliefs. When an increasingly ailing and paranoid King returns, he turns his fury on the radicals, charging Katherine’s childhood friend with treason and burns her at the stake. Horrified and grieving, but forced to deny it, Katherine finds herself fighting for her own survival. Conspiracy reverberates through the palace. Everyone holds their breath – for the queen to slip up, for Henry to take her head like wives before. With the hope for a future free of tyranny at risk, will Katherine submit to the inevitable for the sake of King and country?
Along with Jude law and Alicia Vikander, the cast of Firebrand includes Erin Doherty (The Crown), Simon Russell Beale (Operation Mincemeat), Sam Riley (Maleficent: Mistress of Evil), Eddie Marsan (The Gentlemen), Ruby Bentall (Poldark), Bryony Hannah (Call The Midwife), Maia Jemmett, Patsy Ferran and Junia Rees.
Photo credit: Larry D. Horricks