Sometimes, reality can make for as good or better stories than fiction. Film has helped elevate some of those stories to greater dramatic heights, from more personal, high-stakes stories like Christopher Nolan‘s Oppenheimer about the weight carried by the man behind the atomic bomb, to sweeping epics like Lawrence of Arabia, based on the life of T.E. Lawrence. Often, the most inspiring of those tales are some of the best, showing what humanity is capable of when they strive to give back, do something no one else has, or work together to achieve the seemingly impossible. Half Crown Media and Burns & Co. Entertainment are now preparing a film that aims to live in the same realm, recounting the arduous efforts of a missionary in China during the height of the Opium Wars in the 19th century.
Hudson & Maria centers on Hudson Taylor, one of the most influential missionaries in history, and his wife, Maria, as they leave behind their English way of life to adopt Chinese customs, dress, language, and more in their journey to spread the word of God inland. The film will follow their work through every step of the way, alongside their close friend, Wang Laijun, facing no shortage of persecution as they aim to change hearts and minds. By the end of it all, their story becomes the stuff of legends, ultimately leading to the founding of the China Inland Mission that helped establish Christianity in the country and opened its doors to a diverse group of worshippers and fellow workers following in Taylor’s footsteps. Collider can exclusively confirm that filming will begin on the project in Malaysia at the end of July, and we can share the full cast for this tale of faith and perseverance.
Leading the way as the kindly and determined Taylor will be William Moseley, who remains best known for starring as Peter Pevensie across all three Chronicles of Narnia movies. Charmed‘s Poppy Drayton will star opposite him as Maria, depicting her as the real backbone behind the mission, without whom Taylor’s efforts would’ve fallen short. Rounding out the main trio as Wang is Ludi Lin, coming off of his recent return to the Mortal Kombat universe with Simon McQuoid‘s acclaimed sequel, where he again played the iconic Earthrealm hero Liu Kang. They’re just a part of a massive international ensemble, also featuring Ted Lasso star Jeremy Swift and V for Vendetta alum Rupert Graves, alongside Tan Kheng Hua, Darren Lim, Jemma Donovan, Catriona Munro, Ben Van Lier, Wang Wei, Matt William Knowles, Kate Sullivan, Vanessa Yao, and Cedric Gegel.
Who Is Behind ‘Hudson & Maria’?
Writer-director Matt Mikalatos will reunite with Burns & Co. to helm Hudson & Maria. Before the biopic, he penned the family adventure flick Legacy Peak, which the company previously backed in 2022. In an official statement, Mikalatos celebrated the film’s diverse cast as a representation of the Taylors’ strive for inclusion in faith. “I’m so thankful for the incredible cast who have come together from across many cultures and nations to tell this story. Hudson and Maria would be pleased to see such a diverse group of talented people representing them on screen.”
Drayton also shared her own statement, expressing her excitement to play a figure as strong as she was caring. “I could not be more excited to play Maria in Hudson & Maria,” she added. “It is an honour to be part of Matt’s masterful vision and bring to life a woman who contained such unwavering compassion, resilience and courage. I am eager to tell her story with the depth and justice it deserves.” Producers for the film include Aaron Burns, Jack McClintock, and David Cook, while James Hudson Taylor IV, Ken Haron, and Angela Galgani Sullivan serve as executive producers.
Hudson & Maria begins production in Malaysia this summer. Check out the film’s official website to learn more and get further updates as work continues.
via Collider