The Personal History of David Copperfield trailer: Dev Patel leads the cast of new Dickensian comedy

The first trailer for The Personal History of David Copperfield has been released, starring Dev Patel as the eponymous lead of the Charles Dickens adaptation.

The movie is co-written by The Thick of It creator Armando Iannucci and Four Lions screenwriter Simon Blackwell.

Alongside Patel, the film stars Peter Capaldi, Hugh Laurie, Tilda Swinton, Benedict Wong, and Ben Whishaw among others.

In the trailer, we get a hint of the absurdist humour Iannucci brings to the tale, which chronicles the rise and fall of David Copperfield’s fortunes and the vibrant characters he meets throughout his life.

Patel is as earnest as ever and energetic in the role, while we also get a glimpse of Laurie as Mr Dick, Swinton as Betsey Trotwood, Wong as Mr Wickfield and Whishaw as Uriah Heep.

Early reviews of the film are in, with The Guardian describing it as “terrifically likeable” and “richly satisfying”, while The Telegraph deemed it a “rollicking farce” that “keeps the spirit of Dickens intact”.

The Personal History of David Copperfield is released in UK cinemas on 10 January 2020.