The period comedy will chronicle the friendship between a Queen and her court jester. 

Karen Gillan is taking a regal role in the forthcoming comedy Fools, according to Deadline.

The former Doctor Who star, who jumped to the big screen with roles in The Guardians of the Galaxy and Jumanji, will star as in Fools as Mary Tudor, England’s first Queen.

The film, from writer and director Guy Jenkin (Outnumbered), will explore the little known tale of the friendship between the Queen and her court jester Jane Foole, played by Patsy Ferran. Also in the cast are Brenda Blethyn and Jim Broadbent, who will play the ambitious Cardinal Pole.

Here’s what we know about Fools:

Set in the 16th century in the aftermath of Henry VIII’s death, Fools” follows England’s first queen Mary I (Gillan) as she takes the throne in a divided country on the brink of chaos. While the ambitious Cardinal Pole (Broadbent) plots to secure control, he overlooks a humble court jester, Jane Foole (Ferran). The pious and apparently humourless queen finds Jane’s brilliant slapstick routines uproariously funny, and they strike up a genuine friendship, the comedy lightening Mary’s mood in the darkest of times, and helping fend off Pole’s murderous manipulation. But can Jane’s comedy save a nation from civil war?

Guy Jenkin said:

“I am thrilled to be working with such a supremely talented core group of actors on Fools. Together, we will tell the untold story of the strange friendship between England’s first Queen, and her female jester. Fools will turn the conventions of a historical film inside-out, and promises to be subversive, striking and very funny.”

Production on Fools is set to take place later in 2024 and Ryan Bennett of PaperEpic Productions will produce.

We’ll keep you posted.