Netflix's Matilda musical casts Emma Thompson as Miss Trunchbull

Emma Thompson has joined the cast of Netflix’s Matilda musical as tyrannical headmistress Miss Trunchbull. The streamer is adapting the award-winning musical Matilda, which is in turn an adaptation of Roald Dahl’s children’s novel about a little girl who loves books and has telekinetic powers. 

Matilda’s imagination and love of reading clash with her small-minded parents and make her unpopular with the formidable Miss Trunchbull, and it’s only her kindly teacher Miss Honey who provides her with kindness and support. Newcomer Alisha Weir will play the titular heroine, while No Time to Die’s Lashana Lynch has been cast as Miss Honey.

The movie will be directed by Matthew Warchus, who also helmed the original West End production of the musical. The show features original music and lyrics by Tim Minchin and, alongside Hamilton, holds the record for the most number of Olivier Awards won by a musical.

"Matilda will be an imaginative and fresh retelling of the award-winning musical, Matilda, featuring talented young newcomers, alongside established stars," Warchus said in a statement. "I look forward to introducing this beloved and powerful story to a new generation of fans around the world."

This isn’t the first time this story has been adapted for the big screen – a movie starring Mara Wilson as Matilda and Danny DeVito as her father, Mr Wormwood, was released in 1996 (DeVito directed, too). 

While we wait for Matilda to hit the streamer, check out our list of the best Netflix movies you can watch right now.