British actor Jack Lowden has joined the cast of Josie Rourke’s period piece Mary Queen of Scots. According to Deadline, he will play Lord Darnley, husband to Queen Mary. He joins Saoirse Ronan and Margot Robbie, playing Mary and Queen Elizabeth I respectively, in the film.
Mary Queen of Scots comes from a script by American House of Cards creator Beau Willimon and is based on John Guy’s biography The True Life of Mary Stuart. Focus Features and Working Title are producing.
Mary Queen of Scots is a polarizing figure in British history. She ascended the throne of Scotland before she was a year old and married King Francis II of France, though went back to Scotland after Kign Francis’ death. there she married Lord Darnley, her first cousin, in a union that is said to be very unhappy. When he died in a bombing and Mary married his alleged killer, she was forced to abdicate her throne and eventually fled to England, hoping her cousin Queen Elizabeth I would protect her. Mary, however, previously tried to claim Elizabeth’s throne and had a lot of Catholic support who believed she was the rightful heir. After being a prisoner for nearly two decades, Mary was executed for conspiracy against the crown.
Lowden will be seen next in Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk. Shooting for Mary Queen of Scots begins this summer, and a release date is yet to be announced.
Originally published June 14, 2017. Updated April 15, 2018.
