Ella Purnell has landed her next lead role in a new thriller from Hera Pictures, the production company behind Hamnet. The Sweetpea and Yellowjackets star will join Nicholas Galitzine in The Return of Stanley Atwell, described as a "bold and provocative story."
The film was written and directed by Brian Welsh, who helmed What It Feels Like for a Girl for BBC Three last year. Welsh adapted an original story idea from Oscar-winner Steven Soderbergh, who will serve as the film's executive producer, alongside Hera Pictures and John Gore Studios.
Red, White & Royal Blue's Galitzine, stars as Stanley Atwell, the heir to Lord Atwell’s title and fortune, who is presumed dead.
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Chaos ensues when Atwell unexpectedly returns to the family estate having escaped a decade of mysterious captivity. There he finds his sister Beatrice has been fighting to claim his inheritance, while close friend Pamela (Purnell) manipulates his shock return, and a dark family secret, to take the Atwell fortune for heself.
The film's synopsis (via Variety) continues: "Sex, passion, backstabbing and betrayal wreak havoc across the estate as the lies and deception the Atwell name has been built upon start to unravel.
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"How far is each family member willing to go to protect their own wealth and status… and what is really behind the return of Stanley Atwell?"
Speaking about Purnell's casting, Welsh said in a statement: "Ella has an incredible ability to move between vulnerability, humour and danger.
"She’s a wonderfully versatile actor and I’m thrilled to have her joining Nicholas in The Return of Stanley Atwell. It’s a brilliant combination and I look forward to seeing Ella make the role her own."
John Gore, founder of John Gore Studios, added: "Ella Purnell brings a magnetic screen presence, remarkable emotional nuance, and an instinct for making complex characters feel utterly authentic.
"We are thrilled to have her onboard. We’re also delighted to be collaborating with Hera Pictures and Brian Welsh on such a bold and provocative story."
Purnell was last seen on the small screen in Sweetpea, which is returning for a second season.
The first-look images of season two were unveiled by Sky earlier this month, with a release date for the follow-up yet to be confirmed.
The synopsis for season two reads: "Navigating a new promotion, an irresistible rebound, and a copycat killer threatening to expose her, the kill list is mounting. And Rhiannon is forced to question whether her perfect ex AJ was right: is she a monster?"
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Stephanie is a freelance news writer, who previously covered WWE and AEW for Digital Spy.
After graduating with a degree in history from Queen Mary University, London, she studied journalism at Birkbeck University.
Outside of her work at Digital Spy, she writes about pop culture, with a special focus towards Irish media and how it intersects with politics.
You can read more of her work on her Substack page.
