Netflix's Matilda Musical Casts Emma Thompson as Miss Trunchbull and Newcomer as Lead

Dave J Hogan/Getty Images Emma Thompson, Alisha Weir

The upcoming Matilda musical movie is shaping up to be one epic feature.

On Thursday, Netflix revealed that the soon-to-be-released film version of the Tony Award-winning Matilda the Musical has cast its lead, as well as the role of the evil Miss Agatha Trunchbull.

Alisha Weir will star in the forthcoming movie as Matilda — a young girl who discovers she has special telekinetic powers — while Emma Thompson will lend her talents to the role of Trunchbull, Matilda's strict and mean school principal.

The movie musical is based on Roald Dahl's classic novel of the same name and comes over two decades after the 1996 film adaptation of Matilda, which was directed by Danny DeVito. In the original film, Mara Wilson starred as Matilda while Pam Ferris starred as Trunchbull.

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Tri Star/Kobal/Shutterstock Alisha Weir, Mara Wilson

Roy Rochlin/Getty Images; Tri Star/Kobal/Shutterstock Emma Thompson, Pam Ferris

In their statement, Netflix also confirmed that Lashana Lynch will star as Miss Honey, Matilda's supportive teacher who has her own history with Trunchbull.

While many other details of the feature remain under wraps — including other castings and a release date — The Hollywood Reporter noted that Matthew Warchus, who helmed the stage musical, is set to direct, while original playwright Dennis Kelly will adapt the screenplay with original music and lyrics by Tim Minchin.

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"Matilda will be an imaginative and fresh retelling of the award-winning musical, Matilda, featuring talented young newcomers, alongside established stars," Warchus said in a statement, per Variety. "I look forward to introducing this beloved and powerful story to a new generation of fans around the world."

The outlet added that Netflix will distribute the film worldwide, except in the U.K., where TriStar Pictures will distribute it in theaters.

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The musical adaptation of Matilda first premiered on the West End in 2011 before it later opened on Broadway in the U.S. in 2013.

Alongside Hamilton, the Matilda musical holds the record for the most Olivier Awards won by a musical, with seven awards garnered, according to Entertainment Weekly. The Olivier Awards are the British equivalent of a Tony.