Eddie Redmayne Negotiating Role in ‘The Aeronauts’ With Felicity Jones

Nov 28, 2017

Posted by: Dawn Johnson

Casting, Fandom, Fans, Fantastic Beasts, Fantastic Beasts Movie, Films, Jack Thorne, Movies, News, Redmayne

Eddie Redmayne, whose turn as the awkwardly-endearing magizoologist Newt Scamander in the Fantastic Beasts series brought him to the attention of wizarding fans around the world, is now reportedly in talks to star in Amazon Studios’ upcoming The Aeronauts alongside his The Theory of Everything co-star Felicity Jones.

According to Variety, Amazon acquired the rights last year following a contentious bidding war. Details on a production timeline are not known and Redmayne and Jones’ involvement is not confirmed, but Cursed Child’s Jack Thorne has penned the script with Tom Harper signed on to direct.

Eddie-Redmayne-e-Felicity-Jones

The current plot synopsis is as follows:

“The screenplay is based on the true story of balloon pilot Amelia Wren (who would be played by Jones) and scientist James Glaisher (Redmayne) who, in 1862, embarked on an extraordinary journey to discover the secrets of the heavens. In the process, they flew higher in an open balloon than anyone had before or has since. They made breathtaking discoveries, but as they ascended to the highest points of the atmosphere, they were forced into an epic fight for survival.”

It sounds like an exciting adventure for the two talented actors who both won critical and fan acclaim for their performances in the aforementioned Stephen Hawking biopic, leading Redmayne to pick up a Best Acting Oscar to Jones’ nomination for Best Actress. Clearly, both are well versed in navigating intense dramatic scenes, a skill they would undoubtedly bring to bear in that “epic fight for survival.”

image001

More than likely, fans will be able to see Redmayne onscreen in The Crimes of Grindelwald next November before the aeronautical thrill-ride is released for streaming, however. And, according to the Leaky report on executive producer David Heyman’s comments to Entertainment Weekly, the Fantastic Beasts sequel will be a “deeper and more thrilling film” than the first, which means Redmayne will be keeping fans in suspense for some time to come!

 





The Leaky Cauldron is not associated with J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros., or any of the individuals or companies associated with producing and publishing Harry Potter books and films.