Kenneth Branagh, Uma Thurman to Voice Charles & Catherine Dickens in The King of Kings
April 25, 2024 (Seoul, South Korea) – A trio of stellar actors give voice to the featured members of the Dickens family as Academy Award winner Kenneth Branagh portrays Charles Dickens, Oscar nominee Uma Thurman plays Catherine Dickens and Golden Globe nominee Roman Griffin Davis gives life to Walter Dickens in Mofac Animation’s upcoming The King of Kings, an animated family film inspired by a little-known short story by Charles Dickens depicting the life and times of Jesus Christ.
Renowned for his big screen adaptations of William Shakespeare and Agatha Christie tales, Branagh changes gears to portray one of the greatest authors of the ages for The King of Kings. As Charles Dickens, Branagh portrays a man conflicted between his burgeoning career and his role as father to the Dickens clan and, in particular, his youngest son Walter (Davis). It’s his wife, Catherine Dickens, brought to animated life by Thurman with an even balance of wifely wisdom and motherly compassion, which suggests Charles might find a common bond with “king”-obsessed Walter in the sharing of the former’s story of Jesus. From there, the father-son duo embarks on an adventure like no other.
“It is through the Dickens family that our audience experiences the life of Jesus Christ, and Kenneth Branagh, Uma Thurman, and Roman Griffin Davis bring all the emotion, awe, heart, and gravitas to these essential characters,” says producer Anfernee Kim. “These three actors are at the core of our story and anchor a truly impressive cast – many of whom we look forward to sharing in the near future.”
Branagh, an eight-time Oscar-nominated actor, director, writer, and producer, won his first Academy Award for penning Belfast, the 2022 Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. Branagh has also received Oscar nominations for Best Picture (Belfast, 2022), twice for performance (My Week With Marilyn, 2012; Henry V, 1990), twice for direction (Belfast, 2022; Henry V, 1990), once for Best Adapted Screenplay (Hamlet, 1997), and one for Best Short Film/Live Action (Swan Song, 1993). He has been nominated for six Golden Globe awards, winning in 2022 for Best Screenplay (Belfast). Branagh has also been a fixture among the BAFTA awards, winning five times from amongst 12 nominations. His performance in the 2001 miniseries Conspiracy earned an Emmy award, his first win from four nominations.
Thurman, an Academy Award nominee for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her performance in Pulp Fiction (1995), gives a smart, heartwarming, calming portrayal of Catherine Dickens, providing the perfect balance to Branagh’s spread-to-thin Charles Dickens. Thurman’s career is filled with memorable performances, including winning a Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actress in a Miniseries or Motion Picture for Television in Hysterical Blindness (2003), as well as three additional Golden Globe nominations for her efforts in Pulp Fiction, Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2004) and Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2005). Next up, Thurman will star opposite Richard Gere and Jacob Elordi in Paul Schrader’s independent film Oh, Canada, premiering in competition at the 77th Cannes Film Festival and in Netflix film The Old Guard 2 opposite Charlize Theron.
At age 11, Davis made his major motion picture debut with a bang – starring as the title character in 2019’s Jojo Rabbit, for which he was nominated for 34 notable acting awards, ultimately claiming The Critic’s Choice Award for Best Young Performer as well as nominations for a Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Award. Davis knows well how to capture the true nature of a young person, elevating the rambunctious, excitable, and curious Walter to follow Branagh’s Charles into this epic adventure playfully. Beyond his key role in The King of Kings, Davis can be seen in Camille Griffin’s Silent Night opposite Keira Knightley and is providing a voice in the popular series Fables. He’ll soon be seen in Cinqué Lee’s A Rare Grand Alignment and is in varied stages of production in five upcoming films, including starring opposite Bill Nighy in 500 Miles and with Nick Frost in 152 Days, Rosie Day’s feature film director debut.
The King of Kings is a faith-based animated film is in its final stages of production at Mofac Animation, as well as in performance recordings from the United Kingdom to the Hawaiian Islands – and numerous locations in between. Branagh, Thurman and Davis are the first actors to be announced from a growing, A-list cast.
The King of Kings is directed by Seong-ho “Jay” Jang (Joint Security Area, The Taste of Money, Last Knights), one of the most respected filmmakers in Korea and an unparalleled pioneer in the visual effects realm. The film is co-written by Jang and Rob Edwards (Disney’s The Princess and the Frog and Treasure Planet). Emmy Award-winning dialogue & casting director Jamie Thomason (Spirited Away, The Tigger Movie) and veteran filmmaking aficionado Andrew Mann (Imperium, Outcast) serve as executive producers. Anfernee Kim (Last Knights, John Woo’sThe Crossing 2) is the film’s producer. Mofac Animation is currently seeking potential distributors for The King of Kings.
