Sky Cinema has released a trailer for ‘Genie’, a Sky Original Christmas fairytale comedy film from the Oscar-nominated screenwriter of Love Actually, Four Weddings and a Funeral and Notting Hill, starring the wonderful Melissa McCarthy and brilliant Paapa Essiedu.
Oscar nominee Melissa McCarthy (The Little Mermaid, Bridesmaids, Thunder Force) stars as Flora, a genie trapped for more than 2,000 years inside an antique jewellery box because of one teeny-tiny little misunderstanding with a sorcerer back in 77 B.C. After millennia of being summoned to grant wishes of gold doubloons and hot babes for greedy men, Flora is accidentally called to service by Bernard Bottle, played by Emmy nominee Paapa Essiedu (I May Destroy You, The Lazarus Project), whose life is unravelling around him.
Bernard’s been so busy working that he has lost sight of his marriage to his wife Julie (Tony nominee Denée Benton; The Gilded Age) and the childhood of his young daughter, Eve (Jordyn Mcintosh; Emancipation). When Bernard misses Eve’s birthday 12 days before Christmas because of work, Julie decides it’s time for a trial separation. And then Bernard’s tyrannical boss (Tony winner Alan Cumming; The Good Wife) fires him.
Alone in his New York City apartment, a despondent Bernard dusts off a jewellery box he finds in their home and unintentionally releases the one entity who just might be able to help him get his family back. Maybe. Possibly. It’s a long shot, frankly. But in the process, Flora and Bernard will discover that love, and an unexpected friendship, can unleash a special holiday magic all its own.
Genie is directed by Sam Boyd (In A Relationship, creator of the acclaimed series Love Life) and written by Richard Curtis, based on his 1991 teleplay Bernard and the Genie. The all-star supporting cast includes Screen Actors Guild nominee Marc Maron (GLOW), Screen Actors Guild winner Luis Guzmán (Hightown), Tate Ellington (The Brave) and Tony winner LaChanze (Broadway’s The Color Purple).
‘Genie’ is produced by Working Title’s Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner, by Riva Marker (The Guilty, Beasts of No Nation) and by Richard Curtis. The film is executive produced by Melissa McCarthy, Caroline Jaczko, Nicole King, Stacy O’Neil, Alexandra Loewy and Sarah-Jane Robinson.
‘Genie’, premieres on Sky Cinema and streaming service NOW from Friday, 1st December 2023. For those of you in the USA, the film premieres November 22, 2023, on Peacock.
