Here’s a buzzy new project for “Fallout” actress Ella Purnell. Variety reports that the British actress will join Nicholas Galitzine in “The Return Of Stanley Atwell,” with Brian Welsh writing and directing. What’s more, the film, described to the outlet as a “seductive thriller,” is based on an original story by Steven Soderbergh, who’s also on board as an executive producer.
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The film follows Galitzine’s Stanley Atwell, the presumed dead son and heir to his father’s title and fortune, after he returns to the family estate after having escaped a decade of mysterious captivity. Everyone’s shocked at Stanley’s homecoming, most especially his irate sister, who’s had her eye on his inheritance. In a bid to seize what’s rightfully his, Stanley joins forces with a close friend, Purnell’s Pamela, to use a dark family secret to their advantage. In other words, expect lots of deception, betrayal, backstabbing, sex, passion, and family drama as the various Atwells vie to acquire the family name for themselves.
From that setup, the register of Soderbergh’s story is dark Jacobean theater, plays famous for their schemes, violence, and black comedy. It’ll be the second time he and Welsh work together, after “Beats,” a film about ’90s UK rave culture. “Atwell” is Welsh’s follow-up to last year’s “What It Feels Like For A Girl,” based on the Y2K memoir of the same name. Meanwhile, Liza Marshall will produce “Atwell” via Hera Pictures alongside John Gore of John Gore Studios. Executive producers beyond Soderbergh include Hilary Strong and Francis Hopkinson.
“Atwell” is another upcoming film role for Purnell, an actress best known for her TV roles. The actress has had quite the busy (and successful) past few years on the small screen with “Fallout,” “Yellowjackets,” and “Sweetpea,” with S2 for the Sky/Starz series on the way later this year. Purnell’s other upcoming movies include “The Scurry,” a British horror comedy, and “That Time We Met,” a rom-com with Pete Davidson.
“The Return of Stanley Atwell” continues an exceptionally busy few years for Purnell, currently seen starring in season two of video game adaptation “Fallout” on Amazon Prime Video. Meanwhile, the first look from season two of the Sky and Starz dark thriller series “Sweetpea,” for which she also serves as an executive producer and is due out later this year, has just been revealed. She’s also set to appear in the British comedy horror film “The Scurry” alongside Paapa Essiedu and was recently cast in the rom-com “That Time We Met” alongside Pete Davidson.
“Ella has an incredible ability to move between vulnerability, humour and danger,” Welsh said about Purnell’s casting. “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.
So when should “The Return of Stanley Atwell” reach audiences? If it shoots this year, it’s a safe bet for sometime in 2027.
