Mia Wasikowska is bringing a famed puppet story to life. The “Alice in Wonderland” star will topline a live-action reinterpretation of the story of “Punch and Judy,” a play traditionally acted out with marionettes. Titled “Judy and Punch,” the project marks Mirrah Foulkes’ feature debut. A press release announced the news.
Described by Foulkes as “a crazy mix of fantasy, feminism, and fanaticism,” the film is set in the fictional town of Seaside, and according to its press release, “follows two puppeteers — the vain but charismatic Punch and his resilient and talented wife Judy — as they attempt to resurrect their show as a means of escaping their decrepit town.” The project is said to be “coarse and brutal, bubbling with violence, misogyny, and magic.”
“Judy and Punch” hails from VICE Media Australia and Blue-Tongue Films, and VICE Media (USA) and Screen Australia, in association with Film Victoria, have invested funds. Michele Bennett (“Chopper”) is among its producers.
“Mirrah Foulkes is one of the most original new voices in cinema we’ve seen — someone who is able to find the perfect balance of character and chaos, emotion and humor,” said Danny Gabai from VICE Media. “We’ve had the pleasure of watching her develop her talents as a filmmaker over the years, and we couldn’t be more excited to team up with our friends at Blue-Tongue and Screen Australia to help make her wildly inventive script into a reality.”
“Dumpy Goes to the Big Smoke,” “ Florence Has Left the Building,” and “Trespass” are among the shorts Foulkes has directed, and they’ve screened at fests such as the Toronto International Film Festival, London Film Festival, and Sydney Film Festival.
Besides the “Alice” franchise, Wasikowska’s credits include “Crimson Peak,” “Jane Eyre,” and “The Kids Are All Right.” She’s set to star in “Bergman Island,” Mia Hansen-Løve’s upcoming English-language debut. The drama is set on the Swedish island of Faro — the home of the film’s namesake, late director Ingmar Bergman — and centers on a couple, both of whom are filmmakers.
Wasikowska has said that she’d like to work with more women directors because “people respond to females a little bit differently — there’s less of a hierarchy on set.” Her dream collaborators include Jane Campion and Sofia Coppola.
