First MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS Trailer, Starring Saoirse Ronan And Margot Robbie, Packs A Powerful Punch

Check out the first trailer for MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS, starring Saoirse Ronan and Margot Robbie. The film is directed by Josie Rourke (artistic director of The Donmar Warehouse).

MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS explores the turbulent life of the charismatic Mary Stuart (Ronan). Queen of France at 16 and widowed at 18, Mary defies pressure to remarry. Instead, she returns to her native Scotland to reclaim her rightful throne. But Scotland and England fall under the rule of the compelling Elizabeth I (Robbie). Each young Queen beholds her “sister” in fear and fascination. Rivals in power and in love, and female regents in a masculine world, the two must decide how to play the game of marriage versus independence.

Determined to rule as much more than a figurehead, Mary asserts her claim to the English throne, threatening Elizabeth’s sovereignty. Betrayal, rebellion, and conspiracies within each court imperil both thrones – and change the course of history.

Wow, this looks beautiful. The attention to detail in the costuming (Alexandra Byrne) and Hair & Makeup is impeccable and should see Oscar nominations. It’ll likely garner ones for cinematography (John Mathieson), among below the line Academy Awards nods, such as score (Max Richter) and art direction.

It being a biopic, which I’m sure historians will find some errors in the facts, and based on the lives of the two monarchs, the film could also see some love from the guilds as well as nominations in the bigger categories such as screenplay, director, picture and particularly acting. Expect to see Ronan and Robbie on the red carpet, and frequently, for the upcoming awards shows. Smart move by Focus Features and Working Title to roll out the film in limited release for an awards season run on December 7, 2018. The DVD screeners will be in the hands of voters for the holiday season.

Focus Features  and Working Title do these type of historical films so well. Look at DARKEST HOUR with Gary Oldman in 2017. He went on to win Best Actor for portraying Winston Churchill. The studios will undoubtedly launch a HUGE Oscar campaign again. But both actresses could go lead – they’ll have to decide who will be supporting, which I suspect will be Robbie.

MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS also stars Jack Lowden, Joe Alwyn, Gemma Chan, Martin Compston, Ismael Cordova, Brendan Coyle, Ian Hart, Adrian Lester, James McArdle, with David Tennant, and Guy Pearce. The screenplay is from Beau Willimon (“The Ides of March,” “House of Cards”), based on Queen of Scots: The True Life of Mary Stuart by John Guy.