Sci-Fi Film and Television Developments

Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang
4/15/09 - Maggie Gyllenhaal will star in Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang, the sequel to Working Title's 2005 family fantasy hit Nanny McPhee, joined by other cast members Rhys Ifans, Maggie Smith and Asa Butterfield, Variety reported.  Emma Thompson, who is also writing the script and executive-producing, will reprise her role as a magic-wielding governess.  The action this time centers on a group of kids who are evacuated from the city to a farm during wartime.  British helmer Susanna White is set to make her feature-directing debut with the project, set to go into production this summer.  The series is based on Christianna Brand's popular Nurse Matilda children's books.

11/14/08 – SCI FI Wire reported that Emma Thompson is preparing to shoot the sequel in 2009.  “It's taken three years to do this script," Thompson. "The first film took nine years door to door [from concept to completion] because the script took seven years to develop. It just was really hard to work it out. But this one, because I learned so much on the last one, only took three."  The films star Thompson as a warty, buck-toothed nanny who uses magic to teach her bratty wards to behave. She gets prettier with each life lesson they learn. Thompson's only hint about the sequel's plot involved its animal co-star.  "It has a baby elephant in it, which I'm particularly excited about it," Thompson said. "They're going to use a real baby elephant."  Barring any unforeseen circumstances, Thompson is ready to get back into McPhee makeup. "We've got a green light and everything, so hopefully it really will happen, although who knows in this climate."

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