Director Sophie Hyde has shared an exciting update about her upcoming filmAn Ideal Wife,starringEmilia Clarke. The period drama, which delves into the life of Constance Lloyd (Clarke), Irish author and wife of famed Victorian-era playwright Oscar Wilde, is set to begin filming later this year.An Ideal Wifepromises to explore Lloyd’s role as a feminist activistand her journey through her estranged marriage after Wilde is imprisoned for homosexuality.
In an interview withScreenRant’s Tatiana Hullender at the Sundance Film Festival,Hyde revealed new details aboutAn Ideal Wife. After her award-winning coming-of-age drama52 Tuesdays(2019), and the upcoming John Lithgow-ledJimpa(2025), Hyde has firmly established herself in the vein of erotic, intimate, and unconventional storytelling. “We’re shooting it this year,” the director confirmed. She continued by elaborating on the film’s exploration of identity and gender:
For me, sexuality, gender, and all of these things are very expansive ideas.We are not designed to be placed in boxesor into any binary idea about things. Our world is not like that. Biology is not like that. And certainly, socially, we’re not like that. We are incredibly interesting, amazing, vivacious creatures, and I think it’s really important to me to break away from the idea that you can only be one thing or that you have to fit a box that’s preordained for you.
Oscar Wilde is a great example of that.What does it mean to break down the idea of what’s anticipated or expected for your life?
What The Filming Update For An Ideal Wife Means
Emilia Clarke Steps Into A Powerful New Role
Clarke’s role inAn Ideal Wifesignals an exciting new chapter in her career, as she pivots toward more nuanced and challenging roles. Clarke is best known for playing Daenerys Targaryen on HBO’sGame of Thrones, which ended in 2019. She later joinedthe MCU television showSecret Invasion,where she played a shapeshifting alien named G’iah.Clarke’s upcoming projects suggest a shift toward more grounded storytelling, includingMcCarthy,where she stars opposite Michael Shannon as the nominal Republican senator’s wife.
Emilia Clarke’s 10 Best Movies And TV Shows
Largely known for his role in Game of Thrones, Emilia Clarke has appeared in a number of great movies and TV shows throughout her career.
An Ideal Wifenot only allows Emilia Clarke to embody another significant historical figure but alsogives her the opportunity to explore a layered storyas a strong-willed woman experiencing an impassioned sexual awakening. Hyde’s previous films,such asGood Luck to You, Leo Grande,where a retired teacher (Emma Thompson) seeks out a young sex worker to navigate her unsatiated desires, have consistently offered a raw and nuanced exploration of human identity. Hyde’s ability to balance vulnerability and strength could bring an electrifying depth to Clarke’s next role.
Our Take On Emilia Clarke’s Role In An Ideal Wife
A Role That Could Redefine Her Career
An Ideal Wifefeels like the perfect project for Clarke to exhibit her range and depth as an actor.Clarke’s charisma and emotional authenticity make her a natural fit for Constance Lloyd, a progressive woman navigating love, societal expectations, and gritty transformation. With Hyde’s record of tackling intimate, thought-provoking narratives, the film promises to be both a poignant and empowering Victorian-era drama. Clarke’s return to the big screen in a story that celebrates a woman’s individuality is something to look forward to, andAn Ideal Wifecould become a defining moment in her post-Game of Thronescareer.
