In what sounds like a creative match made in heaven, Emma Thompson and Paul Feig are joining forces. Universal Pictures has acquired a script from the Oscar-winning actress and writer and Feig is attached to direct the project, Deadline confirms. Thompson will also produce, though it’s unclear if she will act in the film.
Details are being kept hush-hush, but “Last Christmas” is reportedly a holiday romance set in London. Thompson penned the script with performance artist and playwright Bryony Kimmings.
No stranger to holiday romance, Thompson co-starred in 2003’s “Love Actually,” a beloved romantic comedy that takes place during the month before Christmas. That pic is also set in London.
It doesn’t hit theaters until September 14, but Thompson has received raves for her role in “The Children Act” since the drama premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival last year. The Ian McEwan adaptation centers on a High Court judge presiding over a controversial case. Thompson toplines Nisha Ganatra’s “Late Night,” an upcoming comedy about a late-night host who hires her first female writer. Mindy Kaling co-stars and penned the script for the pic, which has yet to receive a release date.
Feig’s next feature, “A Simple Favor,” hits theaters September 14. Based on Darcey Bell’s novel of the same name, the mystery centers on a mommy blogger (Anna Kendrick) who vows to find her best friend (Blake Lively) after she suddenly disappears.
Known for writing, directing, and supporting female-led films, Feig’s biggest hits include “Bridesmaids,” “Spy,” and “The Heat.”
