Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Keira Knightley & Jessie Buckley Cast in ‘Misbehaviour’; Based on True Story of the First Black Woman to Win Miss World
Left Bank Pictures and Pathé have launched sales on Philippa Lowthorpe’s Miss World film Misbehaviour. A feature film based on the true story of the first Black woman to win the Miss World competition.
Gugu Mbatha-Raw (Fast Color), Keira Knightley (Colette), and rising star, Jessie Buckley (Beast) are set to star in the film based on Rebecca Frayn and Gaby Chiappe’s script.
Gugu Mbatha-Raw (Courtesy of Andre Wagner/The Cut)
The film is set during 1970’s Miss World competition in London. Tensions ran high as the competition took place as feminist activist groups declared the mega-popular show to be demeaning to women. The Women’s Liberation Movement managed to disrupt the event by invading the stage. When the show resumed controversy continued, as the tense competition resulted in Jennifer Hosten a.k.a Miss Grenada being crowned as Miss World. She won over the supposed shoe-in, Miss Sweden.
Initial reporting by Deadline did not specify what roles the actress will play, but presumably, Mbatha-Raw will play Miss Grenada. Knightley and Buckley will presumably take on the Miss Sweden role or play a member of the Women’s Liberation Movement. The project is in early stages, with more information to be released once Misbehaviour heads into production.
All three actresses have had an impressive year as all three have starred in critically acclaimed projects. Knightley can be seen in Colette, currently in select theatres across North America and can be seen next in Disney’s The Nutcracker and the Four Realms. Buckley starred in Wild Rose, which had its world premiere at TIFF in September and is expected to hit theatres next May. Mbatha-Raw’s Fast Color wowed audiences at SXSW. The Julia Hart helmed superhuman sci-fi film was recently acquired by Codeblack and is slated to release in March.
Suzanne Mackie (The Crown) of Left Bank Pictures and Sarah-Jane Wheale (The Little Drummer Girl) are producing. Pathé is attached to distribute the film in the UK, France and Switzerland and will handle international sales.
Left Bank Pictures and Pathé will present the package to buyers at the American Film Market. AFM will take place from October 31 to November 7.
Source: Deadline
