Cinderella is an upcoming American romantic musical comedy-drama. It is written and directed by Kay Cannon. The film is based on a fairy tale by Charles Perrault. It is produced by Columbia Pictures and Fulwell 73. It is a modern take from the traditional tale and follows the young Cinderella who lives with her abusive and overprotective stepmother and stepsisters.
It stars singer Camila Cabello as the titular character in her acting debut, with Idina Menzel, Minnie Driver, Nicholas Galitzine, Billy Porter, and Pierce Brosnan in featured roles.
Inspired by the châteaux of the Loire Valley, Waddesdon was built in a French-renaissance style by Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild in the late 1800s. The twisted turrets, golden brickwork, and countryside setting meant no Fairy Godmother transformation was needed to turn this National Trust property into the famous palace. The Manor’s exteriors, interiors, and wider grounds were all used in the production, and those who’ve visited will immediately recognize distinctive features such as the portico balcony.
This is not the first time Waddesdon appears as a royal residence on the silver screen, having doubled as Buckingham Palace in both The Queen (starring Helen Mirren) and The Crown, like Château de Fontainebleau in A Little Chaos (starring Kate Winslet), and even Versailles in BBC’s McMafia.
Kim Hallett, the filming consultant for Waddesdon, said, “Never before has Waddesdon played such a central role in a production of this scale, nor had the chance to shine as an instantly recognizable building in its own right. It’s been wonderful to see such a unique place bring its own magic and charm to this classic tale, and as Waddesdon is open to the public we look forward to welcoming visitors to come and see ‘Cinderella’s palace’ for themselves.”
Cinderella will be available on Amazon Prime Video on 3 September 2021. Waddesdon Manor is open to the public weekly, Wednesdays – Sundays.
