Spencer is a biographical drama directed by Pablo Larran and starring Kristen Stewart. The screenplay was written by Steven Knight, who also wrote the Tom Hardy character piece Locke. During the Christmas season of 1991, Spencer follows Diana. She spends the holidays with the Royal family, but she realizes she no longer wants to be married to Prince Charles. On social media, there has been speculation about how Larran plans to approach Diana and her story.
The press has drawn parallels between Spencer and the Netflix series The Crown. In an interview with Indiewire, Larran discussed how he has shrugged off any comparisons. He stated, “I’ve seen every episode of The Crown not only for this movie but because I enjoy it.” “It’s excellent television. Peter Morgan and his team are true professionals. That is something I admire and respect. However, our approaches to similar historical materials and the humanity of these characters are vastly different.”
Spencer has been compared to a number of different shows, including The Crown. Ophrah Winfrey’s interview with Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex about the Royal Family was also mentioned. Larran, on the other hand, dismissed such comparisons. The director stated, “There’s a lot going on in the Royal family right now, and I’m not the person who can draw any conclusions about it.” “That is something the audience can do for themselves. I have a great deal of admiration for William and Harry. When I see them, I think of Diana and how she was first and foremost a mother.”
Larran is clearly interested in delving into a fictionalized version of Diana in Spencer. People are bound to draw comparisons to other Royal family content, but he isn’t drawing inspiration from any of them.
Princess Diana is played by Kristen Stewart.
Since her dazzling performance in Olivier Assayas’ Personal Shopper, Larran has been keeping an eye on Stewart. Following Stewart’s casting, Spencer’s development accelerated. Larran recalled of her performance, “There were many things she delivered that words cannot describe.” “That is where cinema begins to function.”
Stewart worked with William Connicker, a dialogue coach, to ensure that the performance was flawless. She didn’t want Diana to be depicted in an obvious way during the performance. Larran stated, “She was never attempting to imitate Diana.” “That’s when things start to get dangerous. She created a character who has the ability to ride illusions in a very personal and mysterious manner. She’s extremely difficult to read as an actress.”
Stewart’s transformation into the character, according to Larran, was impressive. She embodied key aspects of Diana while also injecting a bit of herself into the role. “She became a poetic combination of herself and Diana once she was confident with the accent and all the sort of practical verbal issues,” he said. “I’m not sure what most people see in Kristen, but I see someone who was able to capture the physicality and style of the great 1950s and 1960s actresses. In the best possible way, we felt like we were watching an old-school type of performance. We couldn’t get enough of what she was doing.”
Larran went on to say, “I witnessed an incredible connection between Kristen and [cinematographer] Claire.” “Both the camera and the character were literally dancing. It was simply breathtaking to witness.”
The ‘Spencer’ Accent of Kristen Stewart
There were some reservations about casting an American actor as Diana at first. There is a plethora of British talent who would have jumped at the chance to play the part. Stewart, on the other hand, wowed Larran. She’s still known as the Twilight actor, but she’s long since disproved any doubts about her acting abilities.
The Spencer trailer demonstrated why Stewart was the best choice for the part. Her command of the accent wowed audiences all over the world. However, it’s not just the way she speaks; it’s also how much she can convey through her facial expressions.
Spencer will be released in theaters on November 5th.