It’s been announced at Cannes that a movie version of Stephen Fry’s debut novel The Hippopotamus is coming together, with Roger Allam set to play the lead role, according to Variety.
Allam is most acclaimed as a stage actor who’s won three Olivier Awards (his take on Shakespeare’s Falstaff was lauded as one of the best in recent years), but has also appeared in the likes of V For Vendetta, The Queen, The Woman In Black and various UK TV shows.
Fry’s book was first published in 1994, and while it got a mixed reaction from critics it’s stayed popular with reader.
Allam will play ‘disgraced poet Ted Wallace, who is summoned to his friend’s country manor to investigate a series of unexplained miracles.’ In the novel, Ted’s godson has been ascribed healing powers, but its the uncovering of the Logan family’s back story and sexual proclivities that proves more interesting.
The movie will shoot in the UK this August.
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