Helen Mirren is in negotiations to join the growing cast of Disney’s adaptation of The Nutcracker.
Rising child star Mackenzie Foy is headlining the project, which already boasts Keira Knightley, Morgan Freeman and ballerina Misty Copeland.
Lasse Hallstrom is directing the adaptation of the classic ballet by Peter Tchaikovsky and the story by E.T.A. Hoffmann.
Disney is titling its feature The Nutcracker and the Four Realms, with the story focusing on a young girl named Clara (Foy) who receives a nutcracker doll from her godfather on Christmas Eve. When she goes to check on it later, the clock strikes midnight and she finds herself thrust into a fantastical world where she is in the middle of a war between gingerbread soldiers and an army of mice.
Mirren will play a character named Mother Ginger.
Mark Gordon is producing the live-action project, which has a script by Ashleigh Powell.
Mirren, who last appeared in 2015’s Trumbo playing infamous Hollywood gossip columnist Hedda Hopper, will next be seen with Will Smith in New Line’s drama Collateral Beauty, which is set to open Dec. 16.
Mirren is repped by CAA.
