Principal photography for the film, directed by Simon Aboud, starts this week in London.

Jessica Brown Findlay

AMBI Pictures’ Monica Bacardi and Andrea Iervolino and Christine Alderson of Ipso Facto Productions have greenlit This Beautiful Fantastic, Simon Aboud’s contemporary fairtytale set in the heart of London.

Jessica Brown Findlay (Downton Abbey) has been announced in the lead role. Other members of the cast include Tom Wilkinson (In The Bedroom), Andrew Scott (Pride), Jeremy Irvine (War Horse) and Anna Chancellor (What A Girl Wants).

Findlay plays Bella, a young woman with dreams of writing and illustrating children’s books, who forms an unlikely friendship with a reclusive widower and horticulturalist (Wilkinson).

The film’s funding comes from Medinah, the UK tax credit, Head Gear, Lip Sync Post, The Project Post, and private investment. AMBI Distribution will handle global sales.