Felicity Jones, Jonathan Bailey Drop Out of Simon Amstell Comedy Maria (EXCLUSIVE)

Felicity Jones and Jonathan Bailey are no longer attached to star in Simon Amstells comedy Maria, Variety can confirm. The movie is currently on pause after cast scheduling issues were followed by last years Hollywood strikes, although a source says Amstell is in talks to revive the project, which was first launched at Cannes two

Felicity Jones and Jonathan Bailey are no longer attached to star in Simon Amstell’s comedy “Maria,” Variety can confirm.

The movie is currently on pause after cast scheduling issues were followed by last year’s Hollywood strikes, although a source says Amstell is in talks to revive the project, which was first launched at Cannes two years ago.

Jones was set to lead the feature, playing a woman called Maria who was struggling with her age and a difficult relationship with her terminally-ill father. According to the logline, Maria then embarked on a questionable relationship with her stepbrother Raffy.

Related Stories

The Emmys award holding an eyeball VIP+

Emmys Rebound Bolsters 2024 Awards Show Ratings

L-R: Kelsey Grammer as Frasier, Edward Hibbert as Gil, Dan Butler as Bulldog, and Peri Gilpin as Roz in Frasier, episode 8, season 2 streaming on Paramount+, 2024. Photo credit: Chris Haston/Paramount+

The ‘Frasier’ Reboot Returns: Here's How to Watch the New Season Online

“Bridgerton’s” Jonathan Bailey was lined up to play Maria’s boyfriend while Jason Isaacs was cast as her father.

Popular on Variety

Variety understands the film, which was due to go into production in 2022, hit its first road bump when Bailey pulled out in order to star in another project. While Isaacs remained on board, Jones eventually also parted ways with the film. Attempts to re-cast the characters were derailed by last year’s SAG-AFTRA strike and Amstell, who wrote and was set to direct “Maria” (a follow-up to his 2018 feature “Benjamin”) was soon busy with other projects.

Reps for Amstell and sales agent Independent Entertainment declined to comment but sources indicate to Variety that the creative team have not given up on the film and hope it can be rebooted with a new cast.

Jones is next set to star opposite Joel Edgerton in Clint Bentley’s feature “Train Dreams” while Bailey will appear alongside Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo in “Wicked.” Isaacs has signed up for “White Lotus” Season 3.

Read More About:

Jump to Comments

More from Variety

Most Popular

Must Read

Sign Up for Variety Newsletters

By providing your information, you agree to our Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy.We use vendors that may also process your information to help provide our services. // This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Variety Confidential

A Variety and iHeartRadio Podcast

ncG1vNJzZmiukae2psDYZ5qopV9nfXOAjp%2BgpaVfnLmwrsClZp%2BdnJ6wqsDYZqGoppWoeq6t0aKYZpuforKlxYysoKannmKurr%2FTnqOlZWFngHaFlG1ucmxf

 Share!