Few would have bet that when Julia Roberts and Owen Wilson weepie Wonder made $315 million at the worldwide box-office in 2017, it would be the start of a cinematic universe. But everyone is looking for an IP, and so here we are with Lionsgate‘s family drama, White Bird, which is being described as a spin-off prequel to the Stephen Chbosky-directed Jacob Tremblay drama.
Directed by A Man Called Otto and Finding Neverland‘s Marc Forster, White Bird is adapted from R.J. Palacio’s 2019 follow-up novel of the same name, and finds Bryce Gheisar reprising his role as Julian, who tries to transform his life with the help of his grandmother (Helen Mirren), who reveals to Julian her own story of courage that takes place during her youth in Nazi-occupied France, where a boy shelters her from mortal danger. They find first love in a stunning, magical world of their own creation, while the boy’s mother (Gillian Anderson) risks everything to keep her safe. Check out the trailer below…
From the best-selling author of Wonder, the book that sparked a movement to “choose kind,” comes the inspirational next chapter. In White Bird, we follow Julian (Bryce Gheisar), who has struggled to belong ever since he was expelled from his former school for his treatment of Auggie Pullman. To transform his life, Julian’s grandmother (Helen Mirren) finally reveals to Julian her own story of courage — during her youth in Nazi-occupied France, a boy shelters her from mortal danger. They find first love in a stunning, magical world of their own creation, while the boy’s mother (Gillian Anderson) risks everything to keep her safe. From director Marc Forster (Finding Neverland and Christopher Robin), screenwriter Mark Bomback, and based on R.J. Palacio’s book, White Bird: A Wonder Story, like Wonder before it, is an uplifting movie about how one act of kindness can live on forever.
White Bird is in theatres on August 25th.
Originally published April 18, 2023. Updated December 20, 2023.
