Andrew Garfield is teaming up with ‘Bridgerton’ and ‘Baby Reindeer’ stars to climb a magic tree

Contrary to the outlandish rumor of Andrew Garfield quitting acting to pursue a career in the occult arborist industry (and let’s face it, that sounds like a Spider-Man 4 plot), Garfield is actually gearing up for an exciting new project. The actor will headline The Magic Faraway Tree, a film adaptation of Enid Blyton’s beloved children’s series. Garfield, alongside Claire Foy, will lead an all-star cast that also includes Nicola Coughlan (known for Bridgerton), Jessica Gunning (Baby Reindeer), Nonso Anozie (Sweet Tooth), Rebecca Ferguson, and Michael Palin. It’s a dazzling mix of film stars and TV favorites, which will surely make this project one to watch.

The film, directed by Ben Gregor and written by Simon Farnaby (famous for his work on Paddington 2 and Wonka), follows a family struggling to reconnect after a move to the British countryside. They discover a magical tree that serves as a portal to worlds beyond imagination. The story is based on Blyton’s The Magic Faraway Tree series, originally published between 1939 and 1951, with subsequent additions to the franchise by other authors.

The plot centers around three children who climb the Faraway Tree to explore different magical lands that take turns appearing at the top of the tree. Some lands are delightful, like the Land of Goodies (full of chocolate and candy), while others are far less inviting, such as the Land of Dame Slap (where a rather aggressive teacher dispenses slaps). Garfield and Foy will play Polly and Tim Thompson, who are either husband-and-wife or brother-and-sister—a detail that remains a bit mysterious, especially since the only child in the cast is Billie Gadson.

What’s interesting is that The Magic Faraway Tree appears to be a live-action film with adult leads, despite the book’s focus on children. This might suggest a creative twist, possibly treating the protagonists like “sensible adults” rather than a direct adaptation of the original child-centric narrative. Gregor has already expressed his intention to approach young people in a way that respects their maturity, which may mean a fresh take on the beloved classic.

While we’ll have to wait a while to see the finished product (the film only confirmed its cast in August), the star power and the family-friendly nature of the movie are sure to make it a hit when it finally arrives.