True to form, the first trailer for Princess Diana drama “Spencer” features Kristen Stewart as nearly nonverbal. Only at the end of the minute-long trailer does she utter two words.
“They know everything,” Sally Hawkins says in a yet-to-be-identified role.
“They don’t,” Stewart’s Diana assures.
The sentiment serves as a message that “Spencer” will bring audiences an uncovered storyline about the People’s Princess. Ultimately, however, it’s a reminder that despite the limitless materializations of Diana’s story, the public can never fully know her authentic truth.
But Stewart is set up to meet that impossible goal as best she can. With a November release date, she is a likely contender for the upcoming awards season. What’s more, director Pablo Larraín is a trustworthy conveyor of Princess Diana’s story. His 2016 stirring Jackie Kennedy biopic earned three Academy Award nominations.
When “Spencer” comes to theaters Nov. 5, it will hit an audience with a relatively fresh memory of the alleged, cruel behavior by the royal family toward Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, and Prince Harry that led to the couple’s exit (“What I was seeing was history repeating itself,” he told Oprah, referring to his mother).
The trailer glimpses into the stressful, high-standard lifestyle Diana endured, which led to her own exit from the royal family. “Spencer” explores this controversy, zeroing in on the holiday season during which she decided to leave her marriage to Prince Charles.
Stories about Diana’s rebellious nature are plentiful, such as the tale about her dressing in drag to sneak off for a night out with Freddie Mercury. Even just a minute of “Spencer” gives insight into the suffocating lifestyle of living up to the royal family’s rigid rulebook. Gorgeous ballgowns and gourmet dinners are plentiful as Diana endures cold in-laws and the vicious paparazzi.
“Spencer'' will have its premiere on Sept. 3 at the Venice International Film Festival. With a screenplay from “Peaky Blinders” writer Steven Knight, it also stars Jack Farthing, Timothy Spall, Sean Harris, Niklas Kohrt and Amy Manson. The film’s music is by Radiohead’s Jonny Greenwood, whose score credits include “There Will be Blood” and “Phantom Thread.”
Watch the trailer below.
She was always Diana Spencer. SPENCER, a fable starring Kristen Stewart. Directed by Pablo Larraín. In Theaters Nov. 5 pic.twitter.com/U5TANpu2uQ
