Alicia Vikander‘s new movie Firebrand centres around King Henry VIII’s sixth wife Katherine Parr – the one who survived beheading and divorce. It looks to be a dark yet empowering take, focusing on a female figure we may not have seen much of in the history books.
And Jude Law will star as the scoundrel of a King.
Directed by Karim Aïnouz, the film is adapted from historical fiction book The Queen’s Gambit by Elizabeth Fremantle, and has been reported to have taken some creative liberties, but the message is clear – that stories of women’s struggles throughout history need to be told. After all, Katherine Parr campaigned for women’s education and helped pave the way for her stepdaughter Elizabeth to become Queen.
Here’s what we know so far about Firebrand, and how it tells the story of Katherine Parr.
Larry D. Horricks/Brouhaha Entertainment
Firebrand plot
The film’s plot synopsis reads: “In Tudor England, Katherine Parr reluctantly agrees to become the sixth wife of the tyrannical King Henry VIII. Her consent to marry him carries great personal risk, given her predecessors are either vanquished, beheaded or dead.
“Perceived as a threat by Henry’s courtiers, they start to cast doubts about her fidelity and turn the increasingly paranoid king against her.”
It will tell a huge part of Tudor history from a woman’s perspective, and what it was like to be a female Royal at that time – including the dangers.
Larry D. Horricks/Brouhaha Entertainment
Firebrand release date
It will hit cinemas on 14 June.
Firebrand cast
Alongside Alicia Vikander and Jude Law, we will see The Crown‘s Erin Doherty, who plays Anne Askew, a controversial preacher who campaigns for change to the King’s regime. Eddie Marsan (Back To Black), Sam Riley and Ruby Bentall will also star.
Firebrand trailer
Watch below. It’s dark and twisted, with a lot to say about the struggle for female empowerment during the Tudor period.
