Matilda the Musical is set to air on BBC One this Christmas.
The movie – itself an adaptation of the Tim Minchin stage musical – was originally released in UK cinemas two years ago, before landing on Netflix last summer.
The BBC has now confirmed that the film is one of a number that will air on the broadcaster this festive season, including Marvel's Black Panther, Minions: The Rise of Gru, Incredibles 2 and King Richard.
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Matilda the Musical stars Alisha Weir as Matilda, alongside Emma Thompson as the villainous Miss Trunchball, No Time to Die's Lashana Lynch as Miss Honey, Peaky Blinders' Stephen Graham and Mr Wormwood and Lee's Andrea Riseborough as Mrs Wormwood.
The movie caused some controversy among UK fans in 2022 after being released on Netflix worldwide at the same time as its British cinema release, with fans waiting months before it hit the streaming service in the UK.
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Minchin responded to the backlash at the time, sharing in a series of tweets: "1. I’m sorry. 2. It wasn’t up to me. 3. As filmmakers, we would prefer audiences to see the film in a cinema."
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He added: "There is a commercial reason why it has worked out this way, involving the fact that the film was funded by Sony and Netflix.
"Sony isn’t a streamer, and therefore retained the rights to release the movie in the UK in the traditional manner. It might be disappointing (and a bit baffling), but it makes sense, and is one of the reasons the film is so good. Xx."
Matilda the Musical will air on BBC One this Christmas. The movie is currently available to stream on Netflix.
Sam is a freelance reporter and sub-editor who has a particular interest in movies, TV and music. After completing a journalism Masters at City University, London, Sam joined Digital Spy as a reporter, and has also freelanced for publications such as NME and Screen International. Sam, who also has a degree in Film, can wax lyrical about everything from Lord of the Rings to Love Is Blind, and is equally in his element crossing every 't' and dotting every 'i' as a sub-editor.
