Rebecca Ferguson’s next movie character feeds into a past controversy surrounding a children’s book.Rebecca Ferguson’s movie careerhas been heating up over the past few years, withher most recent film including this year’s much-celebrated sci-fi sequelDune: Part Two, wherein she plays Lady Jessica. She also plays the lead role in the dystopian Apple TV+ showSilo. This career momentum has led to more and more role offers for Ferguson, who has a busy upcoming schedule.
One such role isa part inThe Magic Faraway Tree. The upcoming film is an adaptation of the children’s novel of the same name, which is part of theFaraway Treebook series by Enid Blyton. In addition to Rebecca Ferguson, the film adaptation ofThe Magic Faraway Treefeatures Andrew Garfield and Claire Foy. These two actors will play Polly and Tim, a couple who move to the English countryside with their three children. While the story between Polly, Tim, and their kids seems more wholesome, it is Ferguson’s character that will likely cause much more controversy when it comes toThe Magic Faraway Tree.
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Rebecca Ferguson Plays Dame Snap In The Magic Faraway Tree, Not Dame Slap
This Character Name Was Changed For Later Book Editions
Rebecca Ferguson plays the role of Dame Snap inThe Magic Faraway Tree. This character is the headmistress at the school which Polly and Tim’s children attend, and she is the main villain in the film. The character is aggressive toward her students and is the main villain of the Blyton novel, and is one of the more iconic villains within Blyton’s oeuvre.
However, Dame Snap is not the original name of the villain in the literary version ofThe Magic Faraway Tree. Dame Snap was originally named Dame Slap in the books. After the novel was published in 1943, later editions of the book changedThe Magic Faraway Treevillain’s name to Dame Snap rather than Dame Slap. Instead of using the original name of Dame Slap for the film, the adaptation ofThe Magic Faraway Treeis opting to use the revised name.
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The name change from Dame Slap to Dame Snap was already a controversial one in the book series. Dame Slap, as was her original moniker, did slap her students in the original book, making Dame Slap an apt name. Somerevised versions also change the nature of Dame Snap’s aggression, making her merely yell at her students rather than use corporal punishment against them. Using the name Dame Snap for the movie suggests thatThe Magic Faraway Treefilm will also use these milder abuses on screen.
The Magic Faraway Treemovie will be directed by Ben Gregor.
The name change is not the only element of Blyton’s book that has caused controversy over the years. The novelist has been accused of including content in her books that is both sexist and racist. Jacqueline Maley ofThe Sydney Morning Heraldpointed out in 2019 that Blyton’s “villains are often dark-complexioned” and noted feeling disturbed at how “the brother always seemed in charge of his sisters.” In addition to reigniting the discussion surrounding the name change,The Magic Faraway Treemovie must work to adapt these contested elements into a more suitable adaptation for the 21st century.
