'Firebrand' Aims to Reimagine the Story of Henry VIII's Final Wife
Although England's King Henry VIII famously had six wives, mainstream pop culture has not been equally interested in all these women's stories. Modern audiences remain generally fascinated by the downfall of second wife Anne Boleyn, a woman who pushed boundaries and triumphed from beyond the grave when her daughter went on to become one of her country's greatest monarchs. (See also: Wolf Hall, Anne Boleyn, and The Tudors.) Premium cable network Starz found a hit in The Spanish Princess, which focused on the early life of first wife Catherine of Aragon before she became the staid, religious figure history likes to remember from her later years. And even though Jane Seymour's story remains woefully underexplored by popular media, it's awfully tough to forget the wife who finally gave Henry a son.
When they're mentioned at all, Henry's later wives generally exist as footnotes: Anne of Cleves is remembered almost solely for being the one Henry didn't think was as pretty as her portrait, while Katherine Howard's claim to historical fame lies in her youth and promiscuity. By the time we get to Katherine Parr, Henry's final wife, she seems remarkable only in that she managed to survive him.
But the upcoming historical film Firebrand aims to change all that. Based on Elizabeth Fremantle’s bestselling historical novel Queen’s Gambit, the film follows Katherine's marriage to Henry and how she fell foul of her husband’s courtiers. Producer Gabrielle Tana first announced the project with four-time Oscar nominee — and beloved Dawson's Creek alum — Michelle Williams in the role of Katherine. However, she has since been replaced by Tomb Raider star Alicia Vikander, who was most recently seen in the dual roles of Essel and The Lady opposite Dev Patel in A24's ambitious The Green Knight.
