Margot Robbie & Saoirse Ronan are rivals in Mary Queen of Scots trailer

Last Updated on August 5, 2021

At long last, Focus Features has released a trailer for MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS. The upcoming biographical history drama stars Margot Robbie (THE WOLF OF WALL STREET), FOCUS) as an intense and blood-thirsty Queen Elizabeth I, as well as Saoirse Ronan (LADY BIRD, ATONEMENT), who plays the calculated and vengeful Mary Stuart.

Helmed by MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING and THE VOTE director Josie Rourke, MARY, QUEEN OF SCOTS is written by Beau Willimon (THE IDES OF MARCH, HOUSE OF CARDS) and is based on John Guy's novel Queen of Scots: The True Life of Mary Stuart. As a gorgeously gritty period piece, the events of the film will look to explore the turbulent life of the charismatic Mary Stuart (Ronan). Queen of France at 16 and widowed at 18, Mary defies pressure to remarry. Instead, she returns to her native Scotland to reclaim her rightful throne. But Scotland and England fall under the rule of the compelling Elizabeth I (Robbie).  Each young Queen beholds her “sister” in fear and fascination. Rivals in power and in love, and female regents in a masculine world, the two must decide how to play the game of marriage versus independence. Determined to rule as much more than a figurehead, Mary asserts her claim to the English throne, threatening Elizabeth’s sovereignty. Betrayal, rebellion, and conspiracies within each court imperil both thrones – and change the course of history.

Joining Robbie and Ronan for their bitter rivalry of loyalty, wigs, and war are Jack Lowden, Joe Alwyn, Gemma ChanMartin Compston, Ismael Cordova, Brendan Coyle, Ian HartAdrian Lester, James McArdle, with David Tennant, and Guy Pearce.

If you ask me, this film looks to have Oscar material written all over it, particularly in the hair and makeup department. I've no doubt that MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS will serve as yet another showcase for Robbie and Ronan to display their growing talents, as there are already several moments throughout this trailer that have both ladies looking like superstars.

MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS will ride into theaters on December 7th, Prepare yourselves for the Game of Queens, my friends.

Source: Focus Features

About the Author

Born and raised in New York, then immigrated to Canada, Steve Seigh has been a JoBlo.com editor, columnist, and critic since 2012. He started with Ink & Pixel, a column celebrating the magic and evolution of animation, before launching the companion YouTube series Animation Movies Revisited. He's also the host of the Talking Comics Podcast, a personality-driven audio show focusing on comic books, film, music, and more. You'll rarely catch him without headphones on his head and pancakes on his breath.