Sam Reid (“Hatfields & McCoys”) and Tom Felton (the “Harry Potter” films) have signed up for Amma Asante’s 18th century romance drama “Belle” reports Empire.
The story is inspired by a 1779 portrait of Dido Elizabeth Belle (played by Gugu Mbatha Raw), a mixed-raised girl brought up as an aristocrat in England who falls in love with a man of high standing named John Davinier (Reid). That takes place against the backdrop of the Somerset Ruling of 1772 which held that slavery was unsupported by existing law in England and Wales.
Tom Wilkinson, Miranda Richardson, Matthew Goode, Emily Watson, Sarah Gadon, Penelope Wilton and James Norton also star. Reid replaces Sam Claflin who had to drop out due to his commitment to “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire”. Felton’s role is unknown.
Damian Jones will produce and shooting kicks off September 23rd at Pinewood Studios and at locations across London, in Oxford and on the Isle of Man.
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