Firebrand | |
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Directed by | Karim Aïnouz |
Written by |
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Based on | Queen's Gambit by Elizabeth Fremantle |
Produced by | |
Starring | |
Cinematography | Hélène Louvart |
Edited by | Heike Parplies |
Music by | Dickon Hinchliffe |
Production companies |
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Distributed by | Amazon Prime Video |
Release date |
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Running time | 120 minutes[1] |
Country | United Kingdom |
Language | English |
Firebrand is a 2023 British historical drama film directed by Karim Aïnouz from a screenplay by Henrietta Ashworth and Jessica Ashworth, based on the 2013 novel Queen's Gambit by Elizabeth Fremantle. The film focuses on Katherine Parr, the sixth and final wife of Henry VIII. It stars Alicia Vikander, Jude Law, and Eddie Marsan. The film marks Aïnouz's first directorial effort in the English language.
Firebrand premiered at the 76th Cannes Film Festival on 21 May 2023, where it was selected to compete for Palme d'Or.
Centers around Katherine Parr, the sixth and final wife of Henry VIII.
The film was announced during the 2021 American Film Market. Karim Aïnouz was set to direct, with Michelle Williams and Jude Law cast to star.[2] In March 2022, Alicia Vikander joined the cast, replacing Williams.[3][4] In May, Sam Riley, Eddie Marsan, Simon Russell Beale and Erin Doherty were among the additional cast announced for the film.[5]
Filming began by April 2022, with production taking place at Haddon Hall in Bakewell, Derbyshire until June.[6]
Firebrand was selected to compete for the Palme d'Or at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival,[7] where it had its world premiere on 21 May 2023.[8] FilmNation Entertainment sold the film to STXinternational for the United Kingdom and to Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions for multiple markets and independent distributors elsewhere. Amazon Prime Video was rumoured to have been in negotiations to acquire UK rights from STX, but it was later revealed the deal had already taken place in 2022.[9][10]
In December 2023, Roadside Attractions and Vertical Entertainment acquired US distribution rights to the film, scheduling it for a theatrical release on June 21, 2024.[11]
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 53% of 32 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 5.6/10. The website's consensus reads: "Divorced from the historical record with little to show for it, Firebrand is a period piece whose revisionist aims are at odds with its stultifying approach."[12] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 61 out of 100, based on 13 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[13]
Award | Date of ceremony | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref. |
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Cannes Film Festival | 27 May 2023 | Palme d'Or | Karim Aïnouz | Nominated | [7] |