In this week’s episode of The Discourse, host Mike DeAngelo suspects something is not what it seems when discussing “Magpie.” The thriller follows a couple who find their lives turned upside-down when their daughter is cast in a film alongside a controversial major star. The Sam Yates-directed film stars Daisy Ridley, Shazad Latif, Matilda Lutz, Pippa Bennett-Warner, and more.
Producer and star Daisy Ridley joins the podcast to discuss her new film, which, as it turns out, was her original idea that she then shared with her screenwriter husband, Tom Bateman (“Murder on the Orient Express,” “Thirteen Lives”). The writer then took it and ran with it but found a secondary character was drawing his attention.
“The original idea was actually different. The original idea was an actress who falls so in love with the family she’s working with that she actually tries to infiltrate that family,” Ridley shares. “I was on set at the time, and it was COVID time. So when I wasn’t on set, surrounded by people, as one is on a film set, I was incredibly isolated as we all were at that time. That sort of flip-flop of things just got me thinking about people who don’t have the stability to return to after a job. So that was actually the original idea. And I told Tom about it, and he started writing. But his feeling was that he was much more drawn to the woman at home and what someone is going through – the main of which is that she’s in a deeply unhappy marriage.”
“But what is that like for the woman at home whose daughter is really the light of her life? And she goes to work and calls another person mommy,” Ridley continued. “And she has this life that Annette isn’t really part of. Coupled with that, knowing that her husband has a wandering eye. And the minute he gets back from work that very first day, Annette is already sniffing that this is happening again. And what that might do to a person.”
“Magpie” is not Ridley’s first collaboration with her husband. The two met and worked together on “Murder on the Orient Express,” but “Magpie” was a completely different collaborative experience for the couple.
“This is an unusual one for Tom because I’ve read a few of his other scripts that are in development now, and they are beautiful, but usually he waits a long time,” Ridley said. “He waits many, many, many drafts to show me what he’s done. So in this way, this was a totally different thing because he’d write 20, 30 pages, show it to me, I’d read it and go, ‘Yeah, I think this, or ‘yeah, I think this.’ And he would sort of sculpt from there.”
Of course, the interview turned to a certain space-based franchise and whether we might see Ridley stepping into a role in a recently announced sequel— “Spaceballs 2.”
“Ha— ‘Spaceballs 2.’ No, you’re the first person to ask me that,” Ridley laughed. “Well, a friend of mine is —I don’t know if it’s public knowledge, but a friend of mine might be involved in the certain ‘Spaceballs’ thing. Maybe I spoke to them about something.”
But yes, “Star Wars” did come up. Seeing as the interview occurred just after the news of Steven Knight dropping out as writer of the Rey-based film, Ridley could only comment on the journey and excitement for things to come.
“We don’t have a date,” Ridley said. “I think the creative process is one that is really a journey and I’m really genuinely excited. And I have said I’m excited, but I really do mean I’m excited about what’s coming. And I think we really have the luxury of making sure that this is the right.”
Yes—it seems Disney has learned to not rush into production on “Star Wars” films after the experience making the most recent trilogy with only partially finished scripts.
“So when everything is ready to go, we will be going,” Ridley added. “And it’s very – yeah, it’s good.”
The Playlist Presents – Scott Beck and Bryan Woods’ Film/TV Recommendation Playlist:
1.) “Slow Horses” (2022-Present) – Created By Will Smith
2.) “Only Murders in the Building” (2021-Present) – Created By John Hoffman & Steve Martin
3.) “Ru Paul’s Drag Race UK” (2019-Present) – Created By Ru Paul
4.) “Great British Baking Show” (2023) – Created By Anna Beattie
“Magpie” is on VOD platforms now. You can listen to the full interview below:
The Discourse is part of The Playlist Podcast Network, which includes The Playlist Podcast, Deep Focus, Bingeworthy, and more. We can be heard on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Soundcloud, and most places where podcasts are found. You can stream the podcast via the embed within the article or click on the lead image at the top page. Be sure to subscribe and drop us a comment or a rating, as we greatly appreciate it. Thank you for listening.
