{{Short description|2023 Italian-American fantasy film}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2026}} {{Infobox film | name = Wonderwell | image = ВВпостер.jpg | director = Vlad Marsavin | writer = William Brookfield | based_on = ''Drainhole Dreaming'' by William Brookfield | producer = {{plainlist| * Fred Roos * Alexander Roos * Vlad Marsavin * Robert Bernacchi * Orian Williams * Lee Rudnicki }} | starring = {{plainlist| * Carrie Fisher * Rita Ora * Kiera Milward * Nell Tiger Free * Sebastian Croft * Vincent Spano * Megan Dodds * Lloyd Owen * Niccolo Besio }} | cinematography = Kenji Katori | editing = Emma E. Hickox | music = {{plainlist| * William Ross * Angelo Badalamenti }} | studio = Strange Quark Films | distributor = {{plainlist| * Vertical (North America, UK and Ireland) * Epic Pictures (International) }} | released = {{film date|2023|6|23}} | runtime = 96 minutes | country = {{plainlist| * United States * Italy }} | language = English }}
'''''Wonderwell''''' is a 2023 Italian-American fantasy film directed by Vlad Marsavin, produced by Fred Roos, and based on the short story "Drainhole Dreaming" by William Brookfield. It stars Carrie Fisher (in her final film role before her death in 2016), Rita Ora, Kiera Milward, and Nell Tiger Free.
== Synopsis == At 12 years old, Violet (Kiera Milward) lives in Italy with her parents (Lloyd Owen and Megan Dodds) and her beautiful older sister Savannah (Nell Tiger Free). When she is selected to be the face of world-renowned designer Yana’s (Rita Ora) fashion label, the family travels to an enchanting medieval village for her first photo shoot. Neglected and bored, Violet wanders from the ancient Tuscan town into a nearby forest where she meets the enigmatic Hazel (Carrie Fisher), who may be the fabled witch of the woods Violet was warned about by Yana’s beleaguered stepson, Daniele (Sebastian Croft). Guided by Hazel to a mysterious portal, Violet is offered a glimpse of what her future might hold, but like the transition from childhood to womanhood, it may be a journey of no return.
==Cast== * Kiera Milward as Violet * Carrie Fisher as Hazel * Rita Ora as Yana * Nell Tiger Free as Savannah * Sebastian Croft as Daniele * Vincent Spano as Franco * Megan Dodds as Chlo * Lloyd Owen as Adam * Niccolo Besio as Enrico * Giorgia Gargano as Anna * Maria Grazia Cucinotta as Anna's Mother
== Production == Principal photography took place in Tuscany and in Cinecittà Studios in Rome, Italy between October 2016 and February 2017. Several scenes were shot in ancient Etruscan towns San Gimigniano and Volterra. Veteran producer Fred Roos, known for his lifelong collaboration with Francis Ford Coppola, brought Fisher, Ora and a number of the key creative team to the project. Fisher, who died in late 2016,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-06-14 |title=Carrie Fisher's 'magical' final film gets release date 7 years after death |url=https://nypost.com/2023/06/14/carrie-fishers-magical-final-film-gets-release-date-7-years-after-death/ |access-date=2023-11-10 |language=en-US |archive-date=2023-11-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231101021317/https://nypost.com/2023/06/14/carrie-fishers-magical-final-film-gets-release-date-7-years-after-death/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-06-16 |title=Carrie Fisher's last movie, 'Wonderwell,' finally has a release date — and it's coming soon |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2023-06-16/carrie-fisher-last-movie-wonderwell-release-date |access-date=2023-11-10 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US |archive-date=2023-10-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231020101619/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2023-06-16/carrie-fisher-last-movie-wonderwell-release-date |url-status=live }}</ref> just six weeks after wrapping her scenes, leads the cast alongside British singer and actress Rita Ora<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rita Ora on Acting with the Late Carrie Fisher in Her Final Film: I'll 'Cherish the Experience Forever' (Exclusive) |url=https://people.com/rita-ora-recalls-acting-with-carrie-fisher-in-her-final-film-wonderwell-exclusive-interview-7564270 |access-date=2023-11-10 |website=Peoplemag |language=en |archive-date=2023-10-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231020101617/https://people.com/rita-ora-recalls-acting-with-carrie-fisher-in-her-final-film-wonderwell-exclusive-interview-7564270 |url-status=live }}</ref> and newcomer Kiera Milward.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2023-07-07 |title=Wonderwell star Kiera Milward - Exclusive Interview |url=https://www.flickeringmyth.com/2023/07/exclusive-interview-wonderwell-star-kiera-milward/ |access-date=2023-11-10 |website=Flickering Myth |language=en-US |archive-date=2023-12-05 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20231205204405/https://www.flickeringmyth.com/2023/07/exclusive-interview-wonderwell-star-kiera-milward/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
The film's score, composed by William Ross, was performed by the London Symphony Orchestra. The late Angelo Badalamenti, known for his collaborations with David Lynch on projects including ''Twin Peaks'' and ''Mulholland Drive'', composed the film's "Violet’s Theme". One of the film's central characters, The Creature, was inspired by Cel, the Etruscan goddess of the Mother Earth and designed by art director Daniele Auber, known for his works for Terry Gilliam and Luc Besson.
