Main image via Rappler + Carrick Herald
If you grew up with books, you may have had Roald Dahl’s James and the Giant Peach in your reading list. Now, some of your favourite actors and actresses are coming together for a group reading of the beloved classic, and you won’t even need to leave your homes!
via GIPHY
Led by Taika Waititi, an all-star cast has been enlisted to take part in a group reading of James and the Giant Peach from their homes, in an effort to raise money for the fight against COVID-19.
The Oscar-winning filmmaker is teaming up with the Roald Dahl Story Company to recreate the beloved classic in 10 installments. Taika will narrate the story while dozens of actors join in to fill in the roles in the book.
The first episode of the series saw Chris and Liam Hemsworth teaming up for the first time to play the roles of Aunt Sponge and Aunt Spiker and it’s definitely given us some chuckles.
The second episode of the James and the Giant Peach reading saw Taika being joined by the great Mery Streep and one of our favourites, Benedict Cumberbatch.
The third episode has Taika’s friends Eddie Redmayne, Cate Blanchett, Sarah Paulson and Kumail Nanjiani entering Roald Dahl’s world.
The latest episode, episode four sees Teresa Thompson, Cara Delevingne, Olivia Wilde and Beanie Feldstein assuming characters of the beloved classic.
New episodes of the remaining installments will be released on the Roald Dahl YouTube channel every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so mark them down if you wanna keep up with this reading series.
The all-star collaboration intends to raise money for the global health non-profit Partner in Health (PIH), which is currently fighting the COVID-19 pandemic in the world’s most vulnerable areas.
The Roald Dahl Story Company has committed to matching the donations raised to up to $1 million (RM4.36 million), as “part of a wider commitment to give more that £1 million (RM5.3 million) to charities affected by COVID-19, including the Roald Dahl Marvellous Children’s Charity in the UK, which provides specialist nurses to seriously ill children,” The Guardian reports.
According to Taika, James and the Giant Peach is a “wonderful tale” about “resilience in children, triumph over adversity and dealing with a sense of isolation which couldn’t been more relevant today.”
Image via Rappler
“Being an adult child myself and having read James and the Giant Peach to my girls multiple times, I’m excited to be able to partner with my friends, the Dahl team and PIH and retell this story to help those most in need right now,” said the filmmaker who is currently writing, directing and executing producing two original Roald Dahl animated series, one based on the world of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and one centre on the Oompa-Loompas.
Besides the actors and actresses already listed into the reading, Taika has also lined up more of our favourite celebrities including Ryan Reynolds, Lypita Nyong’o, Mindy Kaling, Jamie Cullum, Gordon Ramsay, Archie Yates and more.
Image via Carrick Herald
Well, if you’ve always loved James and the Giant Peach, then these are the perfect videos for you to watch while you stay safe at home!
Did you grown up reading this beloved classic? Let us know!
In the meantime, be sure to keep playing your part by staying safe and staying home, and only going out if it’s absolutely necessary. And if you’re going out, be sure to practice social distancing.
Stay updated with the latest COVID-19 news here: https://en.syok.my/covid-19
Info via The Guardian