Damian Lewis to Rule 'Fackham Hall' as Lord Davenport

It's been just over a year since Bleeker Street picked up the rights to Fackham Hall during the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival. The movie, a spoof of Downton Abbey and other hit period dramas, arrived at the festival market with four cast members attached to star: Hero Fiennes Tiffin (Young Sherlock), Thomasin McKenzie (Last Night in Soho), Emma Laird (A Haunting In Venice) and Katherine Waterston (Slow Horses). But with filming now finally underway, there's been a bit of a shakeup, as Fiennes Tiffin landed the titular role in Amazon's Young Sherlock and had to exit due to scheduling conflicts.

The announcement filming was finally commencing in the U.K. no longer mention Fiennes Tiffin in the lead role; instead, it's been recast with the up and coming Ben Radcliffe (Masters of the Air). But perhaps more importantly for fans of period drama, the feature film has also added one of the current greats in the business, Damian Lewis (Wolf Hall), who will play the master of Fackham Hall, Lord Davenport. 

The production has also added Harry Potter alum Tom Felton, one of the film franchise's bigger success stories. While his name might not have the cultural cache of fellow Potter graduates Dan Radcliffe, Emma Watson, or Matthew Lewis, Felton has been working steadily since the franchise ended, appearing in everything from DC Comic franchise series The Flash to multiple period war films over the last fifteen years.

Here's the film's synopsis:

Described as a spoof comedy movie in the vein of Airplane! and the Monty Python movies, Fackham Hall follows loveable pick-pocket Eric Noone as he lands a job at English manor house Fackham Hall. He quickly rises through the ranks and a forbidden romance with lady-of-the-house Rose Davenport blossoms. At the same time, rivalries are spilling over in the Davenport family, led by Lord and Lady Davenport as they also weather the epic failure of the wedding of their eldest daughter to her caddish cousin. 

But when an unexpected murder occurs, Eric gets framed — leaving Rose and her family’s future perilously uncertain. 

Ben Radcliffe stars as Eric Noone, with Thomasin McKenzie as Rose Davenport. Emily Laird plays Rose's older sister, with Damian Lewis and Katherine Waterson as their parents, Lord and Lady Davenport. Tom Felton plays Archibald, Eric’s main rival for Rose’s hand. 

Directed by Jim O’Hanlon, Fackham Hall is the debut feature film script from comedians Jimmy Carr (who also has a supporting role), Patrick Carr and the Dawson Brothers. Kris Thykier and Danny Perkins produce for new comedy label Mews Films and Mila Cottray for Two & Two Pictures. Executive producers include Simon Williams, Joe Simpson, Jonathan Bross; Andrew Karpen & Kent Sanderson for Bleecker Street; Babak Anvari & Lucan Toh for Two & Two Pictures, Danielle Brandon & Georgia Goldsack for Archery Pictures and Nick Shumaker & David Levine for Anonymous Content. 

Fackham Hall is currently filming in the U.K., with plans to release the film in 2025.