Guy Jenkin's Fool explores Queen's relationship with her jester

Karen Gillan is to play  Mary Tudor in a new period comedy from Outnumbered co-writer  Guy Jenkin.

The film, Fools, will revolve around the apparently humourless  Queen's friendship with her female court jester, to  be played by Patsy Ferran.

Jim Broadent plays a scheming Cardinal and Brenda Blethyn will also have a role. 

Jenkin – who wrote Outnumbered and Drop The Dead Donkey with Andy Hamilton –  will also  direct. He said: 'I am thrilled to be working with such a supremely talented core group of actors on Fools.

'Together, we will tell the untold story of the strange friendship between England’s first Queen, and her female jester. Fools will turn the conventions of a historical film inside-out, and promises to be subversive, striking and very funny.

It is based not he real-life character of Jane Foole, who had a favoured position in Mary's court.

Filming is set to start later this year. 
 

Published: 7 Feb 2024