Positioned to encapsulate comedy, drama, and much-loved Regency-era England romance,Mr. Malcolm’s Listwas a film awaited by many lovers of Austenesque narratives. An adaptation of a novel carrying the same name, authored by Suzanne Allain, the movie was expected to deliver in the same way its source text had. While the novel has already had an adaptation, in the form of a short film produced by Emma Holly Jones, the latest lengthened adaptation of it is also produced by Jones and is her feature directorial debut.
Although firmly establishing itself as aRegency-era romance filmthrough features such as costumes, mannerisms, and characters' behavior,Mr. Malcolm’s Listalso carries many qualities that give it a modern edge. These qualities, which we have recentlyseen inBridgerton, have also ensured a different and somewhat unconventional perspective into the film’s narrative. While the plot of the movie follows a trope that has been explored numerous times throughout the years, Jones’ work onMr. Malcolm’s Listhas been able to secure the film a special place within its genre.
Here’s how we think Jones has been able to makeMr. Malcolm’s Lista film that provides a refreshing take on British period films!
A “Color-Blind” Approach
The first indication thatMr. Malcolm’s Listtakes a notably different route to Hollywood’s conventions on period pieces perhaps comes from the “color-blind approach” taken in its casting decisions. Noted for its inclusivity, the film has many actors and actresses of color in its leading roles. While this is a significant departure from what would have been the reality of Regency-era England, the casting decisions were welcomed by many viewers.
This is not to say that the choice didn’t attract its fair share of criticism. Some viewers questioned the film’s ability to accurately portray Regency-era Britain by including colored actors in leading roles.
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Despite the criticism, many commended the film for offering a refreshing perspective into Regency-era England and upheld the right of the producers to put their own spin on a creation that was a work of fiction and not fact. The film’s director, Emma Holly Jones, speaking of her decision withEWto steer the movie down a somewhat unconventional path, said:
“I’ve watched every British period drama countless times. I love them. But I realized that the way things have been made, and the way things have been done from an artistic perspective, didn’t have to be that way. History does not suggest that England was just made up of white people.”
Significance of the Leading Couple
In addition to the “color-blind” approach, another fact that makes the film refreshing is the fact that both the leading characters are those of color. It has been the norm in many Hollywood films to have at least one leading character be white when the other is of a different racial origin. However,Mr. Malcolm’s Listholds nothing back in casting bothFreida Pintoand Ṣọpẹ Dìrísù as the leading Selina Dalton and Mr. Jeremiah Malcolm.
Expressing her thoughts withThe Hollywood Reporteron the leading characters being those of color, Pinto said:
“I’ve been in the industry for almost 14 years, and whenever a script would come my way where I played a romantic lead, the stipulation always was that the person opposite me had to be white”
Jones was also steadfast in her decision to have both Pinto and Dìrísù take on the lead roles, regardless of the conventional norms in Hollywood. “…And they were the only people I was willing to do this with,” said Jones, talking to Entertainment Weekly. “I was fiercely loyal to them as they were to me…” she continued. From the reaction of many viewers, Jones’ selection for the lead roles has definitely paid off. Although it’s only been a few short weeks since the film was released in theaters, many have taken to social media to commend the chemistry and acting of Pinto and Dìrísù.
Witty Humor
Humor was another winning point for the period film. Many critics and viewers ofMr. Malcolm’s Listsoon picked up on Jones’s wicked but delightful humor seamlessly interwoven into the film. The humor captivates the film’s audience while also not taking away from the Regency feel of the overall movie. The humor was refreshing because it makes the Regency romance feel more modern and relatable to its audience. As per Emma Holly Jones, this was, in fact, one of her core aims in the creation of the film- to ensure that the romance didn’t feel dated.
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Admitting that humor was indeed an important aspect for her as a movie director, Jones also credited the author of the original novel, Suzanne Allain, for her contribution to making the movie such a delightful piece. “…I really wanted to inject my sense of humor. It’s been a real labor of love from both Suzanne and me," said Jones. “She’s been incredible at allowing me to come in and open up the world and inject film-esque qualities to it.”
A Special Team of Creatives
WhileMr. Malcolm’s Listoffered a refreshing on-screen take on the more traditional period pieces, this did not mean that the film didn’t carry any specialty behind the screens. The film acquired a special place in terms of the creatives who worked on the movie by having women in several key production roles.
WhileMr. Malcolm’s Listboasts a female-led team of producers, including executive producer Freida Pinto and producers Laura Lewis, Laura Rister, and Katie Holly, the film also has women taking on important decision-making roles, including that of casting director, composer, costume designer, and editor. This comes in addition to Emma Holly Jones taking on the director role. Speaking of her experience working in a film led by females, Pinto commented on how refreshing it was to work in a role that did not “require [her] to fight.”
The unique approaches to tackling the usually conventional Regency-era romance have enabledMr. Malcolm’s Listto seat itself in a noteworthy position within the genre. The film was released on August 17, 2025, and will be available on platforms such as Apple TV, Prime Video, Google Play, and Vudu from June 19, 2025, onwards.
