By Naman Ramachandran
The Magic of the Distant Tree E01. The Land of Toys (1997)
Jennifer Saunders (“Absolutely Fabulous”), Laurence Olivier Award winner Hiran Abeysekera (“The Life of Pi”) and Pippa Bennett-Warner (“Gangs of London”) have joined the cast of the film adaptation of Enid Blyton’s “The Magic Faraway Tree,” currently in production.
Based on Blyton's beloved "The Faraway Tree" series, the film follows the Thompson family as they move to the English countryside and discover a magical tree. The fantastical tree's inhabitants transport visitors to faraway lands, setting the stage for a series of whimsical adventures.
Saunders has been cast as the children's grandmother, Abeysekera as the Angry Pixie, and Bennett-Warner as the grandmother's assistant, Hannah. Newcomers Delilah Bennett-Cardy, Billie Gadsdon and Phoenix Laroche play the Thompson children.
