Jason Reitman (“Juno,” “Up in the Air”) is directing a homemade fan film of the movie “The Princess Bride” — remotely — for Quibi. It was filmed over a two-week period with a quarantined cast. The actors shot themselves with mobile phones.
Beginning today, Quibi will release short movie chapters daily for 14 days, reports Variety.
The remake has an impressive ensemble, including Joe Jonas, Sophie Turner, Tiffany Haddish, Common and Hugh Jackman, among others. Doing the production remotely allowed creative flexibility: The actors got to trade off roles throughout scenes. For example, Jonas plays Princess Buttercup, while Turner is Westley.
Based on the book “The Princess Bride,” the story concerns Westley, a farmhand, who must rescue his true love, Princess Buttercup, from the evil Prince Humperdinck. He does so with the help of friends he discovers in his journey. The backdrop: A fairy tale is read to an ill boy by his grandfather. Initially, the boy is indifferent to the story, but soon becomes hooked.
Others in the cast include: Taika Waititi, Jennifer Garner, Elijah Wood, Jon Hamm, Beanie Feldstein, Lucas Hedges, Jenna Ortega, Jack Black, David Oyelowo, Keegan-Michael Key, Patton Oswalt, Josh Gad and Diego Luna.
As a nod to the movie’s past, original “Bride” director Rob Reiner will play “The Grandfather,” first played by Peter Falk, and Fred Savage, featured as his grandson three decades ago, will re-play him again.
Quibi donated $1 million in the name of the project to chef José Andrés’ charity World Central Kitchen, which feeds those hardest hit by COVID-19.