Matthew Warchus will direct a feature adaptation of hit stage musical Matilda for UK producing powerhouse Working Title Films.

Filming is due to run from August-December this year; casting director Lucy Bevan is currently looking for a young girl to play the lead as well as children to play Matilda”s classmates.

The theatre iteration of Roald Dahl”s much-loved book opened in the West End in 2011 and currently holds the record – jointly with Hamilton – for the most Olivier awards won by a musical.

Tim Minchin (pictured) wrote the music for the show, which has a book by Dennis Kelly.

Minchin is on board as composer for the new film adaptation; Kelly will write the screenplay.

Warchus has been artistic director of London”s Old Vic Theatre since 2015. He is best-known as a theatre director, but was also at the helm of 2014 feature film Pride, which scooped several gongs including Best British Independent Film at the British Independent Film Awards.

Image credit: Damian Bennett.