Sọpẹ́ Dìrísù stars as the romantic lead, Mr Malcolm, in the new 19th century Regency rom-com Mr Malcolm's List. Mr Malcolm is an eternal bachelor who is on the hunt for his perfect wife. To help him in his quest he writes a list of attributes he is looking for in his perfect woman. However when he spurns the advances of Julia (Zawe Ashton) she decides to seek her revenge by introducing him to her best friend Selina Dalton (Frieda Pinto). Little does he know that it is a set up, with Selina posing as his perfect woman, then planning to reject him once he's fallen in love with her, giving him a taste of his own medicine.
The Bridgerton-esque rom-com is based on the book by Suzanne Allain, who also wrote the screenplay for the film, which will be released by Universal Pictures and Bleecker Street in UK and US cinemas on Friday 1st July.
The film is directed by first time feature film maker Emma Holly Jones who has talked about casting Sọpẹ́ in the titular role referring to him as "the new Mr Darcy" and going on to add, "I never wavered. It’s him, or we don’t make the film. It’s the best decision I ever made. He’s handsome, he’s talented, he’s gentle, he’s complex.”
Much like Netflix's Bridgerton the film largely features actors of colour which is one of the things that drew British Nigerian Sọpẹ́ to the role, working on his accent, posture and how he could play the character on a deeper level, convincing Jones to include a scene where Mr. Malcolm speaks Yoruba. He says, “I was conscious of not colour-washing the story. I didn’t want this to just be a white character played by a person of color. I wanted him to feel like a real, lived-in person.”
The first trailer for the film has just been released.
BAFTA nominee and star of Gangs of London Sọpẹ́ Dìrísù is available for voiceovers from Anthea Represents. Click his image for his profile page and voiceover showreel.
