In a recently released trailer, the award-winning Emma Thompson can be seen sporting a number of prosthetics including nose and cheek implants as well as a set of weathered teeth. It is the so-called fat suit, however, that has provoked an online debate.
Playing the terrifying Agatha Trunchbull, Thompson’s new film will provide a modern spin on the 1996 classic. The role was played by Welsh actress Pam Ferris in the original 1996 film Matilda, which also starred US actors Danny DeVito, Rhea Pearlman and Mara Wilson.
However, the choice to place the Cruella star in a fat suit in order to capture the character as she was originally penned by Roald Dahl has been met with mixed feelings.
One Twitter user stated: “It has been really disappointing to see Emma Thompson put on a fat suit for this role. I’ve always loved her work. But this is just so gross”.
“I’m sure Emma Thompson will be a delight as Trunchbull in the new Matilda, but there’s something so discomfiting about this modern trend of shoving skinny movie stars into fat suits and monster make-up rather than finding interesting people and faces,” another chimed in.
The upcoming Matilda will be a musical and other stars alongside Thompson include Jodie Comer, Emma Stone, Lashana Lynch and Stephen Graham. The film will be released via Netflix on 2nd December 2022.
