The highly anticipated film adaptation of Enid Blyton’s The Magic Faraway Tree is set to arrive in UK cinemas on March 27th, 2026, with a cast including Claire Foy, Andrew Garfield, and Nicola Coughlan, according to Entertainment Film Distributors.
Director Ben Gregor has sought to immerse the young cast in the fantastical world of the story, filming scenes in elaborate sets designed to replicate the magical lands featured in Blyton’s novels. Thirteen-year-old Billie Gadsdon, who plays Fran Thompson, described filming in a grove of marshmallow trees and a Land of Birthdays constructed as a giant cake, complete with rollerskating elves. “I did eat a few,” Gadsdon confessed, referring to the edible props.
The film, adapted by Simon Farnaby, follows the Thompson family as they relocate to the British countryside and discover the enchanted tree that leads to a series of extraordinary worlds. Foy, known for her role as Queen Elizabeth II in The Crown, plays Polly Thompson, a mother who has recently lost her corporate job, prompting the family’s move. This represents a departure from the original books, where the mother is depicted as a traditional housewife.
Garfield, who co-starred with Foy in the 2017 film Breathe, described the experience of working with the young actors as a positive one. “They’ve managed to find and cast these three remarkable children – grounded, funny, joyful – who too happen to be incredible actors,” he said. The child actors include Delilah Bennett-Cardy as Beth Thompson and Phoenix Laroche as Joe Thompson.
The production has been a long-term project, with producer Pippa Harris of Neal Street Productions first securing the rights to the book series nearly two decades ago. The film’s creative team hopes to emulate the success Farnaby achieved with the Paddington films. The cast also includes Nonso Anozie as Moonface, Jessica Gunning as Dame Washalot, and Dustin Demri-Burns as the Saucepan Man.
Demri-Burns, who portrays the iconic Saucepan Man, described the challenges of the costume, which consists of numerous 3D-printed kitchen implements. “My shoulders do ache by the end of the day,” he said, adding that the character is “a bit hard of hearing, because of all the clanking, but he’s sort of resigned to it.”
Filming took place over three months, including night shoots in Malta for scenes set in the Land of Spells, which extended past Gadsdon’s bedtime. The Faraway Tree itself, a central element of the production, was painstakingly constructed based on real trees scouted by Gregor and production designer Alexandra Walker. It features a slide for quick exits from the magical lands.
Foy, who hadn’t read the books as a child, discovered them through an audiobook shared with her 10-year-old daughter. She noted the cultural significance of the source material, stating, “People get so emotional about it! They’re attached to these stories in a unique way.” She also reflected on the changing landscape of childhood and parenting, acknowledging the complexities of navigating a digital world.
