Anthony Hopkins to play George Frideric Handel in The King of Covent Garden

Academy Award-winning actor Anthony Hopkins is set to play Baroque Composer Handel in the film The King of Covent Garden.

The film is set during the period the famed opera composer worked on his choral masterpiece “Messiah.”

GF Handel (1685-1759) was a German-born and naturalised British composer known for his operas, oratorios, and instrumental compositions. He is best known for his masterpiece oratorio ‘Messiah’ (1741), which he wrote in just 24 days, and continues to be widely performed and celebrated across the globe. 

Anthony Hopkins is no stranger to the world of classical music, having played piano since the age of six and eventually studied at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff. He initially chose drama over music, but has since devoted more of his time to music composition and recording. 

Watch Dutch conductor Andre Rieu and his orchestra perform Anthony Hopkins’ composition And The Waltz Goes On:

Anthony Hopkins has already brought a number of real-life characters to the big screen, ranging from President Richard Nixon to C.S Lewis, and psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud. 

Tim Haslam, co-founder of the production company Embankment films noted:

“Hopkins and Handel are maestros of their art and together they create a joyous and uplifting cinematic event,” 

The film will be directed by Andrew Levitas from a script by Tim Slover. Dan Lupovitz and Kevan Van Thompson will produce. Welsh operatic mezzo-soprano Katherine Jenkins is also attached to the film acting as executive producer and musical consultant.   

It is scheduled for release in late 2025.