Stranger Things star Charlie Heaton is set to take on the role of Joseph Merrick in The Elephant Man, a two-part drama for BBC One and producers New Pictures (The Missing, Requiem).
Deadline reports that the drama biopic will “chart Merrick’s extraordinary story from his working-class beginnings in Leicestershire, through the work-houses, music halls and freak shows that punctuated 19th Century culture to his time at the London Hospital and his friendship with Dr Frederick Treves.”
“I’m extremely excited and honoured to be given the opportunity to take on the portrayal of Joseph Merrick in the BBC’s adaption of The Elephant Man,” states Heaton. “This is such a special role and a challenge for any actor. Joseph has such an incredible story and I can’t wait to go on this journey and bring him to life.”
“Joseph’s determination to be his own man, to earn a living, to find a sense of freedom and to express himself is inspiring to all,” adds producer Elaine Pyke of New Pictures. “Neil McKay’s beautiful script captures this extraordinary story and we are thrilled that Charlie Heaton is going to play Joseph.”
Merrick’s life has been the subject of several stage and screen adaptations, most notably by David Lynch in 1980, with the late John Hurt starring in the lead role and receiving a BAFTA for Best Actor for his work.
Heaton was most recently seen in the supernatural horror The Secret of Marrowbone and will reprise his Stranger Things role as Jonathan Byers for the third season of the Netflix show in 2019, as well as starring as Cannonball in the delayed X-Men spinoff The New Mutants.
