Netflix Announces Scrooge Cast

Movies

Netflix is adapting the well-worn classic A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. This new version will be a musical with songs by Leslie Bricusse OBE, with Stephen Donnelly directing. Timeless Films and Axis Studios are producing it. Today, some casting was announced for the adaptation; notably, Beauty and the Beast star Luke Evans will voice Ebenezer Scrooge. Jonathan Pryce will play the literary icon’s dead business partner, Jacob Marley. Olivia Colman is set to portray the Ghost of Christmas Past, with Jessie Buckley as Isabel Fezziwig. Bob Cratchit will be brought to life by Johnny Flynn. Fra Fee, Giles Terera, Trevor Dion Nicholas, and James Cosmo have also been cast. Check out director Stephen Donnelly’s statement here:

“It’s been a fascinating challenge to adapt such a beloved and often-told story and I think this version will give those who know A Christmas Carol all the things they expect but not as they’ve experienced them before. There are more than enough psychedelic, time-traveling and musical surprises to keep those familiar with the story on the edge of their seats.”

Overall, I find this project promising. I’m not familiar with Mr. Donnelly’s work, which includes the Monster High reboot and Lost in Oz on Amazon Prime. But I love A Christmas Carol and try to watch every adaptation I come across, even if the 1984 TV movie has yet to be topped. I like the animation style, and it’s easy to imagine this being better than the Disney motion capture version with Jim Carrey. Despite some missteps and attempts to cover their own butts, I still think Netflix excels at animated content and should focus its efforts there. 

What do you think of the cast and images from Scrooge: A Christmas Carol? Let us know in the comments!