‘The Favourite’ trailer: Olivia Colman is playing another Queen before ‘The Crown’ – watch!

A trailer has been unveiled for surreal new period drama movie The Favourite and it looks completely bonkers.

Set in the early 18th century, the latest film from Greek director Yorgos Lanthimos (The Lobster, The Killing of a Sacred Deer) stars Olivia Colman (Broadchurch), Emma Stone (La La Land), Rachel Weisz (My Cousin Rachel), Nicholas Hoult (X-Men: Apocalypse) and Mark Gatiss (Sherlock).

Olivia Colman starts filming the third season of The Crown this month, replacing Claire Foy as Queen Elizabeth II, but she’ll be playing another British Royal first, appearing in The Favourite as Queen Anne.

Born in 1665, Anne was the Queen of England, Scotland and Ireland from 1702 to 1707.

Watch the trailer:

The official synopsis reads: “England is at war with the French. Nevertheless, duck racing and pineapple eating are thriving. A frail Queen Anne (Olivia Colman) occupies the throne and her close friend Lady Sarah (Rachel Weisz) governs the country in her stead while tending to Anne’s ill health and mercurial temper.

“When a new servant Abigail (Emma Stone) arrives, her charm endears her to Sarah. Sarah takes Abigail under her wing and Abigail sees a chance at a return to her aristocratic roots.

“As the politics of war become quite time consuming for Sarah, Abigail steps into the breach to fill in as the Queen’s companion. Their burgeoning friendship gives her a chance to fulfil her ambitions and she will not let woman, man, politics or rabbit stand in her way.”

The Favourite arrives in US cinemas on 23 November and will be released in the UK on 1 January 2019.