Anxiously waiting for another fix of Regency-era dramas? Is rewatching “Bridgerton” or the 1995 edition of “Sense and Sensibility” no longer enough? Well, this summer, “Mr. Malcolm’s List” will be arriving to satisfy anyone’s cravings for swoon-worthy period romances.
The trailer, which dropped today, May 25, shows glimpses of Selina Dalton (Freida Pinto) as she struggles to conform to the strict expectations of women and courtship in 1820s England. But Selina’s dull life is interrupted by a letter from Julia Thistlewaite (Zawe Ashton), who invites Selina to London. However, this is not a normal friendly visit—instead, Julia has enlisted Selina in a plot of revenge against the prickly and arrogant Mr. Jeremiah Malcolm (Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù).
The trailer shows Julia and other friends coming together to create the perfect wife in Selina, at least according to Mr. Malcolm’s thorough and detailed list of ideal qualities in a woman. The kicker? For Selina to reject the man once he falls in love with her. Of course, such schemes rarely come to fruition; in fact, Selina learns that deception becomes much harder when love is involved. The trailer also features peeks at a colorful and lively cast, with actors like Ashley Park, Oliver Jackson-Cohen, Theo James and Sophie Vavasseur navigating the complex courtship rules of Regency-era England.
Fans of the original novel can rest easy, as “Mr. Malcom’s List” author Suzanne Allain has remained a large part of the production process as the scriptwriter, while Emma Holly Jones is at the helm as director. The film hits theaters on July 1, but if you can’t get enough of lovelorn British characters in the meantime, be sure to check out the full trailer of “Mr. Malcolm’s List” below and purchase the novel here!
