Lily James And Emma Thompson Join Rom-Com From ‘Elizabeth’ Director Shekhar Kapur

Already this year we’ve seen the returns of Sean Durkin (The Nest) and Brandon Cronenberg (Possessor) after a hiatus of nearly a decade. Now you can add Shekhar Kapur to the list of directors making a comeback with his first project since 2007’s Elizabeth: The Golden Age, and he’s assembled quite a cast for it.

Deadline reports Kapur will direct Lily James and Emma Thompson in rom-com What’s Love Got to Do with It? And no, this isn’t a remake of the Tina Turner biopic or anything. Plot details are under wraps, though, with the only thing we know is that it’ll take place in London and South Asia. Shazad Latif (Star Trek: Discovery) is also in the cast. The film will be written and produced by Jemima Khan, a producer on American Crime Story and We Steal Secrets. Khan’s background is in journalism, which makes this an interesting fit for her and Kapur.

Emma Thompson appears in Late Night by Nisha Ganatra, an official selection of the Premieres program at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival. Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Emily Aragones.
All photos are copyrighted and may be used by press only for the purpose of news or editorial coverage of Sundance Institute programs. Photos must be accompanied by a credit to the photographer and/or ‘Courtesy of Sundance Institute.’ Unauthorized use, alteration, reproduction or sale of logos and/or photos is strictly prohibited.

That Kapur is returning for this particular project should say something about the script’s strength. Kapur earned accolades for period dramas Elizabeth and its sequel, Elizabeth: The Golden Age. He also directed Heath Ledger in another historical film, The Four Feathers, and a segment for anthology New York, I Love You.

James seems to have a new project every other day. She can be seen right now opposite Armie Hammer in Rebecca. Thompson is…well, she’s Emma Thompson, a two-time Oscar winner who will be seen next in Disney’s Cruella.

Travis Hopson
Travis Hopson has been reviewing movies before he even knew there was such a thing. Having grown up on a combination of bad '80s movies, pro wrestling, comic books, and hip-hop, Travis is uniquely positioned to geek out on just about everything under the sun. A vampire who walks during the day and refuses to sleep, Travis is the co-creator and lead writer for Punch Drunk Critics. He is also a contributor to Good Morning Washington, WBAL Morning News, and WETA Around Town. In the five minutes a day he's not working, Travis is also a voice actor, podcaster, and Twitch gamer. Travis is a voting member of the Critics Choice Association (CCA), Washington DC Area Film Critics Association (WAFCA), and Late Night programmer for the Lakefront Film Festival.