Madonna’s romantic drama ‘W.E.’ set to bow this December

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

December seems to be Harvey Weinstein’s month to release films by actors- and singers-turned-directors. One week after the Weinstein Co. intends to bow its Shakespearean tragedy ‘Coriolanus’ (which Ralph Fiennes directs and stars in along with Gerard Butler and ‘Tree of Life’s’ Jessica Chastian), the studio will open Madonna’s ‘W.E.,’ starring Abbie Cornish, on Dec. 9.

Madonna’s movie, which she co-wrote with her ‘Truth or Dare’ collaborator Alek Keshishian, is an offshoot of the characters from 2010’s Oscar best picture winner ‘The King’s Speech,’ specifically Britain’s King Edward VIII and the American divorcee Wallis Simpson, the woman he fell in love with and for whom he gave up the throne. The film toggles between a contemporary woman named Wally, played by Abbie Cornish (‘Sucker Punch’), and her obsession with the midcentury British romance.

Said Weinstein of the December date: ‘Madonna beautifully interweaves past and present in ‘W.E.’ It’s a very smart film, and a stunning directorial debut. I’m incredibly excited about this movie and I wanted to give it a prominent release date.’

Weinstein Co. will open ‘W.E.’ in New York and Los Angeles on Dec. 9, expanding to additional markets throughout the month, before the wide release intended for mid-January. ‘W.E.’ also stars Andrea Riseborough ( ‘Never Let Me Go’), James D’Arcy (‘Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World’) and Oscar Isaac (‘Drive’).

Whether the film has an Oscar prospects, as the date suggests, remains to be seen. But ‘The King’s Speech’ did prove Americans love a good story about the monarchy.

RELATED:

A romantic drama directed by Madonna is heading to U.S. theaters

--Nicole Sperling