Due to interruptions with funding, post-production was extended until early 2020, and then, due to the COVID-19 lockdowns, all work on the almost finished film was suspended for several months.
==Release== On June 14, 2023, ''Deadline Hollywood'' has announced that Vertical acquired North American, UK, and Ireland rights to the film and published an announcement of the film's release, and on June 16, 2023, it published the official theatrical poster and first official trailer. The film had a limited theatrical release in the U.S. and also appeared on all online platforms on June 23, 2023.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Wiseman|first=Andreas|date=2023-06-14|title=Carrie Fisher's Last Film 'Wonderwell' Is Finally Getting Released After A "Perilous" Seven-Year Journey; Rita Ora Co-Stars In Fantasy Movie Produced By Francis Ford Coppola Collaborator Fred Roos|url=https://deadline.com/2023/06/carrie-fisher-last-film-wonderwell-rita-ora-release-america-star-wars-1235416969/|access-date=2023-11-10|website=Deadline|language=en-US|archive-date=2023-06-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230614162307/https://deadline.com/2023/06/carrie-fisher-last-film-wonderwell-rita-ora-release-america-star-wars-1235416969/|url-status=live}}</ref>
''Wonderwell'' was also released in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Poland, Slovakia, and the Benelux countries on November 24, 2023, by Splendid Film.{{citation needed|reason=Please provide a source as to the fact that the film was released in these countries in November 2023.|date=September 2024}}
== Reception == {{Rotten Tomatoes prose|38|3.3|8|consensus=}}<ref>{{Cite web|website=Rotten Tomatoes|access-date=4 January 2024|title=Wonderwell|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/wonderwell}}</ref>
The release of the last Carrie Fisher film was welcomed with enthusiasm by her fans and by fans of the fantasy genre.<ref name="Deadline-final">{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2023-06-14 |title=Carrie Fisher's Last Film 'Wonderwell' Is Finally Getting Released After A "Perilous" Seven-Year Journey; Rita Ora Co-Stars In Fantasy Movie Produced By Francis Ford Coppola Collaborator Fred Roos |url=https://deadline.com/2023/06/carrie-fisher-last-film-wonderwell-rita-ora-release-america-star-wars-1235416969/ |access-date=2023-11-10 |website=Deadline |language=en-US |archive-date=2023-06-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230614162307/https://deadline.com/2023/06/carrie-fisher-last-film-wonderwell-rita-ora-release-america-star-wars-1235416969/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
Benjamin Lee of ''The Guardian'' gave the film one out of five stars, deeming it "a rather limp, confusing little fantasy that could have been left gathering even more dust on the shelf without anyone needing to know".<ref>{{Cite web|website=The Guardian|first=Benjamin|last=Lee|title=Wonderwell review – Carrie Fisher's final film is an ill-fitting tribute|date=23 June 2023|url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2023/jun/23/wonderwell-review-carrie-fisher-final-film-rita-ora}}</ref>
Independent blogger Mike Haberfelner called ''Wonderwell'' "a visually stunning film, full of impressive set designs", "a mix of coming-of-age story, dark fairy tale and thriller, in which well fleshed-out characters are embodied by a relatable ensemble cast, making this a pretty cool and pretty unusual ride."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wonderwell review |url=https://www.searchmytrash.com/movies/wonderwell(2023).shtml |accessdate=2023-11-10 |website=searchmytrash.com |archive-date=2023-12-05 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20231205204450/https://www.searchmytrash.com/movies/wonderwell(2023).shtml |url-status=live }}</ref>
WORLDFILMGEEK portal said that “Wonderwell is a terrific and emotionally charged fantasy film that closes the book of a Hollywood icon. Carrie Fisher’s final performance is a wonderful delight to see as someone who not only loves the work but brings that iconic off-screen personality to the screens. We still miss Carrie Fisher, but there couldn’t be a better sendoff than this film.”<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-07-13 |title=Wonderwell (USA/Italy, 2023) |url=https://worldfilmgeek.com/2023/07/13/wonderwell-usa-italy-2023/ |access-date=2024-03-22 |website=WorldFilmGeek |language=en}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{IMDb title}}
Category:2023 adventure films Category:2023 fantasy films Category:2023 films Category:Films about children Category:Films about witchcraft Category:Italian fantasy films Category:2023 English-language films Category:2023 Italian films Category:2023 American films Category:English-language fantasy films Category:English-language adventure films