Production begins on Celyn Jones’ riotous and uncompromising Madfabulous
Production has commenced on 19th century-set Madfabulous, a British alternative period feature film shooting in Wales, starring Callum Scott Howells (It’s a Sin, The Beautiful Game) as the young, flamboyant and rebellious aristocrat Henry Paget who arrives from France to live at the family’s stunning castle on the island of Anglesey in Wales to lead a riotous life of splendour and extravagance.
Ruby Stokes (Lockwood & Co., Rocks) joins alongside Scott Howells to star as Lily, Henry’s best friend and platonic lover whose life is sparked with exuberance by Henry’s arrival on the island.
Also joining is Rupert Everett (Napoleon, Serpent Queen) and a plethora of cast members including Paul Rhys (Napoleon, Saltburn), Louis Hynes (The Great, A Series of Unfortunate Events), Louise Brealey (Chuck Chuck Baby, Such Brave Girls) and Tom Rhys-Harries (White Lines, Suspicion).
A fantastical reimagining set in the late 19th Century and inspired by the life of the fifth Marquess of Anglesey, Madfabulous follows the outrageous Henry Paget, a flamboyant character, so ahead of his time that he smashes through society’s protocols of elitism and gender. Known for his gregarious theatrical expressions, exuberant sense of fashion and lavish social life, Paget spends a multi-million-pound fortune before his untimely death aged twenty-nine.
Madfabulous is being produced by production company Mad as Birds and directed by BAFTA Cymru-winning Celyn Jones (The Almond and the Seahorse, The Vanishing), with principal photography taking place on Jones’ home island of Anglesey, Wales as well as Caernarfon and Pwllheli.
The film is further glittered with fabulous talent including Siobhán McSweeney (Derry Girls, Extraordinary), Guillaume Gallienne (The Regime, Marie Antoinette), Steve Speirs (The Tuckers, Afterlife), Kevin Eldon (Rings of Power, Trigger Point), Ian Puleston-Davies (Pennyworth, Tin Star), and Roger Evans (House of Dragon, Klokkenluider).
Jones commented: “We have an embarrassment of riches in front of and behind the camera on this Madfabulous film. It’s wonderful to be telling this story, this way, right here and now. Henry was a true original and deserves this reimagining, revisiting his legend with a disco lens and a punk heart.
The screenplay is written by Anglesey-born Lisa Baker in her feature film debut. Nadia Jaynes (Marcella, The Responder) and Sean Marley (Poms, Six Minutes to Midnight) serve as producers, with Nicola Pearcey (Military Wives, The Almond and the Seahorse) as executive producer for Picnik Entertainment in addition to BAFTA and OSCAR-winning HODs in the crew. Casting is by Rebecca Wright Casting.
The film is supported by Ffilm Cymru Wales and by the Welsh Government via Creative Wales.