{{Short description|British drama film}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}} {{Infobox film | name = My Duchess | image = | caption = | director = [[Mike Newell (director)|Mike Newell]] | producer = {{Plainlist| * John Gore * [[Richard Holmes (producer)|Richard Holmes]] * Francis Hopkinson }} | screenplay = Louise Fennell | starring = {{Plainlist| * [[Joan Collins]] * [[Isabella Rossellini]] }} | music = | cinematography = Mike Eley | editing = | studio = John Gore Studios | distributor = | released = | runtime = | country = United Kingdom | language = English | budget = }}
'''''My Duchess''''' is an upcoming British [[biographical film|biographical]] [[drama film]] based on the later years of [[Wallis Simpson]]. It was directed by [[Mike Newell (director)|Mike Newell]], and stars [[Joan Collins]] and [[Isabella Rossellini]].
==Premise== The film documents the later years in the life of [[Wallis Simpson]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.televisual.com/news/john-gore-studios-launches-with-hilary-strong-as-ceo/|title=John Gore Studios launches with Hilary Strong as CEO|website=Televisual.com|accessdate=29 January 2025|date=29 January 2025|archive-date=February 11, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250211113123/https://www.televisual.com/news/john-gore-studios-launches-with-hilary-strong-as-ceo/|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Cast== * [[Joan Collins]] as [[Wallis Simpson]] * [[Isabella Rossellini]] as [[Suzanne Blum (lawyer)|Suzanne Blum]] * Buom Tihngang * [[Miranda Richardson]] * [[Charles Dance]] * [[Laurent Lafitte]] * Yves Heck * [[Roxane Duran]] * [[Jill Baker]] * [[Lambert Wilson]] * Philippe Spall * Richard Meek * David Langham * [[David Bamber]]
==Production== The film is written by Louise Fennell and directed by [[Mike Newell (director)|Mike Newell]]. It is produced by John Gore, Richard Holmes and Francis Hopkinson for John Gore Studios.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/john-gore-studios-hilary-strong-joan-collins-luke-hemsworth-1236121278/|first=Lily|last=Ford|date=January 30, 2025|title=John Gore Studios Launches With Hilary Strong as CEO and Joan Collins, Luke Hemsworth Projects|website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|accessdate=January 30, 2025|archive-date=January 30, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250130040045/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/john-gore-studios-hilary-strong-joan-collins-luke-hemsworth-1236121278/|url-status=live}}</ref> It was originally titled ''In Bed with the Duchess'' and ''The Bitter End''.<ref name="lewis">{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/jan/30/joan-collins-to-play-bedbound-wallis-simpson-in-new-biopic|website=[[The Guardian]]|accessdate=May 7, 2025|title= Joan Collins to play Wallis Simpson in new biopic|date=January 30, 2025|first=Katherine|last=Shoard}}</ref>
The film charts the final years of Wallis Simpson, the American divorcee who became the Duchess of Windsor after marrying King Edward VIII, the British King who chose love over duty.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://johngorestudios.com/isabella-rossellini-to-join-joan-collins-in-the-bitter-end-w-t/|website=John Gore Studios|date=Feb 26, 2025|title=Isabella Rossellini To Join Joan Collins in The Bitter End|accessdate=26 Feb 2025|archive-date=June 12, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250612130320/https://johngorestudios.com/isabella-rossellini-to-join-joan-collins-in-the-bitter-end-w-t/|url-status=live}}</ref>
The cast features [[Joan Collins]] as [[Wallis Simpson]] and also includes [[Isabella Rossilini|Isabella Rossellini]] as [[Suzanne Blum (lawyer)|Suzanne Blum]], a French lawyer and confidante of Simpson.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2025/film/global/isabella-rossellini-mike-newell-the-bitter-end-1236321011/|website=Variety|date=Feb 26, 2025|title=Isabella Rossellini Joins Mike Newell's Wallis Simpson Biopic 'The Bitter End'|accessdate=26 Feb 2025|first=Alex|last=Ritman|archive-date=February 26, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250226132100/https://variety.com/2025/film/global/isabella-rossellini-mike-newell-the-bitter-end-1236321011/|url-status=live}}</ref> Speaking to ''[[The Guardian]]'', Collins said she took the role at the age of 91 years-old because it had "a very good script and it’s a great part for me. I've always been fascinated by Wallis, because I think she was unfairly treated".<ref name="lewis"/>
Fennell's screenplay explores the chilling true story of the deeply complex and sinister relationship between Blum and Simpson and how as a result Wallis's once-glamorous life spiralled into terror and desperation in the last years of her life.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://johngorestudios.com/isabella-rossellini-to-join-joan-collins-in-the-bitter-end-w-t/|website=John Gore Studios|date=Feb 26, 2025|title=Isabella Rossellini To Join Joan Collins in The Bitter End|accessdate=26 Feb 2025|archive-date=June 12, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250612130320/https://johngorestudios.com/isabella-rossellini-to-join-joan-collins-in-the-bitter-end-w-t/|url-status=live}}</ref>
[[Principal photography]] began in May 2025 in London and the South-East of England.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2025/01/john-gore-film-tv-studio-joan-collins-wallis-simpson-1236270355/|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|accessdate=29 January 2025|title=Seasoned Broadway Producer John Gore Launches British Film & TV Studio; First Projects Include Joan Collins-Starring Wallis Simpson Biopic & Luke Hemsworth Horror|first=Max|last=Goldbart|date=January 29, 2025|archive-date=January 29, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250129212939/https://deadline.com/2025/01/john-gore-film-tv-studio-joan-collins-wallis-simpson-1236270355/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theknowledgeonline.com/news/the-bitter-end-begins-shooting-with-joan-collins-isabella-rossellini|website=The Knowledge Online|accessdate=May 7, 2025|first=Nia|last=Daniels|date=May 6, 2025|title=The Bitter End begins UK shoot with Joan Collins, Isabella Rossellini|archive-date=May 7, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250507134441/https://www.theknowledgeonline.com/news/the-bitter-end-begins-shooting-with-joan-collins-isabella-rossellini|url-status=live}}</ref> That same month, [[Miranda Richardson]], [[Charles Dance]], [[Laurent Lafitte]], Buom Tihngang, Yves Heck, [[Roxane Duran]], [[Jill Baker]], [[Lambert Wilson]], Philippe Spall, Richard Meek, David Langham, and [[David Bamber]] joined the cast.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tabbara |first=Mona |title=John Gore Studios, Embankment unveil first look at Joan Collins and Isabella Rossellini in 'The Bitter End' |url=https://www.screendaily.com/news/john-gore-studios-embankment-unveil-first-look-at-joan-collins-and-isabella-rossellini-in-the-bitter-end/5204976.article |access-date=2025-05-15 |website=Screen |language=en}}</ref>
''My Duchess'' is executive produced by Hilary Strong, Michael Foster and Percy Gibson. It also marks the first production to shoot on the historic stages of Ealing Studios following its recent expansion and renovation.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://johngorestudios.com/cast-and-creative-team-announced-for-the-bitter-end/|website=John Gore Studios|date= May 15, 2025|title=Cast and Creative Team Announced for The Bitter End|accessdate=15 May 2025}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{IMDb title|tt35623557}}
{{Mike Newell}}
[[Category:Upcoming films]] [[Category:2020s English-language films]] [[Category:2020s biographical drama films]] [[Category:British biographical drama films]] [[Category:Films shot in England]] [[Category:Films directed by Mike Newell]] [[Category:Cultural depictions of Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson]] [[Category:Upcoming English-language films]]