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'The Favourite' teaser: Olivia Colman is the Queen in the new film from the director of 'The Lobster'

Olivia Colman dons the crown in the first teaser for <i>The Favourite</i> (Fox Searchlight)
Olivia Colman dons the crown in the first teaser for The Favourite (Fox Searchlight)

Before Olivia Colman ascends the throne as Queen Elizabeth II in season 3 of Netflix’s The Crown, the national treasure can be seen getting regally royal as 18th century monarch Queen Anne in The Favourite, the new film from Yorgos Lanthimos.

Anne ruled as Queen of Great Britain from 1702-1707, succeeding William III, and was the last monarch of the House of Stuart. Despite 17 pregnancies, Anne had no surviving heirs to succeed her on the throne.

Fox Searchlight has released the first trailer for the Greek director’s surreal new comedy, featuring Emma Stone, Rachel Weisz, Nicholas Hoult, and Colman as Queen Anne, and you can watch it in full below.

The film is based on an original script from the writer-director of The Lobster and The Killing of a Sacred Deer, and will show a frail queen at the end of her short reign.

Here’s the official synopsis: Early 18th century. England is at war with the French. Nevertheless, duck racing and pineapple eating are thriving. A frail Queen Anne (Olivia Colman) occupies the throne and her close friend Lady Sarah (Rachel Weisz) governs the country in her stead while tending to Anne’s ill health and mercurial temper.

Emma Stone affects a convincing English accent in the first teaser for Yorgos Lanthimos’ <i>The Favourite</i> (Fox Searchlight)
Emma Stone affects a convincing English accent in the first teaser for Yorgos Lanthimos’ The Favourite (Fox Searchlight)

When a new servant Abigail (Emma Stone) arrives, her charm endears her to Sarah. Sarah takes Abigail under her wing and Abigail sees a chance at a return to her aristocratic roots. As the politics of war become quite time consuming for Sarah, Abigail steps into the breach to fill in as the Queen’s companion. Their burgeoning friendship gives her a chance to fulfil her ambitions and she will not let woman, man, politics, or rabbit stand in her way.

Anyone who’s seen the director’s previous films will know what to expect: deadpan delivery, flights of surrealism, and scenes of explosive tension.

The Favourite is coming to cinemas later this year.

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