Remember when every movie was described as “DIE HARD on a…” or “SPEED on a…”? Well, the latest description for potential films is “GAME OF THRONES-esque”. The latest movie to be described that way is the upcoming QUEEN OF THE TEARLING which will star Emma Watson and be produced by HARRY POTTER producer David Heyman.
Variety reports no director or screenwriter is attached to QUEEN OF THE TEARLING but that Warner Bros. is hoping this will kickstart a new franchise. Watson famously stepped away from the eight film HARRY POTTER series and was vocal about trying films that stretched her acting talents in different directions. Returning to a fantasy epic film with the potential to become a trilogy or more flies in the face of those comments.
QUEEN OF THE TEARLING comes from first time author Erika Johansen who was inspired by a speech by Barack Obama in 2007. The books are described as a female GAME OF THRONES, which is a bizarre comparison as GAME OF THRONES seems to have quite a large female fanbase and strong women characters.
The book is set three centuries after an environmental catastrophe when a malevolent Red Queen holds considerable power.
Watson has had quite a varied slate of films since finishing the HARRY POTTER series. She starred in PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER and has a cameo in the just released THIS IS THE END along with a starring role in Sofia Coppola‘s THE BLING RING. Next is Darren Aronofsky‘s NOAH and possibly Guillermo Del Toro‘s BEAUTY. Watson was also linked with the starring role in Disney’s live action CINDERELLA which has cast someone else.
I like Watson as Hermione but I still have not seen her do anything truly outside the box with her acting so far. Sure, she looks pretty different in THE BLING RING, but QUEEN OF THE TEARLING could be the potential turning point for her.