The Electrical Life Of Louis Wain isn’t your typical art biopic. For one, it’s directed by Will Sharpe – the creator of Channel 4’s off-kilter comedy-drama Flowers, with its shifting tones blending gags and grief. Plus, it follows an artist – the titular Louis Wain, played by Benedict Cumberbatch – whose most famous works are psychedelic portraits of cats with unsettlingly-large eyes. And then there’s the raft of surprising cameo performers who pop up through the course of the film – several of which Empire can exclusively reveal.
While the impressively sprawling cast already includes the likes of Claire Foy, Andrea Riseborough, Toby Jones, Loki’s Sophia Di Martino, Asim Chaudhry, Hayley Squires, Julian Barratt and more (as well as Cumberbatch, of course), there are some exciting new names to add to the list. First up, the film is narrated by the one and only Olivia Colman, in a neat Flowers reunion. Also in the cast is legendary singer Nick Cave – appearing as none other than HG Wells, the author behind sci-fi classics like The Invisible Man, The Time Machine, and The War Of The Worlds.
And finally, the film also features a brief appearance from the one and only Taika Waititi – the acclaimed filmmaker behind Jojo Rabbit, Thor: Ragnarok, Hunt For The Wilderpeople and more – who pops up as New York newspaper editor Max Kase. Here’s a first look image of his role in the film:
Not only that, but Empire was on set to witness Taika’s wild performance in action – more of which you can read about in our The Electrical Life Of Louis Wain set report in the new issue, on sale Thursday 2 September. Cats, art, Cumberbatch, and Taika Waititi – what more could you ask for from a film?
The Electrical Life Of Louis Wain comes to UK cinemas in early 2022.